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

Problem:
The client is unable to automatically translate the URL slug when using WPML. Despite having automatic translations enabled, the URL field remains empty in the translation editor and defaults to the English slug, which does not meet the client's needs as they often differ from the page title.
Solution:
1. To address the issue of untranslated URL slugs, we recommend following the steps in our guide on translating page slugs. You can find the guide here: Translating Page Slugs.
2. If you prefer the URL slug to auto-translate based on the page title, select the 'Auto-generate from title (default)' option in WPML -> Settings -> Translated documents options -> Page URL.
3. For manual translation of the slug, choose the 'Translate' option in the same settings area. This will allow the slug to appear in the Translation Editor for manual adjustment.
4. If these settings do not resolve the issue, we have also provided a screencast with additional steps that might help. View the screencast here: WPML Slug Translation Screencast.

Please note that the solution provided might be outdated or not applicable to your specific case. We highly recommend checking related known issues at WPML Known Issues, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If the issue persists, please open a new support ticket.

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This topic contains 6 replies, has 0 voices.

Last updated by Carlos Rojas 2 weeks, 6 days ago.

Assisted by: Carlos Rojas.

Author Posts
January 16, 2025 at 9:54 pm #16604027

rannooo

Background of the issue:
I am trying to translate my new page, but I noticed that the URL slug is not translated. Instead, all languages use the English version. When I open one language in the translation editor, the URL box is just empty.

Symptoms:
The URL slug is not translated automatically, and the URL box is empty in the translation editor.

Questions:
Why is the URL slug not translated automatically?
Why is the URL box empty in the translation editor?

January 17, 2025 at 2:19 pm #16606512

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Hello,
Thank you for contacting us

Please follow the steps described in this guide to translate the slugs correctly: https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/translating-page-slugs/

Regards,
Carlos

January 17, 2025 at 2:59 pm #16606988

rannooo

I followed the documentation but everything was configured correctly. It used to work nicely before but somehow it is broken now.

Screenshot 2025-01-17 at 09.57.36.png
January 20, 2025 at 6:38 am #16611778

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Hi,

Please select the 'Auto-generate from title (default)' option as described in this section: https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/translating-page-slugs/#translate-page-and-post-url-slugs and the slug will be automatically translated with the content.

January 20, 2025 at 12:46 pm #16613464

rannooo

But I don't want to use the title for URL translation. I want to use the US EN customized slug as it most of the time differs from the page title :/

Screenshot 2025-01-20 at 07.45.55.png
January 20, 2025 at 1:02 pm #16613562

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Then, in this case, you will need to select the second option: 'Translate' as described in the documentation: https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/translating-page-slugs/#translate-page-and-post-url-slugs and the slugs will appear in the Translation Editor when translating the content, that way you can set the slug in the secondary language.

January 20, 2025 at 4:50 pm #16614853

rannooo

It is selected and it used to work nicely. But at the moment automatic translations are not translating URLs (neither through the Translation Editor nor via Translation Management)

January 21, 2025 at 8:55 am #16616833

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Hmmmm, that's very strange.

1.- Could you share a URL (frontend) where the issue can be seen?

2.- I would like to take a closer look at the configuration. I have set your next message private so you can securely share the access credentials to the site.

Please confirm you created a full site backup before sharing the credentials that you can use to restore the site if necessary.

January 21, 2025 at 1:14 pm #16618638

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Please add the administrator role to the user shared so I can access the WPML configuration.

January 21, 2025 at 1:15 pm #16618644

rannooo

Yes, sorry, fixed now.

January 21, 2025 at 1:21 pm #16618687

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Thanks!

I re-saved the slug translation configuration and then updated the translation to Danish and I can see the slug for translation -see attached image-

FireShot Capture 072 - Advanced Translation Editor - WPML - e.ate.wpml.org.png
January 21, 2025 at 1:37 pm #16618828

rannooo

Yes, I can also see the field. The issue is that I have automatic translations enabled (meaning when I open a language with Translation Editor then everything is automatically translated immediately) but *URL field is not auto-translated* (everything else is). So the URL falls back to English URL slug which is especially problematic because most of the time I use Translation manager to bulk auto translate 10+ languages and I don't have time to check/fix every language.

January 21, 2025 at 1:40 pm #16618852

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Hi,

Then you must select 'Auto-generate from title (default)' option in WPML -> Settings -> Translated documents options -> Page URL

January 21, 2025 at 1:51 pm #16619009

rannooo

Hmmm, yes this worked nicely but then it uses page title and not the English URL slug for auto-translation.

Isn't there a way to auto-translate the English URL slug instead of page title (as most of the time they are different for my pages)? If not, then I am a bit confused how it worked before 🤔

January 21, 2025 at 1:59 pm #16619100

Carlos Rojas
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

There is another option, closer to what you are looking for, but it takes a few more clicks for each translation. I have created this screencast describing the steps to follow: hidden link