Title: Translation Cleaner for WPML Author: Klemens Hechenberger Published: July 1, 2026 Last modified: July 1, 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/translation-cleaner-for-wpml_014e86. svg) # Translation Cleaner for WPML By [Klemens Hechenberger](https://profiles.wordpress.org/klemensh/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/translation-cleaner-for-wpml.1.0.0.zip) * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/#description) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/#reviews) * [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/#installation) * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/) ## Description Translation Cleaner for WPML helps you keep your multilingual WordPress site clean by identifying and fixing three common categories of WPML data corruption, all from a single admin tool under **Tools Translation Cleaner for WPML**. **Module 1 — Orphan Translations** Finds translated posts whose main-language counterpart no longer exists (deleted or trashed). These orphaned records consume storage, clutter your admin, and break WPML’s translation groups. * Bulk action: Move to Trash (reversible) or Permanently Delete * Reason codes per row: _Missing original_, _Original deleted_, _Original trashed_ * Every deletion is re-validated immediately before execution — if the original was restored since the scan, the item is skipped **Module 2 — Misplaced Originals** Finds posts that WPML treats as originals (`source_language_code = NULL`) but are registered under a language that is not your main language — with no main-language version in that translation group at all. This typically happens when content is created directly in a secondary language without going through the main language first. Left uncorrected, these posts can cause translation workflow issues and incorrect language flags. * Per-row fix: select the post’s actual language from a dropdown and reassign it— no bulk guessing **Module 3 — Swapped Originals** Finds cases where a secondary-language post carries the “original” flag while a live main-language version exists in the same translation group. WPML incorrectly treats the secondary post as the source, which inverts the translation relationship for both posts. * Per-row fix: one click to promote the main-language post to original and demote the secondary to a translation — the trid (translation group) is preserved **Common features across all modules** * Scan all WPML-tracked post types, including non-public types like `nav_menu_item` * Filter by post type and main language * Detailed results table with sort, search, and pagination * Export results to CSV before taking any action * Developer hooks: `wmtc_protected_post_ids`, `wmtc_orphan_results`, `wmtc_before_delete`,` wmtc_after_delete` **Requirements** * WPML must be installed and active ## Installation 1. Upload the `wpml-translation-cleaner` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/` 2. Activate the plugin through **Plugins Installed Plugins** 3. Navigate to **Tools Translation Cleaner for WPML** 4. Select a module, choose your main language and post types, then click **Run Scan** ## FAQ ### Does this work with WooCommerce Multilingual (WCML)? Yes. The scanners detect issues regardless of how WPML or WCML registered the content, including products managed in WCML’s independent mode. ### Will it delete or modify content incorrectly? For orphan deletions, every item is re-validated against a fresh database scan immediately before the action runs. For reassignment actions (Misplaced Originals, Swapped Originals), the fix is performed via WPML’s own `wpml_set_element_language_details` API — no raw data is modified outside of WPML’s own logic. ### Can I undo a deletion? Use **Move to Trash** for reversible cleanup. **Permanently Delete** is irreversible— always export a CSV and back up your database first. ### Can I undo a language reassignment? Not automatically. Before running fixes in bulk, export a CSV so you have a record of the original state. The CSV can be used as a reference to manually revert if needed. ### What post types are scanned? All post types that WPML is tracking in `icl_translations`, including `nav_menu_item` which is a common source of orphaned translations invisible to standard WordPress post type queries. ### How do I exclude specific posts from cleanup? Use the `wmtc_protected_post_ids` filter: ``` add_filter( 'wmtc_protected_post_ids', function( $ids ) { $ids[] = 42; return $ids; } ); ``` ### Is this plugin affiliated with WPML or OnTheGoSystems? No. This is an independent tool built to work alongside WPML. WPML is a trademark of OnTheGoSystems. ## Reviews There are no reviews for this plugin. ## Contributors & Developers “Translation Cleaner for WPML” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ Klemens Hechenberger ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/klemensh/) [Translate “Translation Cleaner for WPML” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/translation-cleaner-for-wpml) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 1.0.0 * Initial release * Module: Orphan Translations — find and delete orphaned translation posts * Module: Misplaced Originals — find and reassign posts flagged as originals in the wrong language * Module: Swapped Originals — fix inverted original/translation relationships within a translation group ## Meta * Version **1.0.0** * Last updated **24 hours ago** * Active installations **Fewer than 10** * WordPress version ** 5.9 or higher ** * Tested up to **7.0** * PHP version ** 7.4 or higher ** * Tags * [cleanup](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/cleanup/)[maintenance](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/maintenance/) [multilingual](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/multilingual/)[translation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/translation/) [wpml](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/wpml/) * [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/advanced/) ## Ratings No reviews have been submitted yet. [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ Klemens Hechenberger ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/klemensh/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/translation-cleaner-for-wpml/)