How to Set Up a Multilingual Joomla Site
Getting Started · Joomla 4, 5, 6 · Updated June 1, 2026
✅ Verified on Joomla 5.4.6: the Languages screens (“Languages: Installed (Site)”) match the live admin. Multilingual is built in — one of Joomla’s real advantages over some other CMSs.
This is the big-picture workflow. Multilingual touches many areas, so build it on a staging copy first.
Step 1 — Install the languages
System → Install → Languages, then install each language pack you need (the content/site languages, not just admin).
Step 2 — Create Content Languages
System → Manage → Content Languages — add a Content Language entry for each language (these define the language code, URL prefix, image/flag, etc.). Joomla uses these to tag and filter content.
Step 3 — Enable the language filter
Enable the System – Language Filter plugin (System → Plugins). This is what makes Joomla detect and route visitors to the right language. Review its options (e.g. “Item Associations”).
Step 4 — Tag your content by language
Articles, categories, modules and menu items each have a Language field. Create a separate menu (and Home menu item) per language, then assign content the matching language. Use Associations to link an article to its translations.
Step 5 — Add a language switcher
Create a Language Switcher module (Content → Site Modules → New → Language Switcher) and place it in a visible position so visitors can change language.
Tips
- Set each language menu’s Home item, and assign the Language Filter plugin’s default appropriately.
- This is genuinely involved — take it step by step and test routing for each language before going live.