Customize Text

This information only applies to self-hosted WHMCS installations. WHMCS Cloud does not currently support this customization method.

On self-hosted WHMCS installations, you can use the localization system to customize the text that displays throughout WHMCS.

  • We recommend reviewing the language string changes in each new WHMCS release before you update. This allows you to address any changes or additions that you may need to make to your customizations.
  • Do not make direct changes to the WHMCS-provided files in the lang and admin/lang directories. Updates for future WHMCS releases will overwrite changes to these files.

Customize Text for WHMCS Cloud

If you use WHMCS Cloud, you can easily customize translated text using the Translation Editor addon module. This module allows you to create overrides for any translated text that WHMCS includes in its localization files.

The Translation Editor addon module is an exclusive addon module for WHMCS Cloud.

Customize Text for Self-Hosted WHMCS Installations

To customize text on a self-hosted WHMCS installation:

1. Open the file for the desired language.

Open the language file for the desired language (for example, /lang/english.php) in your preferred text editor.

2. Find the text to customize.

Search for the text that you want to customize.

At the beginning of that line, note the corresponding string name. For example, headertext is the string name for Welcome to our Support Portal in the following example:

Language strings in a localization file

For more information about finding strings in MarketConnect promotions, see MarketConnect Promotions below.

3. Create an overrides folder.

Create an overrides folder inside of the lang directory.

4. Create or copy the language file.

Create or copy the language file that you want to override. For example, to create an override for the English language file, you would create the /lang/overrides/english.php file.

  1. Start the file with a PHP tag:
<?php
  1. Enter the strings that you want to override, entering the desired text and using the format below:
$_LANG['headertext'] = "Welcome home!";

This example replaces the original Welcome to our Support Portal text with Welcome home!.

For more information, see our Developer Documentation.

5. Save and upload the file.

Save the file with UTF-8 encoding and upload to your server.

MarketConnect Promotions

You can customize and translate text in MarketConnect promotions on self-hosted WHMCS installations using the steps above. There are several strings of text in each MarketConnect promotion, and you must update each string separately.

Language strings for MarketConnect promotions will contain the following sections:

$_LANG['store']['product-type']['promo-type']['product-name']['element-name']

In the example above:

  • store indicates that the string is part of MarketConnect.
  • product-type represents the MarketConnect product type.
    For a list of MarketConnect product types, see Customization and Localization of Promotions.
  • promo-type represents the type of promotion.
    • promo indicates that the string is in a promotion for clients who do not already own that product.
    • upsell indicates that the string is in a promotion for clients who own that product and can upgrade it.
  • product-name represents the name of the MarketConnect product.
    For a list of MarketConnect product names, see Customization and Localization of Promotions.
  • element-name represents the element within the promotion:
    The location of each element in a MarketConnect promotion.
    In the above example: - Boost your search rankings is the headline element. - with a RapidSSL Certificate is the tagline element. - Activate HTTPS and the lock icon is the feature1 element. - Secure online transactions is the feature2 element. - Encrypt sensitive data is the feature3 element. - Protect user privacy is the feature4 element. - Add RapidSSL from just $17.95 USD/yr is the cta element.

For example, the following string could be the tagline for a Symantec promotion of RapidSSL certificates for clients who do not currently own one:

$_LANG[`store`]['symantec']['promo']['rapidssl_rapidssl']['tagline'] = 'with a RapidSSL Certificate';
localization

Last modified: 2025 October 17