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Supporter timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)

This topic contains 15 replies, has 1 voice.

Last updated by Jasmin 17 hours, 41 minutes ago.

Assisted by: Paola Mendiburu.

Author Posts
November 5, 2025 at 9:36 am #17549017

Jasmin

Background of the issue:
see https://wpml.org/forums/topic/menu-sync-time-out-issue-workaround-or-patch/
I wish ticket, not chatting.

I am trying to update the site hidden link using WPML, specifically focusing on modifications, translations, and menu synchronization. A developer identified that the WPML menu sync feature is resource-intensive, leading to Cloudflare timeouts. They attempted optimizations like clearing the PYS events queue table, installing WP-Optimize, logging database queries, running menu sync via CLI, and considering caching options like Kinsta's Redis cache. The issue seems related to the n+1 query problem due to the high number of menu options and languages.

Symptoms:
The menu sync feature in WPML is causing Cloudflare to time out due to high resource usage and a large number of database queries.

Questions:
Can WPML authors suggest a workaround or patch to make the menu sync feature less resource-intensive?
Is there a way to solve the n+1 query problem in WPML's menu sync feature?
Can WPML stream output to prevent Cloudflare from timing out?

November 5, 2025 at 10:52 am #17549344

Carlos Rojas
WPML Supporter since 03/2017

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Hello,
Thank you for contacting us

1.- Please describe step-by-step how to reproduce the issue on the site.

2.- Share the access credentials to the site in your next message, which I have set private. This way, we will be able to reproduce the steps described in the previous point and check the configuration.

Confirm you have created a full site backup that you can restore if necessary.

Looking forward to your message.
Regards,
Carlos

November 6, 2025 at 10:24 am #17553049

Carlos Rojas
WPML Supporter since 03/2017

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Hi Jasmin,
Thank you very much for sharing the credentials requested.

I was able to reproduce the issue, and I will need to run more tests to isolate its cause. Therefore, I kindly ask you to create a staging site with a copy of the production site (you can use the WP Staging plugin for free), where we can run all necessary tests without affecting the live site.

I have set your next message private so you can share the credentials privately.

Looking forward to your message.

November 10, 2025 at 7:14 am #17560796

Jasmin

Hello

Is all ok?

Jasmin

November 10, 2025 at 9:44 am #17561127

Carlos Rojas
WPML Supporter since 03/2017

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Hi Jasmin,
Thank you for creating the staging site.

I'm running some tests to identify the cause of the issue. I will get back to you as soon as I get more information.

November 10, 2025 at 9:54 am #17561189

Carlos Rojas
WPML Supporter since 03/2017

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Hi again,

I ran several troubleshooting steps, but the issue persists. I need your authorization to create a copy of the staging site to escalate this ticket to our 2nd tier of support.

November 12, 2025 at 9:07 am #17569414

Jasmin

Hello Carlos
Creating the copy on your end, I guess? I see no problem. Or do you need me to create a staging site of the testing site I sent you? Whichever, my answer is yes.

Thank you!

Jasmin

November 12, 2025 at 9:46 am #17569608

Carlos Rojas
WPML Supporter since 03/2017

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español )

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

Hi Jasmin,
Thank you very much for your authorization

I couldn't create a copy of the staging site, but I have escalated this ticket to our 2nd tier of support, where our specialists will take a deeper look and will try to find a solution.

In the meantime, please don't make any changes on the staging site.

I will keep you updated on the evolution of this ticket. Thank you very much for your patience and understanding!

November 14, 2025 at 1:47 pm #17579380

Jasmin

Hello Carlos
Well noted, that site will stay as it is.

By the way, I don't receive notifications from WPML anymore. Has something changed in WPML support system?

Thanks

Jasmin

November 15, 2025 at 10:30 pm #17581070

Jasmin

Hello

Any updates?

Jasmin

November 17, 2025 at 1:26 pm #17584284

Paola Mendiburu
WPML Supporter since 11/2020

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano )

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

Hi there!

This is Paola and I will continue with the ticket as Carlos is on holidays.

I’ve checked everything with our second-tier team, and the issue is related to Cloudflare’s execution time limits, which unfortunately cannot be increased on the free plan.

Even if you raise the PHP memory limit and the max execution time on your hosting (Kinsta), Cloudflare will still interrupt the process once it reaches its timeout limit.

To move forward, there are a few possible workarounds:

1. Translate the menu manually
This avoids triggering the long process that Cloudflare blocks.

2. Temporarily disable Cloudflare
Once disabled, you can run the menu synchronization or translation process without Cloudflare stopping the request.

3. Upgrade to Cloudflare Pro
The Pro plan allows adjusting the timeout limit (up to 100 seconds), which should prevent the interruption.

November 17, 2025 at 2:45 pm #17584553

Jasmin

Hello Parola

We are already CLF PRO plan... Can you tell us where exactly we can increase the time?
nevertheless, that's not the fixing... Why is it taking so long? I was never like that. Could you please tell me the reason? And how to fix it?

Jasmin

November 17, 2025 at 9:33 pm #17586185

Paola Mendiburu
WPML Supporter since 11/2020

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano )

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

Hi Jasmin!

Sorry if there was delay in your ticket.

Please ask Cloudflare to increase it. Otherwise you can use the other 2 options mentioned as workaround.

November 20, 2025 at 8:41 am #17594522

Jasmin

Hello Paloa
Could you please tell me the reason why it became so long? The DB is LARGE due to WPML creating data. We hired a developer, but he can't solve it, so we're asking WPML support for the proper solution.
Thanks

Jasmin

November 20, 2025 at 9:56 am #17594779

Paola Mendiburu
WPML Supporter since 11/2020

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Italian (Italiano )

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

Hi Jasmin,

Please follow this documentation in order to optimize WPML tables of the database:
https://wpml.org/documentation/support/wpml-tables/optimizing-wpml-database-tables/