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

Problem:
The client is experiencing a 'cURL error 28' while trying to activate the WPML plugin, indicating a timeout during the connection to WPML.org. This issue is similar to a previous one encountered on another website.
Solution:
1. We recommended the client to force a connection check by navigating to Dashboard → Updates and clicking the Check again button.
2. We advised checking the Installer Support Log under WPML → Support for specific error details.
3. If the issue persists, we suggested contacting the hosting provider to investigate server-side network connectivity issues and possibly whitelist certain domains.
4. As these steps did not resolve the issue, we escalated the ticket to our 2nd-tier support team for further investigation.
5. Our specialists recommended adding the following code in the wp-config.php file, right above the line /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:

define( 'OTGS_INSTALLER_SITE_KEY_WPML', 'your-site-key' );

Replace 'your-site-key' with the actual site key.

If these steps do not resolve your issue, or if the solution seems outdated or irrelevant to your case, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If the problem persists, please open a new support ticket here.

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.

This topic contains 4 replies, has 0 voices.

Last updated by Carlos Rojas 1 month, 1 week ago.

Assisted by: Carlos Rojas.

Author Posts
January 16, 2026 at 1:19 pm

rama-visionI

Heyy there, reaching out because i have the same exact error i had a year ago with another website. Here is my previous support ticket https://wpml.org/forums/topic/activating-wpml-plugin-unable-to-get-data-from-service-detailed-error-curl-error-28-failed-to/, can you please re-do the same thing as last year so i can activate wpml for this new website ? thanks

January 19, 2026 at 9:40 am #17741582

Carlos Rojas
WPML Supporter since 03/2017

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

Hi there,

Here you will find the list of IPs of Cloudfront: hidden link

Please ask your hosting providers to whitelist these IPs and check again.

January 25, 2026 at 8:58 pm #17760503

rama-visionI

Hey there, just a quick update, so i have been in discussion with godaddy's support for the previous 5 days on a daily basis for 1-2 hours, they even made me purchase a security add-on that will fix whitelisting 🙂 and of course it didn't as it only allowed whitelisting inbound traffic. Not outbond connections. They're a complete time wasters unfortunatly, and there is no way i can change the hosting atm as i have over 20 websites there.
At the end, conclusion is that they can't unblock / whitelist traffic going from the shared hosting server to these IP addresses.
Any other workaround ? the website is a simple one landing page, so won't be needing updates for the wpml and all features. No way it can be simply activated as i have the licence and bought the plugin already ?

January 26, 2026 at 9:51 am #17761665

Carlos Rojas
WPML Supporter since 03/2017

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

Hi there,
Thank you for your message

I have escalated this ticket to our 2nd-tier support team so they can further investigate the issue and recommend the next steps.

January 26, 2026 at 10:10 am #17761698

Carlos Rojas
WPML Supporter since 03/2017

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

Hi there,

Our 2nd-tier specialists recommended pasting this code in the wp-config.pho file located in the root of the site folder, right above the line /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:

define( 'OTGS_INSTALLER_SITE_KEY_WPML', 'your-site-key' );

Change 'your-site-key' with your actual site key.