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

Problem:
The client experiences a white screen when attempting to translate a string in WPML by navigating to WPML > Translations and clicking on a string. Despite enabling WP_DEBUG, no PHP errors are shown, only a JavaScript error related to 'cssRules' in the console.
Solution:
1. Enable WordPress debugging to capture any PHP errors that might not be displaying. Edit the wp-config.php file and insert the following lines:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);<br />define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', false);<br />define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', true);

Then, try to reproduce the issue.
2. Check for plugin or theme compatibility issues:
- Create a full backup of your website.
- Deactivate all plugins except for WPML and its add-ons.
- Switch to a default WordPress theme like TwentySeventeen.
- Test to see if the issue persists. If it does not, reactivate plugins one by one to identify the problematic plugin.
It's advisable to perform these tests in a staging environment if possible.

If these steps do not resolve the issue or if the solution seems outdated or irrelevant to your specific case, we recommend opening a new support ticket. Additionally, please 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. For further assistance, visit our support forum 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 5 replies, has 1 voice.

Last updated by Bobby 1 month, 1 week ago.

Assisted by: Bobby.

Author Posts
March 28, 2025 at 12:22 pm #16872714

Romain

Background of the issue:
I am trying to translate a string by going to WPML > Translations, clicking to translate on any page, and then clicking on a string to translate. The issue can be seen at this link: hidden link.

Symptoms:
I get a white screen when I click on a string to translate.

Questions:
Why do I get a white screen when trying to translate a string?
How can I resolve the white screen issue in WPML translations?

March 28, 2025 at 6:50 pm #16874411

Mihai Apetrei
WPML Supporter since 03/2018

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Europe/Bucharest (GMT+03:00)

Hi there.

Receiving a blank page usually means that there is a chance of a fatal error taking place or an existing incompatibility issue between WPML and (at least) one of the active plugins or the active theme.

1. Can you please enable the WordPress debug feature and recreate the issue to see if you are getting an actual error message instead of just the blank page?

This will allow us to see if any PHP errors are being produced.

More Info:
https://codex.wordpress.org/Debugging_in_WordPress

In order to do that, edit the wp-config.php file inside your WordPress directory and insert the following lines:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', false );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', true );

Now, please reproduce the issue once again.

Now, if you see more information than just a blank screen, please share a screenshot with us so that we can see what error is causing that blank page to show up.

2. We can also test for a compatibility issue.

Can you please let us know if this issue happens even when only the WPML plugins are active, and you are using a default WordPress theme?

Please try the following steps so that we can test for a compatibility-related issue:

- create a full website backup
- disable all plugins except WPML and its add-ons
- check if the issue is happening again

- if it's not, reactivate your plugins one by one, checking every time if the issue shows up again so that you can understand which plugin is causing that issue

If the issue happens even with the non-WPML plugins disabled:
- leave all the non-WPML plugins deactivated

- switch to a default theme like TwentySeventeen

- try to recreate the issue now

If you have the chance, it would be best to do this in a staging (testing) environment.

Please let us know how that goes and if following any of these steps solved your issue or brought any change.

We will be waiting for your response.

Mihai Apetrei

March 31, 2025 at 10:59 am #16878771

Romain

Hi,

I activate the WP_DEBUG but I don't get any PHP error. THe only error I see is in the JS console:

hook.js:608 SecurityError: Failed to read the 'cssRules' property from 'CSSStyleSheet': Cannot access rules
at application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:91:12978
at Array.forEach (<anonymous>)
at application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:91:12931
at application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:91:13172
at L (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:91:14570)
at r2 (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:91:17301)
at vn (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:13:22992)
at wu (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:15:25090)
at qr (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:14:24725)
at Wr (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:14:24653)
overrideMethod @ hook.js:608Comprendre cette erreur
application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:13

Uncaught SecurityError: Failed to read the 'cssRules' property from 'CSSStyleSheet': Cannot access rules
at application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:91:12978
at Array.forEach (<anonymous>)
at application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:91:12931
at application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:91:13172
at L (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:91:14570)
at r2 (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:91:17301)
at vn (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:13:22992)
at wu (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:15:25090)
at qr (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:14:24725)
at Wr (application-b0679dcc577f8b664129266caeac87690d649b01d02015cb25a282d9aacb1da0.js:14:24653)

I also tried deactivating all the plugins but WPML and it is still not working.

Do you have any idea of what could cause this?

April 1, 2025 at 6:01 am #16881369

Bobby
WPML Supporter since 04/2015

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: America/Los_Angeles (GMT-07:00)

Hi there,

Did you recently migrate your site by any chance?

Please go to WPML->Support->ATE error logs and share with me the top 5 errors logged there.

April 1, 2025 at 10:49 am #16882424

Romain

Hi,

The WPML->Support->ATE error logs are empty but for whatever reason the plugin is now working fine 🙂

April 2, 2025 at 4:15 am #16885256

Bobby
WPML Supporter since 04/2015

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: America/Los_Angeles (GMT-07:00)

That's great, please let me know if the issue returns otherwise the fact that the ATE error logs is empty is a good sign.