# How to Add a Language Switcher to Your WordPress Menu > Learn how to add a language switcher to a WordPress menu with popular multilingual plugins, and what to check in classic themes and the Site Editor. - URL: https://www.lingowp.com/blog/add-language-switcher-wordpress-menu/ - Author: Amine Sayagh - Category: Guide - Published: 2026-10-11 - Language: en A language switcher in your main menu gives visitors a clear way to choose another language while they browse your site. For a small business or online store, that can make translated pages and product information easier to find. The steps depend on two things: which multilingual plugin handles your languages, and whether your theme uses classic menus or the block-based Site Editor. The selector is usually provided by the multilingual plugin; WordPress's Navigation block is where you edit the menu structure in block themes. This guide is published by LingoWP. ## Before you start Make sure your multilingual plugin is active and your languages are configured. If the switcher should take visitors to a translated version of the page they are viewing, publish and connect those translations first. The exact fallback behavior differs by plugin. For example, Polylang says its switcher links to the translation of the current page when available, and otherwise links to the corresponding language's homepage. It can also hide a language on the front end when there is no published content in that language. Next, identify how your theme handles navigation: - **Classic theme:** Look for **Appearance → Menus** in the dashboard. - **Block theme:** Look for **Appearance → Editor** and edit the header template or its Navigation block. The Navigation block lets you edit menu items as blocks, so a plugin may provide a compatible switcher block or another placement method for this type of theme. ## Option 1: Add the switcher to a classic menu If your dashboard has **Appearance → Menus**, try these steps: 1. Open **Appearance → Menus**. 2. Choose the menu assigned to your site's primary or header navigation. 3. Find the language switcher option supplied by your multilingual plugin. 4. Add it to the menu, position it where you want, and save the menu. 5. Open your site in a separate browser tab and test the switcher on a translated page. The exact menu label and settings depend on the plugin. ### TranslatePress TranslatePress directs users to **Appearance → Menus**, where the **Language Switcher** section lets you select languages and add them to a menu. You can then arrange the items and configure how language names and flags appear. ### Polylang Polylang describes adding the **Languages switcher** from the menu screen. If the option is missing, check whether its metabox is hidden under **Screen Options**. You can configure whether to show the current language, flags, or language names. ### WPML WPML provides language-switcher controls in its settings. Select the menu location and configure options such as language order, flags, list or dropdown layout, and language labels. After saving, confirm that the menu is assigned to the location your theme actually displays. A switcher added to an unused menu will not appear in the header. ## Option 2: Add the switcher in a block theme If your site uses the Site Editor, open **Appearance → Editor**, then edit the header or template part that contains your navigation. Select the Navigation block and look for a language-switcher block provided by your multilingual plugin. Plugin support varies. Polylang's current documentation identifies its language switcher inside the Navigation block as a **Polylang Pro** feature. It notes that you may need to add a regular Navigation block before the language-switcher block becomes available. TranslatePress documents a Language Switcher block for the WordPress editor, as well as a menu-item method for classic menus. If you cannot find an option inside your block theme's navigation, check the plugin's current instructions for supported placements. Its general-purpose block may be intended for page content or another location rather than the navigation itself. When you finish editing the header, save the changes and preview the site on desktop and mobile. The Navigation block includes settings for how menus display on mobile, but the selector's appearance will also depend on your theme and plugin. ## Choose a clear switcher design A visitor should understand what the control does without guessing. Consider these choices: - Show language names, such as **English** and **Français**, instead of relying on flags alone. A flag represents a country, not always a language. - Use a dropdown if the header is narrow or the site supports several languages. - Use a short, visible list if visitors need to see the available languages at a glance. - Keep the control easy to tap on mobile and consistent with the rest of the menu. - Check that the label, colors, and focus state remain readable against the header background. Most multilingual plugins offer some options for language order, labels, flags, or layout, though the available settings differ. ## Test the switcher before relying on it Test more than the homepage: 1. Open a page that has a published translation. 2. Change languages and confirm the visitor reaches the corresponding page, where one exists. 3. Try a page without a translation and check the fallback behavior. 4. Check the switcher in the desktop header and the mobile menu. 5. Confirm every language shown is available to visitors and leads to working content. This matters for a shop as well as a brochure site. If a customer switches language from a product page, check whether the translated product page is available and whether the control behaves as expected. Do not assume every plugin handles missing translations in the same way. ## Troubleshooting: Why can't I see the language switcher? ### The switcher option is missing from Appearance → Menus Check that the plugin is active and look under **Screen Options** for a hidden language-switcher panel. Polylang specifically documents that its metabox can be disabled there. ### There is no Appearance → Menus screen Your site may use a block theme. Edit the header in the Site Editor and check whether your multilingual plugin supports a switcher inside the Navigation block. Support can vary by product and plan, so verify it in the plugin's current documentation. ### The selector appears in the wrong place Check which menu or header template part you edited, and confirm that the active theme uses it. ### A language is missing from the front end Check that the language is enabled and has published content. Some plugins hide languages when there is no published content to link to. ### The switcher looks different on mobile Preview the mobile navigation and adjust the layout or placement if your plugin and theme provide those controls. TranslatePress, for example, documents separate configuration for desktop and mobile menu switchers. ## The practical takeaway To add a language switcher to a WordPress menu, first identify whether you use a classic menu or the Site Editor. Then follow the instructions for your multilingual plugin, save the correct menu or header, and test language changes on translated pages and on mobile. If the switcher option is unavailable, check the plugin's placement support for your theme before trying custom code. ## Related guides - [How to translate a WordPress site without a plugin](/blog/translate-wordpress-site-without-plugin/) - [WordPress multilingual plugin pricing](/blog/wordpress-multilingual-plugin-price/) - [How LingoWP handles multilingual website content](/) ## Sources *Checked on October 7, 2026.* - [WordPress.org: Navigation block documentation](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/navigation-block/) - [WPML: Add a Language Switcher to Your WordPress Site](https://wpml.org/documentation/getting-started-guide/language-switcher-options/) - [TranslatePress: Language Switcher documentation](https://translatepress.com/docs/settings/language-switcher/) - [Polylang: The language switcher](https://polylang.pro/documentation/support/guides/the-language-switcher/) - [Polylang: Navigation menus](https://polylang.wordpress.com/documentation/setting-up-a-wordpress-multilingual-site-with-polylang/navigations-menus/)