How to fix the "translation missing" issue in your Shopify store

It’s easy to miss small details when running a Shopify store. One of those details is the "translation missing" error. You might think it only shows up when you run a multilingual store, but it can appear even if your site has a single language.

This small error can confuse customers and hurt your site’s SEO. The good news is that it’s also easy to find and fix once you know where to look.

Why "translation missing" appears

Shopify themes rely on translation files to display text across your store. These files contain default words and labels like "Add to cart" or "Search."

When a piece of text isn’t defined in those files, Shopify displays the placeholder "translation missing."

This usually happens for a couple of reasons:

• A theme upgrade didn't execute properly, leaving some texts without translation fields.

• A custom app or integration added fields that don’t have translations.

• A developer forgot to include translations when customizing your theme.

Even if you only use English, the store still relies on the same translation system. That’s why the error shows up in single-language stores too.

How to check if your store has this issue

You don’t have to click through every page of your store to find missing translations. There’s a simple way to check.

Open Google and run this search:

"translation missing" site:yourstorename.myshopify.com

Just replace yourstorename.myshopify.com with your own domain.

Google will show you any indexed pages where the error appears. If nothing shows up, you’re probably safe. But if you do see results, you’ll want to fix them right away.

Why fixing it matters

At first glance, a small text error doesn’t seem urgent. But it can create real issues for your store.

• Customer trust: Seeing "translation missing" looks like your store is broken or incomplete. Customers may lose confidence and leave.

• SEO impact: If Google indexes these errors, they can show up in your search snippets. That can reduce clicks and hurt rankings.

• User experience: Small errors add up. Clean text across your store keeps the experience smooth.

How to fix missing translations

Fixing the error usually means editing your theme’s translation files. Here are the common ways to do it:

• Check the theme editor

  • Go to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit default theme content.

  • It should show you a warning banner that lets you filter and see which translations are missing.

• Edit the code

  • In some cases, you’ll need to check your theme’s code for missing translation keys.

  • Look in the locales folder for JSON files that hold text values.

  • The code editor will show you a relevant error.

• Update apps or integrations

  • If an app is causing the issue, check its settings.

  • Some apps let you edit labels directly, or you may need support from the app developer.

FAQ

Does this only happen in multilingual stores? No. Even single-language stores can show "translation missing" if a text value is missing from the theme file.

Will this affect my SEO? Yes. Google can index pages with the error, and the text may appear in search results.

Can i fix this without coding? Most cases can be fixed through the theme editor. Only advanced customizations may need code edits.

What if it keeps happening after i fix it? Check if an app or a recent theme update reintroduced the missing translation. In that case, you may need to update the file again.

Wrapping up

"Translation missing" might seem like a small glitch, but it can impact both customers and search engines. The fix is simple: check your site using Google, update your theme content, and make sure all apps or customizations are covered.

It’s one of those small maintenance tasks that, once fixed, makes your store feel more professional and trustworthy.