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[Resolved] Solving an error 504 on the front end for specific product translations
This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: The client was experiencing a 504 error on their multilingual e-commerce site when accessing a product page in English, despite the page working fine in other languages. The permalink settings were set to 'post name' for general links and 'custom' with a '/product/' base for product links. Solution: Upon further investigation, we discovered that the issue was also related to an outdated theme. The client was using the Deli theme, a child theme of the Storefront theme, which was not updated. After updating the Storefront theme, the 504 error was resolved.
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Plugins are updated to latest version, max_execution time is set to 180, other time limits have been updated as well by the hosting provider. But the error remains for English language products.
I can see a 504 error, for example, here: hidden link.
Please consider changing the Language URL format to 'Different languages in directories'. You can do it in WPML -> Languages -> Language URL format. After that, go to Settings -> Permalinks and re-save the permalinks (click the Save Changes button). If you can't switch to the 'Different languages in directories' option, please only go to Settings -> Permalinks, and re-save and see if it helps.
I changed to using different languages in directories, but unfortunately that didn't help.
"hidden link" and
"hidden link" work fine, but
"hidden link" still gives error 504.
With respect to permalinks, if it is any useful information to you, the "permalink structure" is set to "post name" and the "product permalinks" is set to "custom" with a "custom base" set to "/product/"
I found something strange that may or may not be related. We own the domains "engrano.fr" and "engrano.nl", because we used to be located in The Netherlands but since october 2023 we're in France. We kept the old domain name just in case.
We moved the website from "engrano.nl" to "engrano.fr" and we changed the default language from English to French In principle the website runs under "engrano.fr" and "engrano.nl" just redirects to "engrano.fr".
For languages there is the possibility to specify a domain per language. If I choose that option then WPML suggests domains per language, and the suggestions it does are:
French: hidden link
Dutch : hidden link
English: hidden link
So for French and Dutch it uses "engrano.fr", but for English it uses "engrano.nl". So it feels like something didn't completely go right making the changes as described above when we moved from The Netherlands to France. However, until 2 weeks ago we didn't experience any problems.
You think any of above may be the root of the error 504?
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I have found that when the 504 error occurs, the following error is logged into the debug.log file.
[12-Feb-2026 20:43:21 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 180 seconds exceeded in /var/www/vhosts/engrano.nl/staging.engrano.fr/wp-content/plugins/sitepress-multilingual-cms/vendor/wpml/collect/src/Illuminate/Support/Traits/Macroable.php on line 56
I'm consulting our second-tier supporters about this problem and will keep you updated here.
Please note that my weekends are Friday to Saturday. If you need further assistance, I'll be available to continue checking this issue and helping you next week.
Our second-tier supportersuggest trying the following.
1. Duplicate the product with the problem and see if it also happens with the duplicate product.
2. If it persists, we suspect a collision with the theme or another plugin might cause this problem. If possible, get your site into a minimum environment by switching to a default WordPress theme like TwentyTwenty-Four and activating only WPML.
First, you must check if the problem persists when just the theme is switched to TwentyTwenty-Four (for example). If it persists, deactivate all plugins except WPML and its add-ons and WooCommerce without any extensions. Then, please check if the problem persists. If it does not persist, start by activating the plugins individually and check whether the issue returns; then report to me which plugin was the culprit.
**** Important! Please make a full site backup (files and DB) before you proceed with those steps****
*** If your site is live, you might want to try those procedures in a staging environment or a snapshot of your site on your local server or another server. ***
If you can't perform this on your site, please allow me to take a copy of your site. To do this, I must install a plugin such as Duplicator or All-in-One Migration. Please let me know if you agree.
I made a duplicate for 2 products that give the error 504, and the duplicates work fine without an error.
Unfortunately making duplicates of the products that give the error is not really a preferred solution because it would increase the amount of products significantly since I can't really trash the products with problems as they're linked to orders.
In this case, please allow me to take a copy of your site. To do this, I must install a plugin such as Duplicator or All-in-One Migration. Please let me know if you agree.
I have found that you are using the Deli theme, a child theme of the Storefront theme. The Storefront theme was not updated on your site. SO I updated it. Please see the attached screenshot. This resolved the problem. I no longer face the 504 error. For example, with this product: hidden link.
Can you please confirm that the problem has been resolved?
I immediately updated it on the live site as well and indeed, the problem is resolved.
Since I don't use StoreFront theme directly (but only a spin-off) I was not aware I had to update the original theme as well.
