How to Translate SureForms Forms Using WPML

If your site serves visitors in multiple languages, translating your forms ensures a seamless experience for every user. SureForms is compatible with WPML, allowing you to create multilingual forms and display them in your visitors’ preferred language.

This guide will show you how to translate your SureForms forms using WPML’s Translation Dashboard and Advanced Translation Editor.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure the following plugins are installed and activated:

• WPML Multilingual CMS
• WPML String Translation (required, because all form text is translated through it)
• SureForms (latest version recommended, which registers default field labels for translation automatically)

Additionally, ensure you have at least one secondary language configured in WPML before proceeding. If you haven’t set up WPML languages yet, Step 1 below will guide you through it.

How SureForms Translation Works

SureForms keeps one form for all languages. WPML doesn’t create a copy of the form for each language. Instead, the form’s text is translated as a SureForms Form string package. This includes labels, placeholders, help text, error messages, options, the submit button, and confirmation and notification messages.

Because there’s only one form, every language shares the same entries, integrations, and settings.

Step 1: Configure WPML Languages

Before translating your forms, configure the languages available on your website.

• Navigate to WPML → Languages.
• Select your site’s default language.
• Add the secondary languages you want to support.
• Save your changes.

Step 2: Open the WPML Translation Dashboard

• Navigate to WPML → Translation Dashboard.
• In the dashboard, locate the available content types that can be translated.

Step 3: Select a SureForms Form for Translation

• Find SureForms Form in the list of translatable content.
• Click to expand the section.
• Select the form you want to translate. Each item listed here is the form’s string package (its status shows as External), not a separate copy of the form.

Step 4: Choose a Translation Method

After selecting your form, choose how you would like to translate it.

Automatic Translation

• Select Translate Automatically.

• Select the post-translation behavior from the options below:

Option	Description
Publish without review	The translation is published immediately.
Wait for review	The translation remains unpublished until reviewed.
Publish and mark for review	The translation is published and flagged for later review.

• Click Translate Content.

Because SureForms translates a form’s text as a string package, these options control when the translated strings appear on your form. WPML doesn’t create a separate translated copy of the form.

If your site uses WPML’s Translate Everything Automatically mode, SureForms form packages are queued for automatic translation along with your other content, so you don’t need to send each form manually.

Manual Translation

If you prefer to translate the form yourself:

• Select Translate Myself.
• Click Translate Content.

Step 5: Send the Form for Translation

After clicking Translate Content, WPML will create a translation task and display a confirmation message.

You can click the provided link or go to

WPML → Translations

to view the translation queue and track the status.

Step 6: Translate Form Content

• In the Translations queue, locate the translation task for your form.
• Click Translate.

WPML’s Advanced Translation Editor will open and display all translatable strings from your SureForms form.

Step 7: Complete the Translation

• Translate each form string into the target language.
• Review all translated content.
• Click Save and Complete when finished.

Step 8: Display the Translated Form on Your Website

Once the translation is complete:

• Embed the SureForms form on your page as usual.
• Ensure your website includes a WPML language switcher in the header, footer, menu, or another location.
• When visitors switch languages, WPML will automatically display the translated version of the form.

Entries submitted in every language are saved to the same form’s Entries list, so there’s no separate form to check for each language.

Troubleshooting

The form does not appear in the Translation Dashboard

• Make sure the form has been saved and published. SureForms registers a form’s strings for translation when the form is saved.
• Look in the SureForms Form section, not under Posts or Pages. Forms aren’t copied per language, so they don’t appear as separate posts.
• Check WPML → String Translation for the form’s SureForms Form package.
• Verify that WPML Multilingual CMS and WPML String Translation are activated.
• Confirm that SureForms is active and up to date.

The translation task is not visible

• Navigate to WPML → Translations and check for pending tasks.
• Refresh the page and try again.
• If the task still does not appear after refreshing, resend the form for translation from the Translation Dashboard.

The translated form is not displaying

• Verify that the page containing the form is available in the selected language.
• Confirm that the WPML language switcher is functioning correctly.
• Clear any website, server, or browser cache.

A default label is missing from the translation

Older versions of SureForms didn’t register field labels left at their default value, such as Phone Number, Email, or Confirm Email, for translation.

• Update SureForms to the latest version. Default labels are now registered for translation automatically.
• You don’t need to re-save existing forms. After the update, SureForms runs a one-time background process that registers default labels on your existing forms.
• If you can’t update yet, open the form, edit the label, and save the form once. The label will then be registered for translation.

A string doesn’t show up after editing a form

• Save the form. SureForms registers a form’s strings for translation when the form is saved.
• Check the form’s SureForms Form package again in the Translation Dashboard or in WPML → String Translation.

Result

Your SureForms form is now translated and will automatically display in the language selected by your visitors through WPML. To confirm it is working, switch languages using the WPML language switcher on the front end and verify that the translated form appears correctly.