Translation

What Is It?

Translation lets you show the cart drawer text in the languages your store supports. You can edit each string by hand, or use Auto translate to fill them in for the languages connected to your store.

When to Use It

You sell in more than one language and want the cart drawer to match
You want to override a machine translation with your own wording
You want to keep button labels, messages, and titles consistent across locales

Setup Walkthrough

Step 1: Open Translations

Open the Cart Editor. In the left panel, under the Settings group, select Translations.

Translation settings with language columns

Step 2: Pick a Language

Use the language selector to choose which locale you are editing. The Default language shows for reference. Each field lists the Original text next to its Translation.

The list of languages comes from your Shopify store's published languages. If a language is missing, add it in Shopify first.

Step 3: Edit the Text

Work through the field groups and type your wording in the Translation column. Strings are grouped by section (general fields, customized text, and feature-specific labels) so you can find what you need.

Step 4: Use Auto Translate (Optional)

To fill translations automatically, use Auto translate. The Auto translate button opens a menu with three scoped choices, plus there is a per-field button to translate a single line. Every Auto translate action runs for the language currently selected in the language picker.

The three menu options are:

Translate empty fields: fills only the lines that have no translation yet. The menu shows how many are {count} not translated.
Update out-of-date fields: re-translates only the lines whose source text changed after they were translated. The menu shows how many are {count} changed since translated.
Re-translate everything...: re-translates every field. This is the only option that overwrites manual edits, so it opens a confirmation modal first (see below).

Translate empty fields and Update out-of-date fields never overwrite wording you typed by hand. They only touch empty or out-of-date lines, so your manual edits stay safe.

To translate a single line, click the wand icon button at the end of its row. It translates just that line into the selected language and fills in the Translation.

Auto translate keeps variables such as {{cart_quantity}} exactly as they are. The text around a variable is translated, but the {{ }} token itself is left untouched.

Re-translate everything confirmation

When you choose Re-translate everything..., a confirmation modal titled Re-translate everything? appears. It warns that the action overwrites all translations for the selected language, including fields you edited by hand, and suggests using Translate empty fields or Update out-of-date fields instead if you want to keep your edits. Confirm with Re-translate all, or use Cancel to back out.

⚠️

Auto translate is a connected feature. The banner reads: To enable the auto-translation feature, please contact us to connect it with the languages available in your store. Use Reach out to us to request it.

Out-of-Date and Missing Badges

Once you have translated and saved at least one language, the app flags lines that need attention so you do not have to hunt for them by hand. Badges show up in a few places, each with its own scope:

The Translations item in the left Settings menu shows a combined count across all of your languages.
The language picker shows a separate count next to each language, counted for that language.
The field group headers and individual field rows show badges for the language you are currently editing.

Two kinds of badge can show:

Out of date: the source text changed after this line was translated. The badge on the field row reads Out of date. The menu and picker show a count such as {count} out of date.
Missing: the line has no translation yet for this language. The menu and picker show a count such as {count} missing.

Translations sidebar item and language picker showing the out-of-date and missing count badges

A Missing badge is a new signal, not an error. It only appears for languages you have already started translating, so stores that do not use translations are not bothered. Shoppers are never affected: any untranslated line falls back to the source text in the drawer.

To clear an Out of date badge, re-translate the line (with the wand icon button or with Update out-of-date fields) or edit the Translation yourself, then Save.

Troubleshooting

Q1: A language I need is not in the selector

The selector only lists languages published on your Shopify store. Add the language in Shopify's settings, then return here.

Q2: Auto translate is not available

Auto translate must be connected for your store. Use Reach out to us in the banner to request setup.

Q3: My translation does not show in the drawer

Confirm the shopper is browsing in that language and that you clicked Save. The drawer shows the Default language text for any field left blank.

Q4: A field shows an "Out of date" badge

The source text for that line changed after you translated it. Re-translate the line with the wand icon button or with Update out-of-date fields, or edit the Translation yourself, then click Save. The badge clears once the translation matches the new source text.

Q5: Auto translate changed a variable like `{{cart_quantity}}`

Auto translate is built to keep {{ }} variables untouched. If a variable looks wrong, edit the Translation by hand and click Save. Make sure the variable is written exactly as it appears in the Original column.

Cart Validation How to Set Up