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Why GTranslate Might Not Work on Mobile (And How to Fix It)

43 threads Sep 9, 2025 Plugin → Translate wordpress with gtranslate

Content

A common issue reported by users of the 'Translate WordPress with GTranslate' plugin is that translation functions work perfectly on desktop but fail on mobile devices. This can be a frustrating experience for website owners trying to reach a global audience. Based on community support threads, several recurring causes and solutions have been identified.

Common Symptoms

  • The language selector appears, but clicking flags or language names does nothing.
  • The page translates initially but then other mobile menu buttons stop working.
  • The selector shows strange text like "Auto" or displays an incorrect list of countries.
  • Translation is significantly slower on mobile compared to desktop.
  • The selector is completely missing on the mobile version of the site.

Why This Happens: Primary Causes

The root cause is often a conflict between how the plugin functions and how other parts of a website are built, particularly for mobile views.

  1. Theme Conflicts (Especially Divi and Enfold): Many reports specifically cite the Divi theme. The technical reason is that some themes copy the desktop menu structure into the mobile menu but fail to copy the necessary JavaScript 'onclick' events that make the GTranslate language switcher functional. This results in buttons that are visible but completely unresponsive.
  2. Optimization, Caching, or Minification Plugins: Plugins designed to speed up your website (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, Autoptimize) can sometimes break the external JavaScript code that GTranslate relies on to perform translations. This often manifests as a broken or oddly behaving language selector.
  3. Menu Placement: The "Show in menu" option within the GTranslate settings is a frequent culprit. When the language switcher is embedded deep within a complex mobile menu system, conflicts are more likely to occur.
  4. Browser or Device-Specific Issues: Occasionally, problems may be isolated to a specific mobile browser or device, though this is less common than theme or plugin conflicts.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix the Issue

Try these solutions in order. Most mobile translation issues can be resolved with one of these steps.

Solution 1: Change the Language Selector Placement

This is the most common and effective fix, especially for theme conflicts.

  1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Settings → GTranslate.
  3. Find the option labeled "Show in menu".
  4. Set this option to "None". This removes the language switcher from your navigation menu.
  5. Enable the "Show floating language selector" option instead.
  6. Save changes and check your website on mobile. The floating selector is far less prone to conflicts and should work immediately.

Solution 2: Check for Plugin Conflicts

Rule out conflicts with optimization or caching plugins.

  1. Temporarily disable any caching, minification, or optimization plugins you have active.
  2. Clear your browser's cache and any server-side cache (if provided by your host).
  3. Check if the mobile translation now works.
  4. If it does, the conflict is confirmed. Re-enable your optimization plugin and configure it to exclude GTranslate's JavaScript files from being minified or deferred. You may need to consult your optimization plugin's support for specific instructions on how to exclude scripts.

Solution 3: Consult Your Theme Documentation or Support

If the issue is related to your theme (a common thread with Divi and Enfold), you may need to reach out for theme-specific guidance. The 'Translate WordPress with GTranslate' team has indicated that this is a known issue with certain themes, and the solution often requires adjustments on the theme's end or using the language selector outside of the menu.

Solution 4: Basic Checks

  • Clear All Caches: Ensure you have cleared any site, browser, and CDN caches after making changes.
  • Check on Multiple Devices: Verify the issue exists on more than one mobile device or browser to rule out a local problem.

By methodically working through these troubleshooting steps, most users can resolve mobile translation issues and provide a seamless multilingual experience for all visitors.

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