[Resolved] Some of my site (english version) is translated into french.
This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: The client reported that the English version of their website was displaying mixed content in English and French, including forms and property details. This issue seemed related to the translation settings in the theme's backend, where languages were mixed without any recent changes made by the client.
Solution: We advised the client to ensure they are using the latest versions of the WPML plugins by checking for updates in the Plugins > Add New > Commercial section. We also suggested re-adding strings in the default language and re-translating them to check if the issue persists. Additionally, we recommended not translating labels from the theme options but using the WPML String Translation instead. If the problem continues, we suggested creating a staging site for further debugging to avoid issues on the live site.
Please note that this solution might be outdated or not applicable to your specific case.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 issue persists, please open a new support ticket for personalized assistance.
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Background of the issue:
I just noticed that the english version of my website (the main version), is half english, half french (Forms, propety details, etc...). This is not the first time this is happening. It looks like it has to do with the translation section of my theme back end where I can see words in french, others in english, while I did not change anything on my website for days, it's just happening like that. WPML is the MOST FRUSTRATING PLUGIN I have ever used, seriously... I have spent so much time, months, to translate my website, but at some point, my job always get reverted while my website was perfect... This is terrible... It really is... Despite all your interventions to fix it, here we are again... So I am hoping this time you can help me fix this issue for good.
Symptoms:
I just noticed that the english version of my website (the main version), is half english, half french (Forms, propety details, etc...). This is not the first time this is happening. It looks like it has to do with the translation section of my theme back end where I can see words in french, others in english, while I did not change anything on my website for days, it's just happening like that. WPML is the MOST FRUSTRATING PLUGIN I have ever used, seriously... I have spent so much time, months, to translate my website, but at some point, my job always get reverted while my website was perfect... This is terrible... It really is... Despite all your interventions to fix it, here we are again... So I am hoping this time you can help me fix this issue for good.
Questions:
I just noticed that the english version of my website (the main version), is half english, half french (Forms, propety details, etc...). This is not the first time this is happening. It looks like it has to do with the translation section of my theme back end where I can see words in french, others in english, while I did not change anything on my website for days, it's just happening like that. WPML is the MOST FRUSTRATING PLUGIN I have ever used, seriously... I have spent so much time, months, to translate my website, but at some point, my job always get reverted while my website was perfect... This is terrible... It really is... Despite all your interventions to fix it, here we are again... So I am hoping this time you can help me fix this issue for good.
1) In order to expedite handling your support requests, can you please share WPML support debug information from your site.
- To give debug information, login to your site and go to WPML → Support. From there click on the “debug information” link at the bottom of the page. - Once on the “debug information” page, select the entire content of the text box and copy it. - Now go back to our support forum, find debug information box and paste it.
More information on the link: https://wpml.org/faq/provide-debug-information-faster-support
- You provided a link about WPML not set to english as a default language. I am not sure how this link could be related to my issue as I purchased WPML for this website in 2025 and the link you provided show a issue that was resolved in 2021. This issue will be resolved upon the release of WPML 4.5 (end of September 2021).
- I updated WPML plugins to their latest versions as per your request.
- You are asking me to re-add strings correctly in the default language, re-translate, and check if it works fine and if any specific steps still cause issue for you.
=> Why should I be the one spending hours again to do this?? Am I responsible for this issue? Can you do it yourself, so WPML supporters understands the headache that those issues are?? This already happened in the past and I am pretty sure it will happen again... Not Fair...
For your information, from my english version dashboard, I went to Houzez Theme Options > Translations and I translated again all the sections that were translated in french and that should have stayed in the default language "English". (Those sections were mixed between French and English) => Please see my screenshot attached.
All the Strings that I retranslated into english by this method are now showing correctly on the front-end, however, many strings (or translations) on the english front-end version are still showing in french language instead of english and I don't know how to fix this.
I have been spending months fighting with WPML and the translation of my website that was at some point fully and correctly translated, and suddenly, after weeks, without touching anything, got all mixed up...
HOW DO WE FIX THIS AND MAKE SURE THE FIXING ARE FOREVER. PLEASE HELP!!!
Looking at some of the String Translations in the original language and they are in French language (Please see my screenshot attached). I never did that... How do we fix this??? Why?? Why this is happening.... Why should I spend AGAIN weeks to fix WPML issues... That is terrible....
We would be glad to help and debug further, but I can not tell you now how this happened. That is why I suggested you see if any specific steps you do cause this, since it might be that you are using some different steps from what we expect. You do not need to add all strings, 1 string would be enough and see if something reverts it.
I understand your frustration, and we would be glad to help and check if you are not for this suggestion. It just might be quicker for you to spot steps you do than us.
Also, your last reply might be a clue, you should not see a French string there but an English one. Do you maybe switch languages from top bar and add theme options strings in different languages that way?
Other than that, do you have a staging site where we can check and debug this further? We avoid debugging on the production site to avoid any further issues. Make sure you have a backup just in case.
And after investigating the Translate Tab from the houzez theme options, it turns out this is doesn't really have a direct relation to WPML, but rather, this is an option for users to change the labels and strings in case their site is not in English and they only have one language,
So I disabled WPML and checked how this option is working, and found out that WPML simply detects the values you assigned there and lets you translate it from String Translation.
So with WPML, do not translate those labels from theme options > translate, but rather from String Translation,
The translate tab is available for users who do not have WPML (nor multiple languages) and would like to translate their admin labels and strings directly from the theme.
I never translated labels from theme options > translate. I only translate Strings from WPML String Translation.
My understanding is that you are not able to explain what happened to my website, and why some labels were in french in the Theme options > translation... This is frustrating...
Also, after your intervention today (I did not modify anything to my website since days, and this morning, my french version (front end) was perfect), but now, the visuals are completely broken on the french version...
What did you do to my website? Can you fix this please? My website is online and it is so frustrating to see it broken, after all, after it was perfect, without me doing anything...
I have not changed anything, I simply tested how houzez work on a local site and tested my theory,
Sorry if my reply wasn't as convincing, but I really thought my reply was clear enough to explain this behavior,
I understand now that you have never typed those labels in french there before, either they got loaded automatically upon the installation of the site, or I'm missing something else (I do not have the full history on how these changes were made nor a clear guide on how to replicate the issue)
I kept testing if WPML forces the change to these labels, but it doesn't seem to be the case, so either we find a concrete guide to replicate or we assume that this is not WPML related (especially when this function is specifically useful for sites that are not multilingual) .
In this case, I assumed that someone had to type them manually there which caused the language mismatch.
I ask you to please have trust in us as we won't change anything without your permission, it is against our support policies to do such drastic changes,
My advice would be to simply contact me directly if you ever see your labels switch to French in the future. That would make it easier for me to track the cause.
