Slow performance on translations

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

Problem:
The client is experiencing slow performance when changing languages on their site using the WPML plugin. The first language change is particularly slow, affecting page speed scores and possibly user navigation.

Solution:
We recommend updating to the latest versions of WordPress, WPML plugins, and other themes and plugins. Initially, test with only WPML plugins active, then gradually activate other plugins one by one to identify when the performance starts degrading. This step will help determine if the issue is specifically with WPML or another factor.

Ensure that caching is enabled on the site, as it can significantly improve performance. The client is using W3 Total Cache, which should also be configured on the development site.

We also suggest consulting the performance improvement tips listed on our forum at https://wpml.org/forums/topic/how-can-i-improve-performance-of-a-slow-site/#post-15350474.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, or if the solution becomes outdated, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have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 at WPML support forum for further assistance.

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.

Tagged: Performance

This topic contains 4 replies, has 1 voice.

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

Assisted by: Carlos Rojas.

Author	Posts
May 19, 2025 at 9:28 am #17047382
crossjoinS	Background of the issue: We are experiencing a very slow performance of part of the WPML plugin when we want to change languages on our current site hidden link and our under development site. This is affecting our page speed score and possibly our user navigation. Symptoms: The issue is on language switching or opening on translation languages. After the first change, the site seems to have no problems, but the first change is always very slow. Questions: What can we do to overcome the slow performance when changing languages? Why is the first language change always very slow?
May 19, 2025 at 9:48 am #17047495
Waqas Bin Hasan WPML Supporter since 05/2014 Languages: English (English ) Timezone: Asia/Karachi (GMT+05:00)	Hi, Reference to our recent chat, I've moved it to this ticket so it is not closed as you requested. Please feel free to share your findings after consulting with https://wpml.org/forums/topic/how-can-i-improve-performance-of-a-slow-site/#post-15350474 and one of my colleagues 'll continue helping on the matter. Regards.
May 22, 2025 at 8:41 am #17060234
crossjoinS	Good morning Waqas, we've run through all the documentation you provided all the points and still we notice the same problem. How could we go on about resolving this issue?
May 26, 2025 at 8:27 am #17071592
Carlos Rojas WPML Supporter since 03/2017 Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+02:00)	Hello, My name is Carlos and I will continue working on this ticket Please share the access credentials to the site in your next message, which I have set private. Confirm you have created a full site backup that you can restore if necessary.
May 28, 2025 at 10:05 am #17082634
crossjoinS	Good morning Carlos. I do't feel confortable giving you full access to the website, would you be willing to have a call with our ITC team and see the problem?