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Troubleshooting Mobile Menu and Responsive Translation Issues in TranslatePress

22 threads Sep 10, 2025 Plugin → Translate multilingual sites – translatepress

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Many WordPress users rely on TranslatePress to create multilingual sites. A common challenge that arises is ensuring translations work correctly on mobile devices and with responsive design elements, particularly menus. This guide explains why these issues occur and provides practical solutions based on community experiences.

Why Do Mobile and Responsive Translation Issues Happen?

The core of the problem often lies in how themes and page builders handle responsive design. Many create separate HTML structures or load different content for mobile and desktop views. Since TranslatePress translates content by scanning the page, elements that only appear at certain screen sizes or within specific contexts (like a mobile hamburger menu) might not be visible to the translation editor during the initial translation process.

Common Solutions for Mobile and Menu Translation Problems

1. Translate the Mobile View by Resizing Your Browser

If your site has a different mobile layout, you must translate those elements separately. The TranslatePress team suggests a simple workaround: manually change your browser window size while in the translation interface.

  1. Navigate to TranslatePress → Translation Editor.
  2. Open your browser's developer tools (F12 in most browsers).
  3. Use the device simulation or responsive design mode to switch to a mobile viewport.
  4. Refresh the page. The mobile-specific elements should now be visible and can be translated with the pencil tool.

2. Enable 'Fix Missing Dynamic Content'

Some menus or dynamic content might not appear in translated languages due to how they are loaded. A frequently successful fix is to enable a specific troubleshooting option.

  1. Go to TranslatePress → Settings → Advanced.
  2. Under the Troubleshooting section, find the option labeled 'Fix missing dynamic content'.
  3. Check the box and save your changes.
  4. Clear your site and browser cache to see if the missing menu or content now appears.

3. Perform a Conflict Test

Conflicts with your theme or other plugins are a common source of erratic behavior, such as menus that work in one language but not another. Isolating the conflict is a critical step.

  1. Use a Staging Site: It is highly recommended to perform these steps on a staging site to avoid disrupting your live site.
  2. Switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One.
  3. Deactivate all plugins except for TranslatePress.
  4. Check if the problem persists. If it is resolved, reactivate your theme and plugins one by one, testing after each, to identify the source of the conflict.

4. Exclude Problematic Plugins from Translation

In some cases, a third-party plugin's output (like an Instagram feed) may break when translated. If the content does not need to be translated, you can exclude it entirely.

  1. Go to TranslatePress → Settings → Advanced.
  2. Scroll to the 'Exclude Gettext Strings' section.
  3. In the 'Domain' field, enter the text domain of the plugin you wish to exclude (e.g., 'instagram-feed'). You may need to consult the plugin's documentation to find its text domain.
  4. Save the changes.

Key Takeaways

  • Mobile-specific elements often require separate translation by resizing the browser viewport in the translation editor.
  • Always check the 'Fix missing dynamic content' option in Advanced Settings as a first troubleshooting step for missing menus or content.
  • Plugin and theme conflicts are a frequent cause of issues. A methodical conflict test is the most reliable way to identify them.
  • Not all dynamic content needs to be translated; excluding certain plugin strings can resolve display errors.

By following these steps, most common mobile and menu translation issues can be effectively diagnosed and resolved.

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