Background of the issue:
I am trying to update a page or post in the default language (English) without affecting the translation in Welsh. When changes are made in the default language, the Welsh version becomes unpublished and shows a 404 error. I want to change this setting so that small tweaks in English do not require redoing the Welsh translation.
Symptoms:
When a change is made to a page or post in the default language, the translated version in Welsh becomes unpublished and results in a 404 error.
Questions:
How can I change the setting to prevent the Welsh translation from being unpublished when updating the English version?
The Custom posts in question are using the WPML side by side editor. I have used WPML on other sites but always used the WordPress Editor, as i use WPBakery page builder.
I then just copy content from English to the Welsh post and add the translation that way. This was has never given me any of the the issues my client is seeing on their site.
Could i switch all custom posts (Resources) concerned to use the WordPress Editor by default without affecting the existing translations?
To ensure the quickest and most accurate support, please provide your debug information so I can look at some of your configurations. We have an excellent article on how to locate it here: https://wpml.org/faq/provide-debug-information-faster-support/.
I suggest avoiding changing how you translate the pages. As a workaround, you can try checking the "Minor Edit - Don't update translation" checkbox before updating the original.
Also check the following:
- Go to WPML → Settings → Translated documents options.
- Review: “When you publish the original post: Publish the post translations” and related options. If Welsh is being set to Draft/Unpublished when English changes status, adjust these, so translations stay published unless you explicitly change them.
Other than that, we need to take a deeper look to find the root cause of the problem.
As a first step, we need to check for compatibility issues. To do so, if it's possible for you, try the following:
**IMPORTANT:** Please try this in a staging environment or at least with a backup of your site files and database before continuing.
Disable all plugins except the ones needed to reproduce the problem and WPML-related and temporarily change the theme to a default WordPress such as Twenty Twenty-five.
Is the issue resolved with these settings? If so, please reactivate one by one to see which conflicts.
The "Minor Edit - Don't update translation" does not appear in the side by side editor, but in the WP editor when making an update on the original page.
Regarding the setting:
For your “manager must review before publish” workflow, set it to **Do not publish the post translations**. This prevents translations from auto-publishing when the original is published (including schedule hits). Pair it with either:
* **When you receive completed translations → Let me review it before it gets published** (preferred “Pending review” queue), or
* **…→ Save the translated post as a draft** (your current approach).
I enabled a private reply in case you want me to take a look to the staging site.
The information you will enter is private, which means only you and I can see and have access to it.
Maybe I'll need to replicate your site locally. For this, I'll need to temporarily install a plugin called “Duplicator” or "All in One WP Migration" on your site.
This will allow me to create a copy of your site and your content.
Once the problem is resolved, I will delete the local site.
**IMPORTANT**
- Please make a backup of site files and database before providing us access.
- If you do not see the wp-admin/FTP fields, this means your post & website login details will be made PUBLIC. DO NOT post your website details unless you see the required wp-admin/FTP fields.
What would be great is if we can turn off the translation process that saves the Welsh as a draft every time an update is made to the English (default language) as this is doubling the work and causing the Welsh to show a 404 error.
I've used wpml on a few other sites with the same page builder and it works fine, but on those sites I use the Wprdpress editor to add the translation. This gives the option to copy English onto the Welsh and then translate in the page builder. The pages are still linked and i don't get the 404 errors if i only update the English.
The minor edit checkbox didn't do exactly what you request? You need to check it before making an update in the original language. Please check the screenshot attached.
