WordPress websites are customizable even after they are published on the internet. As a CMS, WordPress offers a platform where users can edit their websites post-publication. And it is done through a feature known as the WordPress Customizer. However, at times, many users find that their customizer does not save the changes made to their website. And even if the edit page is saved, the changes do not reflect on the actual website. The following article explains the reasons behind this issue and also explores the solutions to this error.
Reasons why Customizer is not saving changes?
There are a few reasons why the customizer does so, which we have mentioned below. Some of the reasons are quite common while others are quite rare.
You’re using an older version of WordPress
There are a few reasons why the customizer does so, which we have mentioned below. Some of the reasons are quite common, while others are quite rare. The most obvious and common reason behind this error is your WordPress version.
If you are running an older version of WordPress, then chances are you will frequently observe your customizer not saving the changes made to the website. Every new version of WordPress comes with enhanced security as well as better features. But it also fixes older, existing bugs. By updating to a newer version, you can get rid of the customizer error on your website.
Also, there are times when your WordPress themes and plugins also fail to work properly, which might result in your customizer acting strangely. Using an older version of WordPress might also cause your theme customizer to return blank results.
The WordPress address and the Site address are different
If your WordPress URL differs from your website’s URL, it can result in your customizer not working properly. Both addresses must be the same to function properly. It is so because WordPress uses permalinks. A broken permalink can cause all sorts of trouble for your website. To rectify this, follow these steps:
- First, log in to your WordPress website’s admin panel.
- Then go to the dashboard.
- After that, go to settings and select “General.”
- Here, locate the “WordPress Address” and “Site Address” sections.
- Now, enter the same URL in both boxes.
- Finally, scroll down and save the changes.
Plugin conflict
One of the most common causes of major WordPress errors is a conflict between multiple installed plugins. While a plugin is an important and popular tool, it is also the root of many issues. If multiple plugins are installed on the website, the subsequent loading and running of codes can create a conflict for WordPress. And it is this conflict that prevents your customizer from running adequately.
You don’t even have to install a new plugin for issues to crop up. They are developed by third-party providers and can go bad, causing problems for your website. If you are using an old plugin and haven’t updated it, then it can also cause you trouble, as such plugins are vulnerable.
The server is running an outdated version of PHP
Similarly, running an older version of PHP can also cause your customizer to become faulty. If you are using an older version, especially if it is older than 5.4, it is high time you updated it. WordPress recommends using the latest version of PHP for a smoother experience. All you need to do is contact your web host provider and request to have the PHP being used by the WordPress site updated.
Full Disk Storage
Lastly, the customizer error can also happen if your disk storage is almost full. The server hosting your website allocates specific space to it. If you have exhausted these resources, then chances are your customizer won’t be able to save the newer changes. Thus, you must contact your web host and request that they allocate more server memory for your website.
Possible Solutions to “Customizer Not Saving Changes” error
As we have already seen the causes behind the “WordPress customizer not saving changes” error, it’s time to find some potential solutions to this problem. We have included a few troubleshooting methods below for users to check.
1. Hard Refresh your Web Browser
First, let us start by doing a hard refresh of your website. It is a method that allows you to only clear the cache for a particular website and not the whole web browser. If your caches are causing the web browser to load an older version of the website, then doing a hard refresh will solve it.
When you perform it, it will force your browser to skip the stored cache for the particular website and download the website resources anew. All you need to do to perform a hard refresh is press the Ctrl + F5 keys on your Windows or Linux system, while macOS users can do the same by pressing Cmd + R.
2. Clear browser cookies and caches
If a hard refresh doesn’t work, then you have to proceed with resetting your browser, which means clearing all the cookies and caches. Go to your browser settings and delete cookies and clear out the cache.
3. Use a WordPress Caching Plugin
Typically, the WordPress server creates your website’s finished HTML from scratch. It utilizes PHP for every visit and sends the finished HTML to the visitor’s browser for rendering. The cache is stored to speed up this process. It absolves the server from creating an HTML website from scratch and allows it to use the stored version. That’s why, at times, even after you update your website, the changes do not appear as the server is still using the cached version.
Thus, you have to clear the cache, but this cache is stored by your WordPress server. In order to delete it, there are some plugins available. Since we can’t cover every plugin, we will be showcasing a few popular ones.
a. WP Super Cache
First, let us take a look at WP Super Cache. It is a simple plugin where you can directly clear the cache from the toolbar. On your dashboard, find the Clear Cache option and click it, or go to the plugin settings and delete it from there.
b. WP Fastest Cache
Next up is the WP Fastest Cache. It also allows users to directly clear all cache from the toolbar itself. However, you can also clear the cache manually by going to the page or post you are experiencing trouble with and hovering your cursor there. You will see an option to clear the cache.
4. Disable or Delete Plugins
Now, we will try to disable or delete those plugins that are causing conflict. In order to find the particular plugin, we have to first disable all the plugins. Once the problematic plugin is found, we can delete it and turn on the rest.
5. Change to a default WordPress theme
And lastly, you can always switch to your default theme to rule out the possibility that your custom theme is creating an issue or not. If the customizer is working after changing your theme back to the default one, then you might have to get rid of your custom theme.