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

Problem:
The client needs to manually translate the translated product SKUs in WooCommerce, but finds that the field is locked and cannot edit them using the usual steps in WPML.

Solution:
We, the WPML Support team, recommend not changing SKU settings for translated products, as our "WooCommerce Multilingual & Multi-Currency" plugin is designed to sync details like price and SKU between original products and their translations. Changing the SKU can cause unexpected behavior in aspects such as stock. Instead of translating the products, we suggest creating a separate product per language. To do this:
1. Change the language in the top administration bar.
2. Create a new product for each language, which will result in separate products per language.

If this solution is not relevant to your case, because it is outdated or simply does not apply to your situation, we suggest opening a new support ticket. We also highly recommend reviewing known issues, checking the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us on the WPML support forum.

This is the technical support forum for WPML - the multilingual WordPress plugin.

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This topic contains 3 replies, has 2 voices.

Last updated by Andreas W. 9 months, 3 weeks ago.

Assisted by: Andreas W..

Author Posts
March 5, 2024 at 11:02 am #15373907

larryL-9

How can I manually translate SKU's for translated products? We've tried the following but the SKU is still locked:

- Click on the WPML > Settings > Custom Fields Translation
- Click on the "Show system fields" link
- Look for "_sku" and click on the "lock" icon
- Now that the option is "unlocked", select the "Translate" option
- Click on the Save button
- Click on the Products > All Products
- Click to edit the desired product
- Click on the Save button
- Click to edit the translation
- Edit the SKU in the secondary languages

March 5, 2024 at 12:17 pm #15374385

Andreas W.
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) German (Deutsch )

Timezone: America/Lima (GMT-05:00)

Hello,

It is not recommended to change this setting, as our addon "WooCommerce Multilingual & Multi-Currency" is supposed to sync such product details like price and SKU between original products and their translations.

Changing the SKU can lead to unexpected behavior when it comes to stock or other details.

What you could do instead, is not translate your products and create one product per language.

Change the language inside the top admin bar and then create a new product to create independent products per language.

Best regards
Andreas

March 5, 2024 at 12:29 pm #15374493

larryL-9

Hi

We already have translations in place and just need to add different SKU's. The problem is that the translated products don't have all the same information (as much information) at the original.

You're idea is interesting but this would then not be a translation but a different product. So, when someone is on a products and want to see it in a different language, they won't be able to.

March 5, 2024 at 1:43 pm #15374772

Andreas W.
Supporter

Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) German (Deutsch )

Timezone: America/Lima (GMT-05:00)

Thank you for your message!

The translations do need to have the same SKU as their original counterparts.

This is how our addon "WooCommerce Multilingual" works together with "WooCommerce" and this is why we lock those fields by default.

It might be even more a matter of WooCommerce's logic, as the translation and the original product are supposed to be the same product, with the same stock and they can not use different SKUs.

The only workaround would be to create independent products per language.