Safe Translation with Loco Translate (Without Losing Translations on Updates)

Safe Translation with Loco Translate (Without Losing Translations on Updates)

When translating WordPress plugins using Loco Translate, it’s important to save translations in the right location. If you save them inside the plugin’s own folder, they will be overwritten every time you update the plugin.

This guide will show you how to safely translate the WPTravelly – Tour & Travel Booking Manager plugin ( this is an example Plugin; you have to choose the right plugin that you like to translate ) without losing your translations after updates.

✅ Step 1: Install & Activate Loco Translate

  1. Go to WordPress Dashboard → Plugins → Add New.

  2. Search for Loco Translate.

  3. Install and activate it.

✅ Step 2: Open Your Plugin in Loco Translate

  1. Go to Dashboard → Loco Translate → Plugins.

  2. Find WpTravelly – Tour & Travel Booking Manager.

  3. Click on it to open translation options.

✅ Step 3: Create a New Translation

  1. Click New Language.

  2. Under Choose a language, select your target language (e.g., Arabic).

  3. Under Choose a location, you’ll see three options:

    • Custom: languages/loco/plugins/... ✅ (Safe option)

    • System: languages/plugins/... (May be replaced by WordPress updates) ⚠

    • Author: plugins/.../languages/... (Will be deleted on plugin updates) ❌

👉 Always select Custom location.
This ensures your translations are stored in a separate folder:

/wp-content/languages/loco/plugins/tour-booking-manager-xx_XX.po

Here is Screenshoot that you have to follow
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  1. Click Start Translating.

✅ Step 4: Translate Strings

  • You’ll see all available strings from the plugin.

  • Select each string, enter the translation, and save.

✅ Step 5: Keep Translations Safe on Updates

  • Since you chose the Custom location, translations are stored outside the plugin folder.

  • When you update the plugin, your translations remain intact. 🎉

🔄 Bonus Tips

  • Sync regularly: If the plugin is updated with new strings, click Sync in Loco Translate to fetch new strings without losing existing translations.

  • Backup translations: Occasionally, export your .po and .mo files for backup.

🚀 Best Practice Summary

✔ Always choose Custom location → languages/loco/plugins/
✔ Never save translations inside the plugin’s own folder.
✔ Sync after updates to catch new strings.
✔ Backup your .po files.