Wordpress should always allow me to change the language, anytime. However, sometimes I get stuck in these kind of situations, where I only get to choose "English (United States)".
(Settings > General Settings > Site Language)
Why is that? How can I fix this?
Maybe WordPress doesn't have permissions to save the new language files. I had the same problem, and I solved it by adding the following to wp-config.php
define('FS_METHOD', 'direct');
You might also want to check that your wp-content/-directory is writable for the web server user.
I have no experience with WP before. I tried to install WP 4.7 and have same problem. Only English was in dropdown list. I thought WP downloads all translate files automaticall but unfortunately it didn't.
To get languages in dropdown list (Settings > General Settings > Site Language)
you need install translate files to wp-content/languages directory.
To download language file select version of WP here https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp than select language. You will get a page where you can download language file.
For example for wp4.7 Ukraine I have got this page
translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp/4.7.x/uk/default
At the end of the page find Export link.
Select 'all current' as 'Machine Object Messages Catalog (.mo)'
and click export
Then put downloaded file in wp-content/languages directory. Open or refresh Settings > General Settings page. You should see new language in dropdown list.
It is important to download .mo file exactly. I spent a lot of time trying to install .po file. Also if you linux user and have only .po file you can convert it by command
msgfmt -o uk_UA.mo uk_UA.po
To install translate files for plugins and themes you should to do same things with some difference.
More details you can find here https://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress_in_Your_Language
Just run into the same issue. In my case, the reason was simple. When you install an english-only version of WordPress, there is no languages subdirectory under the wp-content directory. Create it manually, and you will receive all available language list at your WP dashboard. First, select and install required language. At this moment, you got WP core translation files, but not the plugins or themes ones. To get all other translation files, go to Updates section under Dashboard, and click Check again button. At the bottom of the page you'll see a message New translations available. Click on the Update translations button, and WP will download all available translations for your plugins and themes.
As mentioned above, WP must have write permissions on languages directory, in other case you'll have to download all translation files manually. Translation files (.mo and .po) for WordPress core located at languages directory, translation files for installed themes located at languages/themes subdirectory, and translation files for installed plugins located at languages/plugins subdirectory (these two subdirectories will be created automaticaly by WP, of course, if there are enough permissions to do it).
languages and add a .mo file as described in another answer. This is useful.
– Rolf
Jun 14 '18 at 13:52
I had the exact same problem. In case you have a multi-language plugin installed, you have to deactivate it(or delete it) and then you will be able to change the language to whatever you need. I had this problem specifically with Multisite Language Switcher.
PS. i checked before and i had the language files in my wordpress installation.
I had the same problem and I spent hours to read different complicated solutions.
Just 3 very basic steps.
1 Create a new folder in your ‘/wp-content’ directory called ‘/languages’
2 Copy in this folder the language pack of the language you want to install
(download it from https://make.wordpress.org/polyglots/teams/)
3 Choose the new language through the interface
Details here: https://www.linuwi.com/tutorials/how-to-change-wordpress-language/
Like Ivan described above, make sure PHP has the right file permissions so it can create a /languages subdirectory under the /wp-content directory. If it has, it will create the directory automatically and let you select a language unter Settings > General Settings > Site Language.
In my case since I was using WPML for translation, I had to go to the WPML Setup Page, to change my default language.
This problem is occurred in WordPress 4.0 and above versions also , because of permissions. Because of this WordPress cannot download the language packs. To add other languages in admin panel general settings , add this code inside wp-config.php just below the define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('FS_METHOD', 'direct');
After saving changes check on admin panel general settings , now you will find number of languages. And if in case you will not find your language inside a list , try to add a language packs using plugin or add through code. You can follow official documentation for this.
I've solved this issue defining the right way wordpress search for the wp-content folder.
In wp-config.php you can specify the position of the wp-content folder. Based on the system you are working on, try to set the following code:
define('WP_CONTENT_DIR', realpath(dirname(__FILE__) . '/wp-content'));
or this one:
define('WP_CONTENT_DIR', realpath($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/wp-content'));
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