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• Last Updated: 02/14/2020
• ( 7 minutes reading )

How to configure a Multilingual Joomla website

Introduction

Multilingual is a website with content in various languages that serves more than one country or geographic region. Supporting multiple languages on a single site is usually done when you are targeting the global market or different geographical areas. One of the primary purposes is customer convenience and satisfaction, which is a prerequisite for their future visits.

There is a common belief that developing a multilingual website is a complicated and hard task. We will dare contradict that statement. In Joomla, you are able to set up a multilingual website within a few simple steps and without the need to use third-party extensions.

There is one important note to make in regards to developing a multilingual Joomla website. By changing the default language of the site, the Joomla core content will be translated to the additional language(s). However, you will still need to create your own content ( articles and modules) in each available language. You can do that by creating an individual version for each required language.

If you have made up your mind, and you are ready - let’s jump right into the first step.

 

Installing a new Language

The first step of setting up a Multilingual Joomla website is to install the desired language. This is a topic which we already covered in our How to install New Languages in Joomla guide, where you will find step-by-step instructions on how to complete this relatively simple task.

As soon as you have the new language successfully installed, you are ready to move to the second step.

 

Publishing Content Language

After your new language is installed, Joomla will automatically create a new Content Language entry for it. However, there is a simple manual action you will need to perform if you want the new language to be displayed as an available selection in the “Language Switcher” module on your website frontend. In other words, to provide your website visitors with the possibility to choose this new language when they are browsing the site.

To do that, please log in to your Joomla Admin Dashboard and navigate through the top menu bar to Extensions > Language(s) > Content Languages.

 

Accessing the Content Languages page

 

Once you access the Content Languages page, all you will need to do is to click on the “x” icon (under the “Status” column) next to the desired language.

 

Publishing the new language

 

Alternatively, you can tick the corresponding checkbox and hit the “Publish” button at the top of the page. Both actions will successfully publish your new language.

 

Language Successfully Published screen

 

When this is done, you will be prompted with a message indicating the Content Language was successfully published.

 

Enabling the Language Filter plugin

The third step is to enable the “Language Filter” plugin, which will allow the Joomla CMS to recognize the installed languages on your website and therefore, to display the content relevant to the selected language.

To do that, please navigate again through the top menu bar - this time to Extensions > Plugins.

On the Plugins page, you will see a list of all plugins supported by Joomla. As there are quite a lot of plugins, we will recommend you to use the search tool. Type “Language Filter” into the field to locate the plugin in question.

Once you see “System - Language Filter” in the search results, you will need to click on the “x” icon under the “Status” column to enable it.

 

Enabling the Language Filter plugin

 

Alternatively, you can tick the checkbox in front of it and hit the “Enable” button at the top of the page. Both actions will successfully enable the plugin.

Similar to the previous example with the content languages, you will be prompted with a message informing you the “Language Filter” plugin was enabled. You will also notice that the “x” icon is not replaced by a green tick icon, which indicates all enabled plugins on your website.

 

Enabling the Language Code plugin

The “Language Code” is also a built-in Joomla plugin. Enabling it will provide the capability of modifying the language code in the generated HTML document. This is mainly done for SEO purposes.

You can enable this plugin in the exact same manner as explained in the previous section. Access the Plugins page, use the search bar to locate the plugin, and enable it by clicking on the “x” icon.

 

Enabling the Language Code plugin

 

Once enabled, you will again see the message informing you the plugin was installed and the green checkmark icon in front of it.

 

Adding the Language Switcher module

The final step, you will need to complete is to add the “Language Switcher” module. Although the default content displayed will be determined according to your visitors’ browser settings, it is always recommended to provide an option for selecting a preferred language. This is exactly what you will achieve by adding this module.

Please navigate through the top menu bar to Extensions > Modules. (One last time - We promise!)

 

Accessing the Modules page

 

Once you access the “Modules” page, please click on the green “Add” button.

 

Add New module button

 

Afterward, you will be displayed with a list of modules, and you will need to locate and select the “Language Switcher”.

 

Locate the Language Switcher module

 

On the new page, you will need to configure the module settings. The “Language Switcher” module consists of various components. For the purpose of enabling the intended functionality, we will review only the main components you need to be concern about at this point.

  • Title - This is the title that will represent the language switcher on your website frontend. Therefore, make sure to define a clear and easily understandable one.
  • Position - From this dropdown menu, you need to select the position of the module on the website frontend. Please bear in mind that the available positions are determined by the template you are using; therefore, they may vary. Usually, when you purchase a Joomla template, it contains information about the positions in its documentation. In case you were not provided with such information, you can find detailed instructions on How to display module positions in Joomla.
  • Status - Determines whether the module will be available on the website fronted. Please ensure it is set to “Published”.
  • Languages - From this dropdown, you can select the languages included in the module. We believe, in most cases, you would need to choose the “all” option.

 

Adding the Language Switcher module

 

When you are ready, please make sure to click on the “Save” button to successfully add the module.

Please bear in mind that in order for all languages to be displayed under the language switcher on your website frontend, you will need to create content items for each of the languages.



All done! At this point, you have successfully configured your Joomla website as multilingual. We hope you have managed to catch up with our instructions easily and found the information useful. In case you have any additional questions on the topic, please do not hesitate to contact our Support Team.

 

 

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Sebahat
Content Marketing Specialist

Sebahat is a young and bright woman who has become an invaluable part of our team. She started as a Customer Care Representative, mastering that role and, along the way, growing into a tech-savvy individual who is well acquainted with every support layer of the company. Driven by her aim to improve our customers’ experience constantly, she is committed to enhancing the extraordinary support we deliver.