Background of the issue:
I am trying to resolve an issue with my site where the WPML plugin is modifying the main WordPress rule in the .htaccess file, which is affecting my permalink structure. My site was working fine without any changes, but suddenly I encountered this problem. Siteground support informed me that the plugin added the /en part, which was breaking the permalinks. They suggested contacting WPML support. Here are the relevant screenshots: hidden link, hidden link, hidden link. The .htaccess file should have the following lines: RewriteBase / and RewriteRule . /index.php [L]. I also noticed a warning for another error related to the plugin: hidden link. My language settings are configured to use different languages in directories, with English as the default language.
Your Chat Transcript on 01/08/2025
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: Hi, my site suddenly went offline and I made no changes - I restored a back up - it was ok - then I deactivate and delete yoast premium pliugin and it os offlien again - playahondaapartment.com Thanks
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: This question is related to website: playahondaapartment.com
Luca V.: Hello! Welcome to our live chat
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: hi
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: it was working perfectly for so long - no changes and then suddenly gives me an error
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: I dont understand the error log
Luca V.: I read of the problem with the site. Allow me please to have just some time for trying it and see what could be the case, thanks!
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: thanks
Luca V.: Thanks a lot for your patience. The problem with the site was created by your multilanguage plugin. The plugin edited your main WordPress rule in the .htaccess file, which I show here > hidden link , adding the /en part. This was breaking your permalink structure
Luca V.: Once I removed the /en part, the site started opening again
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: wow thanks!! I would have never imagined that
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: how did yiu remove the en part - in the htaccess? Because I ma scared that if I change any setting in wpml it might crash again?
Luca V.: In the two lines of code I show here > hidden link
Luca V.: then one on line 21 must be just this way RewriteBase /
Luca V.: while the one on line 25, this way RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
Luca V.: so you literally remove just the /en part or any other language the plugin may add
Luca V.: At the moment the website works on my end
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: can you pls refresh? its giving me: Internal Server Error The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request. Please contact the server administrator at webmaster to inform them of the time this error occurred, and the actions you performed just before this error. More information about this error may be available in the server error log. Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Luca V.: Oh, this would be again the problem you had before with the multilanguage plugin and if I check now, it added again the en/ part > hidden link
Luca V.: Try removing it while with me 🙂
Luca V.: But if it continues behaving this way, my best suggestion will be to try contacting the plugin support, as they may need to take a look for resolving the problem permanently
Luca V.: apologies, just checking if we have connection
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: i am here
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: looking at htaccess
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: so I should delete en/ - that is surprising as it has always been fine so many years
Luca V.: In the website there seems to be the warning for another error of this plugin > hidden link which may be related
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: the wpml serting is the following
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: Choose how to determine which language visitors see contents in Different languages in directories ( (hidden link - English, hidden link - Spanish) ) Use directory for default language
Luca V.: but as they also indicate there, they invite you to contact their support, which you should be able to do in this section > https://wpml.org/forums/forum/english-support/
Luca V.: We do have specialists that can troubleshoot and resolve site errors for you, like for this plugin and the service can be requested any time in this section > hidden link . However, when contacted they should be able to resolve what is their plugin causing
Luca V.: As the problem it's not the language setting but the plugin changing the main WordPress rule and breaking your permalinks, together with the other database error they reported for their tables
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: I noticed that th translation was not complete for that post so I completed it
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: maybe that was a proble,
Luca V.: I really hope so but on the contrary, the best we can recommend will be to contact them as they will be able to resolve it for you
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: can you please do what you did to the htaccess before and I will not touch anything so that I can atleat have my website live while I go on holiday
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: and I will contact them - please can you send me a transcript of this conversation so I know how to communicate the error
Luca V.: Of course, I have removed now the en parts from the file and the site it's back
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: thansk very very much
Luca V.: When you will open the ticket, indicate them that the main wp rule is being modified
Kajari Dumra Kennedy: will do
Luca V.: this is the screenshot > hidden link
Luca V.: and there is also this other error indicated in the dashboard > hidden link
Luca V.: Once you report them those, they will then know what to look for
Symptoms:
The main WordPress rule in the .htaccess file is being modified by the WPML plugin, adding the /en part and breaking the permalink structure. This results in an Internal Server Error and a 500 Internal Server Error when trying to use an ErrorDocument. There is also a warning for another error related to the plugin.
Questions:
Why is the WPML plugin modifying the main WordPress rule in the .htaccess file?
How can I prevent the WPML plugin from breaking my permalink structure?
