ios localizable stringsdict plural key missing other error

Fix iOS Localizable stringsdict plural key missing other

TL;DR

Every stringsdict plural entry must include an other variant, so add it. iOS uses other as the fallback for every count the specific forms do not cover, and without it the lookup fails. Add the other key with sensible copy, then test with counts that hit each form.

The error

Missing plural key: NSStringLocalizedFormatKey entry "files" has no "other" variant
plural renders the key name at runtime for some counts

Fix it

Step 1: Open the stringsdict entry for the key

grep -n -A 12 '"files"' Localizable.stringsdict | head -16

Expected: You see which plural variants exist and that other is missing.

Step 2: Add the other variant

node -e "console.log('add an entry with key other and the plural string value, written as a real plist entry')"

Expected: The entry now has one, other, and any other forms you need.

Step 3: Validate the plist syntax

plutil -lint Localizable.stringsdict

Expected: plutil reports OK.

Step 4: Test with counts 0, 1, and 5 on device or simulator

node -e "console.log('String.localizedStringWithFormat covers each count, confirm no raw key shows')"

Expected: Every count renders proper text.

When to use this

• A stringsdict plural is missing the other variant
• Plurals show the key name for some counts

When NOT to use this

• The other variant exists but the wrong form shows, check the count value type
• You need a zero-specific form, add zero alongside other

Tool and version compatibility

• iOS 13+, Localizable.stringsdict plist format
• NSStringLocalizedFormatKey entries

Variant phrasings

missing one variant

Same fix pattern. Add whichever CLDR form your language needs, other stays mandatory.

stringsdict ignored entirely

The file must be named exactly Localizable.stringsdict and in the right .lproj folder.

Why it happens

Apple's plural lookup requires other as the universal fallback. Specific forms like one or few only match their counts, everything else falls to other. Without it the formatter has nothing to render and shows the key.

Edge cases

• The variable name in %#@count@ must match the format key exactly
• Arabic needs zero, one, two, few, many, and other, do not ship with just one and other
• Xcode does not warn at build time, this only shows at runtime, test every plural

Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_g2IWnYouaiHvfC0O-dOAnQ

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pst_g2IWnYouaiHvfC0O-dOAnQ

Thread query: ios localizable stringsdict plural key missing other error

TL;DR: Every stringsdict plural entry must include an other variant, so add it. iOS uses other as the fallback for every count the specific forms do not cover, and without it the lookup fails. Add the other key with sensible copy, then test with counts that hit each form.