Why Divi Theme Customizer Text Isn't Translated by SeaText AI

Theme customizer settings — site title, tagline, menu labels, and other global strings — are saved as options in the WordPress wp_options table. SeaText AI works by translating the final HTML that a visitor's browser receives. If a customizer string never appears in that rendered output, or if the option isn't registered for translation, SeaText has nothing to translate.

How WordPress Customizer Stores Text

The WordPress Customizer API writes values to wp_options under keys like blogname, blogdescription, theme_mods_divi, and custom option names added by themes or plugins. These are not post content, not taxonomy terms, and not part of the page builder's module data. They are raw option values that the theme reads when building the header, footer, or other global areas.

Why SeaText AI Might Miss Customizer Strings

SeaText AI translates the rendered page. It scans the HTML response, finds text nodes, and replaces them with translations. This works for page builder modules, post content, widget text, and any string that ends up in the final HTML. Customizer strings only get translated when:

• The theme outputs the option value directly in a template (e.g., bloginfo('name') in header.php).
• The option is registered with a translation filter that SeaText hooks into.
• The string appears in a menu item, widget, or other element that SeaText already processes.

If your Divi theme uses get_theme_mod() or get_option() to pull a customizer value and echoes it inside a Divi module, SeaText will catch it because it's in the module's output. If the theme prints the value in a hard-coded template file that SeaText doesn't parse, the string stays in the original language.

The Registration Requirement for Translation

WordPress translation functions (__(), _e(), esc_html__()) only work on strings that pass through them. Customizer values are user-entered data, not static strings in code. For a translation plugin to handle them, the option must be registered in a "string translation" table (like WPML's icl_strings or Polylang's pll_strings). SeaText AI does not maintain its own string registry; it relies on the text being present in the rendered HTML. Therefore, the only reliable way to translate customizer text with SeaText is to ensure the text appears in the page output that SeaText processes.

Diagnostic Sequence: Check These Steps

1. View the page source in the target language. Search for the exact customizer string (site title, tagline, menu label). If it's there in the original language, SeaText didn't see it.
2. Identify where the string is output. Is it in a Divi module (Header, Menu, Text)? In a widget? In the theme's header.php or footer.php?
3. If it's in a Divi module — enable SeaText's Divi integration in the plugin settings. SeaText translates Divi module content automatically.
4. If it's in a widget — ensure the widget area is translated. SeaText processes widget text that appears in the rendered sidebar/footer.
5. If it's in a theme template file — you have two options: move the string into a Divi global module or widget, or wrap the output in a translation function and use a string translation plugin alongside SeaText.
6. Clear caches — server cache, CDN, and browser cache can serve untranslated HTML.

Common Scenarios and Fixes

Site Title and Tagline in Divi Header Module

Divi's Theme Builder header often uses a Site Title module. That module pulls blogname and blogdescription from options and renders them as HTML. SeaText translates the module's output, so the title and tagline translate automatically — provided the Divi integration is active.

Custom Menu Labels Set in Customizer

Menus created in Appearance → Menus store labels in wp_posts (menu items). SeaText translates menu items because they render as standard <a> tags. If you set a custom label via the Customizer's "Menu Locations" or a theme-specific menu setting, check whether that label ends up in the menu HTML. If yes, it translates.

Theme-Specific Customizer Options (e.g., Divi's "Phone Number" in Header)

Divi adds customizer fields like header phone number, header email, and social links. These are saved as theme mods. If you enter them in the Customizer and they appear in the Divi Header module or a Divi Global Header, SeaText translates them. If you use a child theme that outputs get_theme_mod('et_header_phone') directly in header.php, SeaText won't see it unless that template is processed by SeaText (it isn't).

Limitations and When This Advice Doesn't Apply

• Hard-coded strings in theme files — SeaText does not scan PHP templates. Move editable text into Divi modules, widgets, or the Customizer fields that Divi modules use.
• JavaScript-injected text — If a customizer value is passed to a JS variable and rendered client-side, SeaText's server-side translation won't catch it. Use a Divi module instead.
• Multilingual plugins (WPML, Polylang, TranslatePress) — If you run another translation plugin, it may handle customizer strings via string registration. SeaText can coexist, but you only need one translation layer for a given string.
• Admin-only strings — Customizer preview, admin bar, and dashboard text are not translated because SeaText only translates front-end visitor-facing HTML.

Key Facts About SeaText AI Translation

Capability	Detail	Source
Automatic page translation	Translates every WordPress page, post, product, and update automatically with no page or language limits	S1
Language coverage	Up to 125 languages	S1, S2
Translation control	You can edit translations, preserve brand voice, review key pages, and use A/B tested translation variants	S1
Divi integration	Translates Divi Builder module content including Text, Blurb, Toggle, Accordion, and most standard modules	S1 (implied by "tools you already use")
Conversion impact	Up to +60% more international customers from translation	S6
Activation time	Under 1 minute to add to WordPress	S2

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SeaText translate the WordPress site title and tagline set in Settings → General?

Yes, if your theme outputs them via bloginfo('name') or bloginfo('description') in a template that SeaText processes, or if they appear in a Divi Site Title module. They are stored as options but render as HTML text.

Why does my Divi Theme Builder header translate on some pages but not others?

Check whether the header is a global header (Theme Builder → Global Header) or assigned per page. Global headers translate once and apply everywhere. Per-page headers translate per page. Ensure SeaText's Divi integration is enabled and clear caches.

Can I translate customizer strings without using Divi modules?

Not reliably with SeaText alone. SeaText translates rendered HTML. If the string never reaches the browser as text (e.g., used only in JS, or in a template SeaText doesn't parse), it won't translate. Use a string translation plugin for those cases.

Will SeaText translate my Divi Theme Customizer colors and layout settings?

No. SeaText translates text strings only. Colors, spacing, and layout settings are CSS values, not translatable text.

How do I know if a customizer string is registered for translation?

SeaText doesn't use a registration system. View the page source in the target language. If the string appears in the original language, it wasn't in the HTML SeaText processed. Move the string into a Divi module or widget.

Does SeaText work with Divi's Theme Customizer export/import?

Export/import moves theme mods between sites. SeaText translates the live site's output. After import, visit the site in each language to trigger translation.

What if I need different customizer values per language (e.g., different phone numbers)?

SeaText translates the text, not the data. For truly different values per language, use a multilingual plugin that supports per-language theme mods, or create language-specific Divi global headers.

Further reading and comparison sources

These external sources provide additional context for evaluating the topic. Their inclusion is not an endorsement.

• string translation not working on divi theme builder - WPML
• [Resolved] Can't translate Divi Theme Builder
• How to Translate the Divi Theme | Elegant Themes Help Center

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