[Resolved] ACF fields not visible with WPML translation editor
This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: You are unable to see ACF fields in the WPML translation editor when trying to translate them. Solution: If you're experiencing this issue, we recommend you follow these steps: 1. Go to your database manager, such as PhpMyAdmin. 2. Navigate to the "wp_options" table. 3. Search for the "icl_sitepress_settings" key. 4. Delete this key. 5. Access your site's dashboard. 6. Configure WPML settings. 7. Edit all the custom field groups. 8. Save all the field groups. 9. Edit the product in the default language. 10. Make a minor edit and update it. 11. Update the translation using the translation editor.
Please ensure to backup your database before proceeding with these steps.
If this solution does not resolve your issue or seems irrelevant due to being outdated or not applicable to your case, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent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 problem persists, please open a new support ticket.
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.
Background of the issue:
translate ACF fields with the WPML translation editor, but the fields aren't visible.
Symptoms:
ACF fields not visible in WPML translation editor.
Questions:
How can I translate ACF fields with the WPML translation editor? With or without automatic translation. It's not the first website with this issue.
Thanks for contacting WPML forums support. I'll be glad to help you today.
1) Please go to WPML-> String Translation and search for the ACF labels.
2) It's not related to the issue, but according to your Debug.info, the WP memory limit needs to be increased. PHP memory is fine, but WordPress uses 40Mb as default. The minimum requirements for WPML are 128 MB. (Kindly check this page https://wpml.org/home/minimum-requirements/)
You can increase it by adding the following code in your wp-config.php file right before the /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */ line:
Maybe the problem wasn't clear. I don't need to translate the ACF labels (I know where to find the String Translation), but all my ACF fields aren't visible when using the WPML translation editor. For example, I should see ACF flexible content fields, but they aren't visible in the WPML translation editor.
I've increased the WP memory limit, but this doesn't solve the problem.
Thanks for your reply. I would need to look closely at your site, so I would need to request temporary access (WP-Admin and FTP) Preferably to a test site where the problem has been replicated.
Your answer will be private, meaning only you and I can access it.
❌ Please backup your database and website ❌
✙ I need your permission to deactivate and reactivate the plugins and themes and change site configurations. This is also why the backup is critical.
✙ I also need your permission to take a local copy of your site to debug the issue without affecting your live site.
Thanks for the access details. I checked your field group, and you cloned the block field groups to use them in the field groups.
The translation option for these block field groups is expert, and the translation preference for all fields is set to Copy Once.
Please set all of your block field groups' translation options to "Same Fields Across Languages" and save them. Then, please update the post/page in the default language along with its translation.
Thanks for your help. I've changed all field groups to "Same Fields Across Languages" and tried updating the default language to see if the fields show up in the WPML Translation Editor, but unfortunately the fields still aren't visible.
Thanks for your reply. I've installed a local copy of your site and was able to fix the issue by the following steps:
1- Go to your database manager, for example, PhpMyAdmin
2- Go to the "wp_options" table
3- Search for the "icl_sitepress_settings" key
4- Delete this key
5- Go to your site's dashboard
6- Configure WPML
7- Edit all the custom field groups
8- Save all the field groups
9- Edit the product in the default language
10- Make a minor edit and update it
11- Update the translation using the translation editor
❌ Please backup your database before the above steps ❌
Thanks! That seems to have fixed it, great! I just don't understand why this went wrong in the first place. It isn't my first website with this problem and it's a lot of work to 'fix' it. Could you tell me how to make sure it won't happen in the future?
