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Resolving Breadcrumb NavXT and WPML Translation Issues

23 threads Sep 9, 2025 Plugin → Breadcrumb navxt

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Breadcrumb NavXT is a powerful tool for creating navigation trails on your WordPress site. However, when used alongside the WPML (WordPress Multilingual) plugin, users often encounter specific challenges where breadcrumbs do not display the correct translations or links. This guide covers the most common issues and their solutions, based on community reports.

Common WPML and Breadcrumb NavXT Issues

Users frequently report problems such as:

  • Breadcrumb trail segments reverting to the site's default language instead of the translated version.
  • Custom Post Type (CPT) archive titles or root pages not being translated.
  • Language suffixes (like @fr) appearing in taxonomy names within the breadcrumb.
  • Incorrect links pointing to the default language version of a page instead of its translation.
  • Strikethrough formatting appearing on links in one language but not another.

Why These Issues Happen

Breadcrumb NavXT and WPML are developed independently. While they are compatible in many ways, some translation mechanics require specific integration. Key reasons for these problems include:

  • Root Page Settings: The plugin's settings for CPT root pages are stored as page IDs. WPML does not automatically translate these IDs to their corresponding page in another language.
  • Taxonomy Name Suffixes: WPML appends a language code (e.g., @fr) to taxonomy names to ensure they are unique in the database. Breadcrumb NavXT may display this suffix if not filtered out.
  • String Translation: Text strings entered into Breadcrumb NavXT's settings (like "Home") are not automatically picked up by WPML's string translation module by default.

Solutions and Workarounds

1. Use the Breadcrumb NavXT WPML Extensions Plugin

The most robust solution for deep compatibility is to use the official support plugin, Breadcrumb NavXT WPML Extensions. This helper plugin is designed to resolve many known integration issues, such as translating root page IDs and handling taxonomy suffixes.

2. Manually Translate Root Pages for Custom Post Types

If a CPT's root page is not translating, you may need to employ a code-based solution. A common fix found by users is to use the icl_object_id() function to get the correct translated page ID. Note: Modifying core plugin files is not recommended as changes will be lost on update.

// Example of a potential filter (code may need adjustment for your specific setup)
add_filter('bcn_breadcrumb_url', 'translate_root_page_id', 10, 3);
function translate_root_page_id($url, $type, $id) {
    // Apply your translation logic here, e.g., using icl_object_id()
    return $url;
}

3. Remove Language Suffixes from Taxonomy Names

To strip the @en or @fr suffix from taxonomy names in breadcrumbs, you can use a filter on the breadcrumb title.

add_filter('bcn_breadcrumb_title', 'remove_wpml_suffix', 10, 1);
function remove_wpml_suffix($title) {
    // Remove the language code suffix
    $language_code = apply_filters('wpml_current_language', NULL);
    return str_replace('@' . $language_code, '', $title);
}

4. Translate Static Strings with WPML String Translation

To translate text like "Home" or custom templates (%htitle%), you must register these strings with WPML. The Breadcrumb NavXT WPML Extensions plugin handles this automatically. Without it, you may need to manually add the strings via WPML's String Translation interface or use a wpml-config.xml file.

5. For RTL Language Support

If you need to reverse the breadcrumb order for RTL languages (e.g., "Page < Home"), this is a built-in feature.

  • Using the Widget: Check the widget's settings for an RTL option.
  • Using PHP Code: If calling bcn_display() directly, use bcn_display(false, true, true) to reverse the output.
  • Styling Issues: For RTL text within a breadcrumb, use CSS to enforce the text direction. Inspect the element to find the correct class to target.

Conclusion

Integrating Breadcrumb NavXT with WPML is powerful but can require specific configuration. The primary recommendation is to use the dedicated WPML Extensions plugin for a seamless experience. For those who cannot use the extension, the code filters and translation methods outlined above provide effective workarounds for the most common multilingual breadcrumb problems.

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