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WPML Language Switcher is vertically misaligned in FSE header (Block Theme) despite correct layout and alignment settings
Environment
WordPress: latest stable
Theme: Twenty Twenty‑Five (child theme)
Theme type: Block Theme / Full Site Editing (FSE)
WPML version: latest
Language Switcher: WPML Language Switcher block
Header type: Template Part (Header)
Layout: Columns block (3 columns)
Languages: NL (default) + EN
Description of the issue
I am experiencing a persistent vertical alignment issue with the WPML Language Switcher when used inside an FSE header.
The header is built using a Columns block with three columns:
Left column: Site Logo
Middle column: Navigation block
Right column: WPML Language Switcher
The Columns block is configured with:
Vertical alignment: Center
Horizontal alignment: correct
No extra rows or wrappers
Despite this correct setup:
The logo and navigation are perfectly centered vertically
The WPML Language Switcher renders significantly lower (not by 1–2px, but by ~10–15px)
The switcher appears partially visually closer to the hero section below
This happens consistently on desktop (NL and EN)
This does not appear to be a visual illusion or typographic nuance — the switcher is clearly outside the same vertical band as the rest of the header content.
What has already been tested
I have systematically ruled out the following:
✅ Correct block structure (no nested Rows / Groups)
✅ Columns block vertical alignment set to “Center”
✅ Removal of all extra margins and padding
✅ CSS alignment attempts:
display: flex
align-items: center
line-height normalization
vertical-align
translateY correction
✅ Resetting ul, li, a margins and paddings inside the switcher
✅ Testing with both:
WPML Language Switcher block
WPML Language Switcher shortcode
✅ Testing with and without sticky header
✅ Confirmed that the issue is not related to menu wrapping or flex behavior
None of the above resolves the vertical offset.
Key observation
From the behavior and screenshots it appears that:
The WPML Language Switcher is not participating in the same layout flow as the rest of the header row/columns
Even when visually placed inside the same column, its rendered position suggests it is offset relative to the header’s calculated height
This looks like a WPML-specific rendering or container issue in FSE headers
Expected behavior
When placed inside a Columns block with vertical alignment set to “Center”,
the WPML Language Switcher should align vertically exactly with:
the Site Logo
and the Navigation block
This works for all other blocks in the same header.
Request
Could you please confirm:
Whether this is a known issue with the WPML Language Switcher in Block Themes / FSE headers
Whether the switcher injects markup or containers that break vertical alignment in Columns blocks
If there is:
a confirmed workaround
a recommended placement pattern for FSE headers
or a pending fix
Screenshots of:
frontend issue
Site Editor header layout
are attached.
Impact
This issue makes it impossible to visually align the language switcher in a professional header layout using FSE, despite a correct block configuration.
Thank you in advance for investigating this.
Kind regards,
Frits
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