Troubleshooting Azure AD B2C Localization Issues: Why Your Sign-In User Flow Isn't Translating
Building a global application requires you to cater to users from diverse backgrounds. Azure AD B2C's localization features aim to simplify this process, but sometimes the translation just doesn't work as expected.
Let's say you're working on a user flow for sign-in and you've diligently added localized content through the Azure portal, but your users are still seeing the default English text. Here's a possible scenario:
The Problem:
"I've configured my Azure AD B2C user flow to display in Spanish, but users still see English prompts during sign-in. The language settings in my Azure portal are correctly set to Spanish, and I've uploaded localized content for the relevant pages. What am I missing?"
Here's the breakdown of the issue and how to fix it:
The problem lies in the combination of the user flow's configuration and the language settings used for localization. Azure AD B2C relies on claims to determine the language users will see during their journey through the user flow. These claims can be defined in the user flow's technical profile.
Here are the key steps to ensure your user flow translates correctly:
-
Define the Language Claim:
- In your user flow's technical profile, add a language claim to capture the user's preferred language.
- Claim Type:
http://schemas.microsoft.com/ws/2008/06/identity/claims/language - Claim Source: You can use a variety of sources, including a predefined claim from a user's identity provider, a custom claim generated by your application, or a language identifier extracted from the browser's settings.
-
Configure Language Policy:
- In your Azure AD B2C tenant, set up a language policy that maps languages to specific translations.
- Use the "Language" claim defined in your technical profile as the input for this policy.
- The language policy will then use this input to retrieve the appropriate translation from the localized content you've uploaded in the Azure portal.
-
Use Localized Content:
- Ensure you have uploaded localized content for each language you support in your user flow.
- This includes UI elements, error messages, and any other text displayed to users.
Example of a User Flow with Language Claim:
Imagine your user flow is used for signing in with a social identity provider like Facebook. You want to use the user's preferred language setting from Facebook to personalize their experience.
- Technical Profile: In your user flow's technical profile, define a claim that reads the locale setting from Facebook.
- Language Policy: Create a language policy in your Azure AD B2C tenant, associating languages with specific translations you've uploaded. This policy will then use the claim from your technical profile to fetch the correct translation.
Further Troubleshooting Tips:
- Check Browser Language Settings: Make sure the user's browser is set to the desired language.
- Review User Flow Configuration: Carefully examine your user flow's technical profiles, ensuring all claims are correctly defined and mapped to the language policy.
- Examine Localized Content: Verify that the localized content for each language is properly uploaded and associated with the correct language code in the Azure portal.
By carefully configuring the language claim, language policy, and localized content, you can ensure a smooth and seamless multilingual user experience within your Azure AD B2C application.
Useful Resources:
- Azure AD B2C Documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory-b2c/
- Azure AD B2C Localization Overview: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory-b2c/user-flows-localization
By implementing these steps, you can confidently build a truly global and accessible application with Azure AD B2C, overcoming the challenges of language barriers and reaching users worldwide.
