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How to Translate or Change 'Choose File' Text in Forminator Forms

16 threads Sep 16, 2025

Content

Many Forminator Forms users want to change the default English text in the file upload field, such as "Choose File" and "No file chosen," to match their site's language or branding. This is a common request, especially for non-English websites. This guide explains why this happens and provides the most effective solutions.

Why This Happens

The text strings for the file upload button and placeholder are hardcoded into the plugin. While Forminator Forms supports translation, the official language packs (like those for Italian, German, or French) are maintained by community volunteers on WordPress's Translate platform. If a specific string hasn't been translated or approved in your language's pack, it will default to English. This is why you might see some parts of the plugin in your language while the file upload text remains in English.

Common Solutions

1. Contribute to the Official Translation

The recommended long-term solution is to help improve the official translation for your language. You can suggest translations for missing strings, like those for the file upload field, on the WordPress Translate platform for Forminator. Once your translations are reviewed and approved by the language editors, they will be included in future plugin updates for all users.

2. Use a Text Replacement Plugin (Immediate Fix)

For an immediate solution that doesn't require waiting for a translation update, you can use a text replacement plugin. The 'Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder' team often suggests using the free Branda plugin for this purpose.

How to use Branda:

  1. Install and activate the Branda plugin.
  2. Navigate to Branda → Utilities → Text Replacement.
  3. Activate the Text Replacement utility.
  4. Click "Add rule".
  5. For each text string you want to change, create a rule with the following settings:
    • Find: The original text (e.g., "Choose File")
    • Replace with: Your desired text (e.g., "Seleziona File")
    • Text Domain: Enter forminator to ensure the replacement only affects text from this plugin.
  6. Save your changes.

Note: Some users have reported that Branda's text replacement may not work in all scenarios. Ensure the plugin is updated and test the form after making changes.

3. Manual Translation File Upload

If you have a completed .mo translation file (e.g., forminator-it_IT.mo), you can manually upload it to your site. Place the file in the /wp-content/languages/plugins/ directory. This will override the default language strings for your site. However, this method requires you to maintain and re-upload this file after every major plugin update, as it may be overwritten.

Conclusion

While changing the "Choose File" text isn't a built-in option in Forminator's settings yet, these methods provide effective workarounds. Contributing to the official translations helps the entire community, while using a text replacement plugin offers a quick fix for your own site.

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