> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.strm.design/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.strm.design/selling-internationally/markets-and-languages.md).

# Markets, languages and currency

Show country, language and currency selectors, and payment icons, and set up the store features they depend on.

Stratum can show a **country/region selector** (which also sets the currency) and a **language selector** in the header and footer, and the payment methods you accept in the footer. These only appear when your store is set up for them. If a selector is switched on but doesn't show, the store setup below is almost always the reason.

## Where the selectors appear

| Place                                                                                 | Setting                                                                                | Default |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| **Footer**, bottom row                                                                | **Show country/region selector**, **Show language selector** in the **Footer** section | Both on |
| **Header**, beside the account and bag icons on large screens, and in the mobile menu | **Show country and language selectors** in the **Header** section                      | Off     |

Each selector only appears when there is a real choice:

* The **country/region** selector needs **more than one** country or region in your active markets.
* The **language** selector needs **more than one** published language.

When your store sells to a single country, the footer shows that country and currency as plain text instead, for example "United States · USD".

### How shoppers use them

The selectors are dropdowns. Choosing a country or language **applies it straight away**: the page reloads in the new currency or language. There is no separate Update button. (Visitors whose browser has JavaScript switched off get an **Update** button, so they can still switch.)

The country list shows each country with its currency, for example "Germany (EUR €)". The language list shows each language in its own name, for example "Deutsch" or "Tiếng Việt".

## Set up countries and currencies: Markets

1. In the Shopify admin, go to **Settings › Markets**.
2. Add a market, or open an existing one, and add the countries or regions you sell to.
3. Make sure the market is **Active**.

Once more than one country is active, the country/region selector appears.

### Local currencies

For each country to show prices in its own currency, the store needs **Shopify Payments**, with local currencies turned on for that market (in the market's settings). Without Shopify Payments, every country shows your store's main currency.

## Set up languages

1. Go to **Settings › Languages**.
2. Click **Add language** and choose one.
3. Click **Publish** next to it. Unpublished languages never appear on the storefront.
4. To translate your content (products, pages, theme text), install Shopify's free **Translate & Adapt** app.

Once more than one language is published, the language selector appears.

{% hint style="info" %}
The theme's own text (buttons, labels, messages) is provided in English. Translate it in **Translate & Adapt** under **Theme**, or in **Online Store › Themes › ⋯ › Edit default theme content**.
{% endhint %}

## Currency format

**Theme settings › Currency format** has one setting:

| Setting                 | What it does                                                                         | Default |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------- |
| **Show currency codes** | Adds the currency code after prices, for example "$749.95 USD" instead of "$749.95". | Off     |

Turn it on when you sell in several currencies that share a symbol (for example US, Canadian and Australian dollars), so shoppers know which dollar they are paying. Cart and checkout prices always show currency codes.

The way amounts are written (symbol, decimal separator) comes from your store: **Settings › General › Store defaults › Currency display**.

## Payment icons

The footer can show the payment methods you accept. In the **Footer** section:

| Setting                      | What it does                                                                   | Default    |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------- |
| **Show payment methods**     | Shows your accepted payment methods                                            | On         |
| **Payment methods**          | **Icons** (card logos) or **Names** (plain text such as "Mastercard · PayPal") | Icons      |
| **Payment methods position** | **Bottom row**, or **After the columns** (top area, beside the menus)          | Bottom row |

The icons come from the payment methods active in your store, so this needs at least one payment provider:

1. Go to **Settings › Payments**.
2. Activate **Shopify Payments**, or add a provider such as PayPal.
3. In the provider's settings, make sure the card brands and wallets you accept (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay…) are turned on. Those are the ones the footer shows.

{% hint style="info" %}
On a development or test store, turn on Shopify Payments **test mode** or the **Bogus Gateway** to see the icons while you build.
{% endhint %}

## Checklist: a selector or icon doesn't show

| Symptom                               | Check                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| ------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| No country selector                   | More than one country in an **active** market (**Settings › Markets**); **Show country/region selector** on in the Footer, or **Show country and language selectors** on in the Header |
| Every country shows the same currency | Shopify Payments active, with local currencies on in the market                                                                                                                        |
| No language selector                  | More than one **published** language (**Settings › Languages**)                                                                                                                        |
| No payment icons                      | A payment provider active in **Settings › Payments** with its card brands and wallets turned on; **Show payment methods** on in the Footer                                             |
| The footer's bottom row is missing    | At least one of copyright, policy links, social links, the selectors or payment methods must be on                                                                                     |

See also [Footer](/header-and-footer/footer.md) and [Header, menus and search](/header-and-footer/header.md).