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How to change the default language of your Webflow site

Adapt the main language of your hotel website to your audience

Key points:

  • The default language corresponds to the site's primary language (content, SEO, navigation).
  • On Webflow, you change the default language by adjusting the pages, URLs, and hreflang tags.
  • If you use Weglot, the change can be made directly from the dashboard.

Changing the default language of your Webflow site is an important step if you want to reach a new audience, for example, switching from French to English to target an international clientele. This change affects the site's structure, SEO, and user experience.

Steps to change the default language in Webflow

  1. Identify the new primary language. Determine the language that will become the reference language for your site (for example, English). This language will be used for all new pages, root URLs, and main SEO content.
  2. Move existing content if necessary. If your current site is in French and you wish to switch to English:
    • Create a /fr/ folder for existing French pages.
    • Move all the French pages into this folder.
    • Keep the root / for English pages. Example:
    • Old: / → French
    • New: / → English; /fr/ → French
  3. Translate the main pages into the new default language. Duplicate your French pages and translate them into the new language. These new pages will become the site's main pages.
  4. Update the navigation and internal links. Verify that the main menu, button links, and calls to action now point to the pages in the new language. 💡 Tip: You can keep a link to the French version via a language selector or a simple "French" link.

Add the hreflang tags to indicate the main language. In each page, add the following tags in the Head section (Page Settings): <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://your-site.com/" />

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" href="https://your-site.com/fr/" />

  1. This allows Google to understand that the English version is now the primary one.
  2. Update the meta tags and sitemap
    • Change the content language (<html lang="en"> in the project settings).
    • Reindex the site via Google Search Console so that the new primary language is taken into account.

If you use Weglot

  1. Access your Weglot dashboard.
  2. In Settings > Languages, set the new primary language.
  3. Weglot will automatically adapt URLs, hreflang tags, and redirects.
  4. Check that the translated content remains consistent and that your language switcher buttons still work.

💡 Tip: Weglot automatically handles visitors based on their browser language. If you change the default language, this will affect the first version displayed when the site opens.

Best practices

  • Test the main version on mobile and desktop before publishing.
  • Update your metadata (title, meta description) in the new language.
  • Inform your marketing team or SEO agency before changing the default language: this will impact your existing search engine rankings.
  • Check your incoming links (backlinks): if many point to the French version, keep 301 redirects to the new URLs.

Conclusion

Changing the default language on Webflow allows you to adapt your hotel website to a new market or an international audience. By clearly structuring your URLs, hreflang tags, and content, you ensure a smooth transition for your visitors and stable SEO.