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How to Translate Hardcoded Text in the ColorMag Theme

11 threads Sep 9, 2025 Theme → Colormag

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Many ColorMag theme users want to display their websites in a language other than English. While the theme is translation-ready, a common frustration arises when specific text strings, like "Search Results for:", "One thought on", "Leave a reply", "Read More", or "You May Also Like", remain in English and resist translation through standard methods.

This issue typically occurs because these phrases are "hardcoded" in the theme's files. This means they are written directly into the PHP code without using WordPress's built-in translation functions, making them invisible to many translation plugins.

Common Solutions for Translating ColorMag Text

Based on community discussions and solutions, here are the most effective methods to translate these stubborn strings.

1. Use the Loco Translate Plugin (Recommended)

The most common and supported method is to use a dedicated translation plugin. The Loco Translate plugin is frequently recommended for this task, even by the ColorMag team.

How it works: Loco Translate can often find and translate strings that other plugins miss because it scans the theme's source files directly. It allows you to create and edit language files for your theme without needing to edit code.

Steps to try:

  1. Install and activate the Loco Translate plugin.
  2. Navigate to Loco Translate → Themes and select "ColorMag".
  3. Click on the relevant language file or create a new translation set.
  4. Use the search function within the plugin to find the specific English string you wish to translate (e.g., "Search Results for:").
  5. Enter your translation in the provided field and save the changes.

2. Use a Multilingual Plugin (Polylang or WPML)

If you are running a fully multilingual website, using a comprehensive plugin like Polylang or WPML might be a better solution. These plugins handle all aspects of translation, including posts, pages, and theme strings. The ColorMag theme is confirmed to be compatible with both WPML and Polylang.

3. Direct Code Modification (For Advanced Users)

Warning: This method is not recommended for most users. Editing theme files directly is risky; your changes will be overwritten and lost every time the theme is updated. This should only be a temporary last resort if a plugin cannot find the string.

If you must proceed, you will need to use a code editor and FTP or your hosting file manager. You would search for the hardcoded text string within the theme's PHP files (e.g., in the template-tags.php or various template files) and replace the English text with your translation. Using a child theme is essential to prevent your changes from being erased during updates.

Reporting Untranslatable Strings

If you discover a text string that cannot be translated by any plugin, it is likely hardcoded. The community can benefit if these strings are properly fixed in the theme itself. You can report these issues on the theme's official GitHub repository. In one instance, a user submitted pull requests to fix hardcoded strings in the admin dashboard, which the team acknowledged for a future update.

By using the right tools and methods, you can achieve a fully translated website with the ColorMag theme.

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