Using separate domains

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

Problem:
You are setting up your WordPress site using WPML to have the English version on a separate domain. When clicking on the language switcher in the menu, it does not switch to the English site, although the correct URL appears when hovering over the 'English' link.
Solution:
We recommend removing the 301 redirect from your English domain and adding the domain in WPML settings so that the root of the domain loads correctly and displays content. Here is the current redirect that needs to be removed:

>>> https://redri***.ca/<br />> --------------------------------------------<br />> 301 Moved Permanently<br />> --------------------------------------------<br /><br />Status: 301 Moved Permanently<br />Code: 301<br />Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:37:24 GMT<br />Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8<br />Connection: close<br />Server: cloudflare

If this solution does not resolve your issue or seems irrelevant due to being outdated or not applicable to your case, we highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent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. Additionally, please feel free to open a new support ticket for further assistance at WPML support forum.

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Tagged: Documentation request

This topic contains 4 replies, has 0 voices.

Last updated by marioS-49 1 month ago.

Assisted by: Marcel.

Author	Posts
April 2, 2025 at 5:36 pm #16888308
marioS-49	Background of the issue: I am trying to set up my WordPress site using WPML to have the English version on a separate domain. My main domain is hidden link and I want the English site on hidden link. Symptoms: When I click on the language switcher in the menu, it doesn't switch to the English site. However, when I hover over the 'English' link, it shows the proper link at the bottom of the browser (google chrome). Questions: Why doesn't the language switcher switch to the English URL when clicked? Is there a specific configuration needed in WPML to use separate domains for different languages?
April 3, 2025 at 4:04 pm #16893873
Marcel WPML Supporter since 02/2019 Languages: English (English ) German (Deutsch ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+02:00)	Hi, The domain should point to the same root folder as your main domain. Currently, it’s being redirected via a 301 redirect, which isn’t the desired setup. To verify the correct configuration, you can place a simple test.txt file in the root directory. If you’re able to access that file through both domains, then everything is set up correctly. If you need assistance adjusting your DNS settings, I recommend reaching out to your hosting provider for support. Best regards, Marcel
April 3, 2025 at 4:27 pm #16894073
marioS-49	Thanks Marcel I added a test.txt file and can access it on both domains hidden link hidden link
April 3, 2025 at 4:39 pm #16894226
Marcel WPML Supporter since 02/2019 Languages: English (English ) German (Deutsch ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+02:00)	Hi, so you just need to remove the 301 redirect and add the domain in WPML, so the root of the domain loads correctly and displays content. Right now, the main domain still has the redirect: >>> <em><u>hidden link</u></em> > -------------------------------------------- > 301 Moved Permanently > -------------------------------------------- Status: 301 Moved Permanently Code: 301 Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:37:24 GMT Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Connection: close Server: cloudflare Best Regards, Marcel
April 4, 2025 at 2:32 pm #16898031
marioS-49	Hey I found the solution. The website has to have its own cPanel account. As the secondary domain needs to be an alias and not an addon domain. This is achieved by selecting the "share document root folder" setting for the secondary domain. You can't have the domain direct to a single folder (which you would do if you were hosting multiple websites using a single cPanel account). I could not find this answer in any thread about this issue, so hopefully this can shed some light for others.