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The WPResidence Language Switcher Widget

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Add the language switcher to the WPResidence header, an Elementor header or a widget area, and keep menus in sync with Menu Synchronization. The video shows each setting in wp-admin. Watch Video on Youtube

The language switcher is the dropdown visitors use to change the language. It lists your languages with their flags, in the order set in WPEstate Translate > Languages, and opens the current page in the chosen language. You can place it in three ways, depending on how your header is built.

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Language switcher open in the WPResidence header

In the Theme Header Menu

  1. Go to WPEstate Translate > Settings.
  2. Find Menu Language Dropdown. Each menu location of the theme has its own row.
  3. Choose the Position for the menu that should hold the switcher: Before menu items or After menu items. Leave the others on No dropdown.
  4. Click Save Settings.

Menu Language Dropdown in WPEstate Translate Settings

If each language uses its own menu, turn the dropdown on for the location of every language menu. See Menu Translation and Language-Specific Menu Locations.

In an Elementor Header or Footer

For headers and footers built with WPResidence Studio:

  1. Go to Studio Templates, open the header or footer and click Edit with Elementor.
  2. Search for Language Switcher in the widget panel and drag it where you want it. In older versions of WPResidence Elementor two widgets are called Language Dropdown: use the one whose Content tab reads This widget outputs the WPResidence Translate language dropdown. The other one is for WPML and Polylang.
  3. Click Update.

Language Switcher and Navigation Menu widgets in the Elementor panel

A Navigation Menu widget also shows the dropdown when its menu sits in a location where Menu Language Dropdown is turned on. More about Studio headers: Translate WPResidence Studio Templates.

In a Sidebar or Footer Widget Area

  1. Go to Appearance > Widgets.
  2. Add WPResidence Language Switcher to a sidebar or a footer column.
  3. Type a Title if you want one above the dropdown, or leave it empty.
  4. Save.

The widget has no other options: languages, flags and order come from the Languages screen. You can add it to several widget areas.

Style the Switcher

  • Theme header menu and widget: Theme Options > Header > Language Switcher sets Switcher font size, Dropdown font size, Switcher background color and Switcher font color. Click Save Changes.
  • Elementor widget: use the Style tab of the widget: typography, colors, hover colors, spacing and borders.

Theme Options Header Language Switcher settings

Where Each Language Link Goes

The visitor is on Clicking another language opens
The home page The home page of that language
A property, page or post with a translation The translation
A property, page or post without a translation The original
A category, city or area page The translated term page, or the original term page if the term has no translation
Search results and other lists The same page under the language prefix

The Switcher Does Not Show

  • Only one language is live. The switcher needs at least two languages with Enabled and Visible ticked in WPEstate Translate > Languages.
  • The menu location is wrong. The header may use a different location than the one set in Menu Language Dropdown. Check Appearance > Menus > Manage Locations.
  • A flag is missing. Pick a flag for that language in the Flag column of the Languages screen.