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This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:
The client is experiencing an issue where the process of updating affected posts for changes in translatable fields is stuck on the 'custom_title' custom field after updating WPML and String Translations plugins. The process is halted at 50 entries and does not progress despite retries.
Solution:
1. Ensure that all WPML plugins are updated to their latest versions.
2. Backup the entire site.
3. Run all troubleshooting options available under WPML > Support > Troubleshooting, except for those that involve resetting.
4. If the issue persists, consider truncating the 'icl_background_tasks' table and re-uploading the initial database before updates.
5. Check server and PHP configurations, as discrepancies in these settings across different environments might contribute to the issue.
6. If none of the above steps resolve the issue, we recommend opening a new support ticket. Additionally, it's advisable to check related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verify the version of the permanent fix, and confirm that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins.

If these steps do not resolve your issue, please do not hesitate to contact us for further assistance by opening a new support ticket at WPML support forum.

This is the technical support forum for WPML - the multilingual WordPress plugin.

Everyone can read, but only WPML clients can post here. WPML team is replying on the forum 6 days per week, 22 hours per day.

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This topic contains 27 replies, has 1 voice.

Last updated by Kor 5 months, 2 weeks ago.

Assisted by: Kor.

Author Posts
November 17, 2025 at 4:54 pm #17585438

T4ng

I just did another test: on the same local environment, by re-uploading the original database, then disabling some plugins before it runs the problematic custom_title update process. And it ran successfully!

So, I wonder if:
1. it's an issue to disable plugins while the updates run?
2. If after having disabled some plugins, there is a way to resume the paused process on our live website, manually, or it it should resume automatically? So that I could fix this live website?

Thanks

November 17, 2025 at 5:07 pm #17585535

Kor

Thanks for the update. Since it worked after disabling some plugins, it seems there may be a conflict with one of them.

You can temporarily deactivate the plugins and allow the process to finish. It only needs to run once and will resume automatically until it’s completed.

Before doing this, please create a full backup and then test it on your live site. Let me know how it goes once you’ve tried it.

November 17, 2025 at 5:15 pm #17585641

T4ng

OK, but can you please let me know ***how to relaunch*** the updates?
As already explained, the Running/Pause pictogram aren't buttons.
Thanks

November 17, 2025 at 5:37 pm #17585696

Kor

Thanks for your reply. Could you share a screenshot of the admin bar and the process status that you're getting now?

November 17, 2025 at 6:09 pm #17585892

T4ng

On the local env: nothing in the admin bar anymore since the updates are completedd.
On the live env: same as before since nothing changed: the custom_title process is still paused, and I can't click on any of these processes.

How do I get it to run again?

live-website-process.png
November 18, 2025 at 11:59 am #17587884

Kor

Thanks for your reply. Could you please back up your site and then access your database and truncate the icl_background_task table?

Let me know if this helps.

November 18, 2025 at 3:09 pm #17588651

T4ng

What's the expected behavior after truncating this table?

November 18, 2025 at 3:12 pm #17588655

Kor

Thanks for getting back to me. Running that action should clear the stuck process, and if needed, WPML will automatically run it again to finish the operation.
Please make sure to create a full backup before proceeding.

November 19, 2025 at 8:31 am #17590391

T4ng

I've been testing what you suggested:
1. Reuploaded the initial db (before any updates)
2. Truncated the icl_background_tasks table
3. Synced ACFs

Results: there's only one update remaining process in the list, which gets quickly stuck as well (remains on the "ongoing" pictogram) - but the figures won't progress.

On top of that, if we truncate the background_tasks table, and if these tasks won't come up again afterwards, I understand that the related data won't be processed. Am I wrong?

November 19, 2025 at 4:47 pm #17592835

T4ng

I did another test.
On the local environment, deactivating Elementor is enough resolve the issue: all the processes will complete without issue as soon as Elementor is deactivated.

Therefore, I'd like to try to deactivavate Elementor on the live website to solve the issue, for the time it needs to complete.
However, to do this, I need to resume the updates.

So can you tell me how I can resume the updates, which are paused right now?

Thanks

November 19, 2025 at 6:44 pm #17593260

Kor

Thanks for getting back to me. Could you please try deactivating and reactivating the ACFML plugin to see if that resets the process? If it doesn’t help, you’ll need to proceed with the database truncation as mentioned earlier.

It’s likely that the process has already completed but the status remains stuck. You can confirm this by checking the pages using ACF and attempting to translate them.

Let me know the results.

November 20, 2025 at 8:29 am #17594342

T4ng

As explained, disabling Elementor allowed overcoming the problematic update.
To "unlock" the process, I had to:

0. Backup the database
1. In the database > icl_background_tasks > lower the amount of attempts for the stuck process, and move the status from 2 to 1. That was the way to resume the process. I wish you guys told me that when I asked.
2. Disable Elementor Pro, then Elementor
3. Clear WPML Cache (not sure this was required)

Disabling Elementor even shortly allowed the process to resume: once the 50 went to 60 and over, I could reactivate it, it won't get stuck anymore. I don't know if it explains what was happening.

After that process, I synced the ACFs, then once all of these were completed, I processed the database optimization. Which went flawlessly

I don't know if that was the right way to process, but I guess I had to figure it myself.

November 20, 2025 at 9:15 am #17594619

Kor

Thanks for your reply. I’m glad to hear you managed to resolve it. If the issue returns, please share access to the site so we can investigate further.