# How to set up Multiple Languages?

Before setting up Multiple Languages, please refer to these links for reference:

* [Localization and translation](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/markets/languages#changing-the-default-language-of-your-online-store)
* [Managing languages](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/markets/languages/manage-languages)
* [Shopify Translate & Adapt app](https://shopify.pxf.io/3P6XkB)

{% hint style="info" %}
Language function is a default function in Shopify themes, not a custom built-in function. 

To use Multi Language Function, you must install an App. Shopify releases [Translate & Adapt app](https://shopify.pxf.io/3P6XkB) to support you translate 2 languages automatically for free.\
\
Here are the key features: 

* Manually add, edit, and review translations with the side-by-side editor.
* **Auto-translate 2 languages** with Google Translate (cloud.google.com/translate).
* Adapt content to reflect spelling and messaging variations between markets.
* Localize directly from the theme editor, or any resource page in your admin.
* Manage localized store content seamlessly from your Shopify admin.
  {% endhint %}

## How to set up Multiple Languages?

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hj1DUHy_hdc>" %}
Follow our instruction video
{% endembed %}

1. From your Shopify admin, go to **Online Store** **->** **Themes**.
2. Find the theme that you want to edit, and then click **Customize**.
3. Click **Theme settings ->** **Multiple languages.**
4. Click "**Enable Right To Left Layout**" to show Right To Left layout if your language requires RTL

<table><thead><tr><th width="359"></th><th width="408">Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Enable right to left layout</td><td>Enable/Disable Right To Left layout</td></tr><tr><td>ISO codes list for RTL languages</td><td><p>Add the ISO code of the language you want to use RTL layout.<br><br><em><mark style="color:orange;">Note: Separate each language ISO code with a ','. Eg: ar, ha, he.</mark></em></p><p><em><mark style="color:orange;">List out language ISO codes to automatically switch to RTL layout: ar:(Arabic); dv:(Dhivehi,Maldivian); ha:(Hausa); he:(Hebrew); ku:(Kurdish/Sorani); fa:(Persian/Farsi); ur:(Urdu); ps:(Pashto); yi:(Yiddish)</mark></em></p></td></tr><tr><td>Enable multiple languages</td><td>Enable/Disable multiple languages function<br><br><em><mark style="color:orange;">Note: When configuring a language in the customization settings, it's important to also establish the same language preference within the administrative settings.</mark></em></td></tr></tbody></table>

### Ensure that you're ready to translate <a href="#ready-to-translate" id="ready-to-translate"></a>

You must provide the translations when adding languages to your store. Before you add a new language, ensure that you have your translations ready, or that you have a translation app installed and have assigned the language to a market.

### Add new languages to your online store <a href="#add-new-language" id="add-new-language"></a>

Before you begin, make sure your store meets the [requirements for selling in multiple languages](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/markets/languages#requirements).

**Steps:**

**Note**

If you need to create a new active market, then follow the steps to [add a market](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/markets/managing-markets#add-a-market).

1. From your Shopify admin, go to **Settings** > **Languages**.
2. Click **Add Language**.
3. Choose a language from the drop-down menu, then click **Add**.
4. Select an active market to add your language to.
5. Do either of the following:
   * Use the [Translate & Adapt app](https://apps.shopify.com/translate-and-adapt) to [import your translated content](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/markets/languages/translate) into Shopify.
   * Visit the [Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/collections/works-with-shopify-markets?app_integration_pos=off\&app_integration_shopify_checkout=off\&category=store-design-internationalization\&pricing=all\&requirements=off\&sort_by=collection_position) and install a translation app to your store. Follow the steps in the app to translate your online store's content and publish new languages.
6. Click **Preview** to view different languages in your online store. You can preview both published and unpublished languages.

![](https://3284033180-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fag3h7ZduRGWlquTgGUHi%2Fuploads%2FwTN2NFWkGtb611M43l5z%2F17.gif?alt=media\&token=3e24664c-2a23-4565-a8fa-16f2c55da13e)

<figure><img src="https://3284033180-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fag3h7ZduRGWlquTgGUHi%2Fuploads%2Fh1Zq0nXepYTNTt4S2zW3%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d288ea39-ea1b-4892-bb45-07958f9798c5" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://3284033180-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fag3h7ZduRGWlquTgGUHi%2Fuploads%2FjJJaeoTr513Hl7JcyHuq%2FTranslation.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=bf96d52f-564a-4586-8a3e-f6375fada59d" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Note**

Adding a language only adds translations in [supported languages](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/markets/languages/translate#available-translations) to supported themes and checkouts. If you want to add translations to other store content, then you need to import translations or use an app.

### Publish a language to your online store <a href="#publish-a-language-to-your-online-store" id="publish-a-language-to-your-online-store"></a>

**Steps:**

1. From your Shopify admin, go to **Settings** > **Languages**.
2. In **Unpublished languages**, click **Publish** beside the language that you want to make available to customers in your store.
3. Click **Save**.

**Note**

If you publish a language to your store without adding translations, then you'll receive a message prompting you to add translations. Languages that are published without adding additional translations will only show the provided translations for the theme and checkout, and the default language for all other content.

### Manage languages for markets <a href="#manage-markets-languages" id="manage-markets-languages"></a>

By default, each new market that you create uses your store's default language.

You need to assign newly published languages to a market before they become visible to visitors on your online store.

**Add a language to a market**

1. From your Shopify admin, go to **Settings** > **Languages**.
2. Click **More actions** beside the language that you want to add to a market.
3. Click **Add to market**.
4. Click **Done**.

**Remove a language from a market**

1. From your Shopify admin, go to **Settings** > **Languages**.
2. Click **More actions** beside the language that you want to remove from a market.
3. Click **Remove**.
4. Click **Done**.

### Unpublish a language in your online store <a href="#unpublish-a-language-in-your-online-store" id="unpublish-a-language-in-your-online-store"></a>

You can also unpublish a language, which hides the language from customers. Any links to the store in that particular language result in a 404 “Page not found” error, so [create redirects](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/menus-and-links/url-redirect#import-your-url-redirects) for any of your unpublished languages.

**Steps:**

1. From your Shopify admin, go to **Settings** > **Languages**.
2. In **Published languages**, click **Unpublish** beside the language that you want to make unavailable.
3. Click **Unpublish**.

By unpublishing a language, you also remove that language from any markets that it was added to.

### Delete a language in your online store <a href="#delete-a-language-in-your-online-store" id="delete-a-language-in-your-online-store"></a>

If you're confident that you don't need translations in that language, then you can also delete the language. Deleting a language also deletes all translations of that language permanently. If a language is re-enabled in the future, then the translations need to be added again.

**Steps:**

1. From your Shopify admin, go to **Settings** > **Languages**.
2. In **Unpublished languages**, click the delete icon beside the unpublished language that you want to remove from your store.
3. Click **Delete**.

By deleting a language, you also remove that language from any markets that it was added to.

### &#x20;<a href="#change-the-default-language-of-your-online-store" id="change-the-default-language-of-your-online-store"></a>


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