Are you looking for step by step tutorial with clear info about configuration multilanguage site for Joomla 3? Here it is!

If you're just starting your adventure with Joomla templates I suggest installing our free Joomla 3 template. 
Follow the video instructions how to install the demo copy - quickstart package.
If you already have a website, skip this step.

Step 1 - languages installation

Go to the Extensions-> Extension Manager-> Install languages. If you don’t see a list of available languages, click Find languages button.

 

 

Select the language you want to install on you website. I choose Polish language. Then click Install.

 

 

If everything goes according to the plan, You should see a message on the screen:

 

Repeat this step to install other languages. I stay with Polish and already installed English lang.

Don't know how to get it? Order a custom service!

Step 2 - language configuration

Now go to the Extensions -> Language Manager and click New button.

 

 

Fill in the following fields of New Content Language:

 

1. Title - type a name of language. It will appear on our list.
2. Title Native - it’s title of native language. In my case I type Polski (PL)
3. Language Tag - enter a language tag. This should be the exact prefix used for the language you want to install. How to find it? Go to Extensions-> Language Manager and look at Language tag column and find Your item- that’s it! In my case it’s: pl-PL
   
   
   
4. URL Language Code - this language code will be appended to the site URL. It have to be an unique name among all of languages!
5. Image Prefix - if you want to use state flag that represents the language as sign, select one from the drop-down list.
6. Status - define for which users language will be available.
7. Access - also specify it for groups of users.
8. Description - it’s an optional field, you can type a description for this language.

Click Save and close. The following message should appear:

 

 

Step 3 - Language Filter plugin

Now we need to enable the plugin responsible for displaying the content depending of selected language. Go to Extensions-> Plugin Manager and find System- Language Filter. If it’s disabled (button with cross on red background) enable it by clicking in button.

 

 

Step 4 - Language switcher module

Now it's time for displaying language switcher/selector module on the site. Go to Extensions-> Module Manager and click New. Choose Language switcher from list.

 

 

Type a name of the module and choose a layout position for a module. You can hide title of module, too.

 

 

Go to Menu Assigment tab and assign a module to all pages. Click Save and close.

 

Step 5 - configuring main menu for each language

Now we need to create a menu that will keep info about you languages. At first let's create the menu for default language. Go to Menus-> Menu Manager-> Add New Menu.

Type Title and Menu Type, for example:

 

 

Click Save and close.
Go to Menus-> Main Menu -> Home page item.

 

 

 

Click Save as Copy

Fill in the fields like that:

 

1. Title (title of home page in your default language)
2. Menu location (location of created menu)
3. Status (Published if you want that every viewers see it)
4. Default Page -> Yes
5. Language- choose Your language

Click Save and Close

If everything is in order You should see:

 

This is the result on the site:

 

Bravo! Repeat 6th step for your second language :)
I did it for Polish language, so Menu Manager looks as follows now:

 

This is the final result on the site:

 

Well done! Now You can change the language using the switcher :) and start working on preparing multi language content versions.

Don't know how to get it? Order a custom service!

TIP: Create a language overrides and content.

TIP: How to create content for multilanguage site?

How to configure a multilanguage site? Part 2.