Yes, MultiLipi supports sub-directory-based translation for WordPress websites. This means your translated pages can be served from URLs like:

Instead of using subdomains (like fr.yourdomain.com), the sub-directory mode keeps everything under your main domain, which is highly beneficial for SEO, analytics, and technical simplicity.

MultiLipi Dashboard Wordpress Sub Domain and Sub Directory Support

Requirements for Sub-directory Support

To enable and use sub-directory translation on WordPress, ensure the following:

  • WordPress Permalinks are set to anything other than "Plain"
  • Your server allows rewriting URLs using .htaccess (common in Apache setups)
  • No conflicting rewrite or redirection plugins are active
  • You have installed and activated the MultiLipi WordPress Plugin

ℹ️ Note: If you're using NGINX, LiteSpeed, or custom hosting, you may need minor adjustments in rewrite rules. Contact support if needed.

How It Works

When sub-directory mode is enabled:

  1. MultiLipi dynamically injects translated content based on the active sub-directory path (e.g., /fr/, /es/)
  2. Language-specific metadata, hreflang, canonical tags, and translated slugs are served automatically
  3. The translated content is cached to ensure fast load times and SEO crawlability

There’s no need to create separate WordPress installations or language-specific folders — the routing and translation layer are handled by MultiLipi's infrastructure behind the scenes.

SEO Benefits of Sub-directory Mode

Using sub-directory structure helps:

  • Retain domain authority for translated pages
  • Simplify multilingual sitemap submissions
  • Make it easier for Googlebot and AI crawlers to index all versions under the main domain
  • Avoid DNS-level changes (unlike sub-domains)

Troubleshooting Sub-directory Mode

If your translated sub-directory pages return 404 or blank content:

  • Ensure WordPress permalinks are enabled (Settings → Permalinks)
  • Confirm that your .htaccess file is present and writable
  • Clear any page caching plugins (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache)
  • Check for conflicting redirect rules in .htaccess or plugins
  • Use Incognito mode or flush server cache to validate routing

Need Help?

If you're facing issues enabling or configuring sub-directory mode on WordPress, feel free to contact us at support@multilipi.com.
We’ll help you get it set up correctly based on your server and hosting environment.