Elementor is a recent and popular WordPress editor (page builder plugin) that replaces the older Block Editor with a more intensive yet intuitive page builder. But it requires you to load Elementor every time you want to create or edit a page. As such, there are times when Elementor fails to load. Users often see the page stuck on the loading screen. Why does this happen, and how can one fix it? All these are discussed in the following article, so make sure to scroll down to find out!
What can be causing the Elementor Not Loading issue?
Typically, Elementor only takes a moment to load. If it isn’t loading, then there surely is a problem. Now, this problem can be due to several reasons, which we will discuss in this section.
- If you are stuck on a gray page, chances are your Elementor is stuck due to a conflict with an existing plugin. It can also get caused by a theme with a faulty script. You can solve this by activating safe mode. More will get discussed in the next segment.
- A browser extension or an add-on can also cause Elementor to fail to load. Solving this one is simple, as you can just switch to a different browser.
- Your theme preloader might also be causing the issue. Disable the preloader and try again.
- Another factor contributing to the issue might be X-frame restrictions and cross-origin issues. To check this, you need to refer to the error messages in your browser’s console.
- Those who are using Cloudflare might have to switch off Rocker Loader or add rules to their Cloudflare in order to run Elementor without any issues. The Rocket Loader can cause Elementor to be slow, which can ultimately lead to a stuck loading page. A Cloudflare cache can also prevent the browser from recognizing a newer version of Elementor.
How to fix Elementor Not Loading issue?
Method 1. Update your WordPress Elementor
First, let us try to update Elementor in order to solve the loading issue. Although it might be a crude solution, you would be surprised to find out how many times this works. Older versions of Elementor would have conflicting codes that were failing to load. Hence, check your Elementor version by going to Plugins and looking for Elementor in the Installed Plugins section, and if it’s an older version, do update it.
Method 2. Disable your Plugins if there is a conflict
Sometimes different plugins can also cause issues that might stop Elementor from loading. Such plugins don’t need to be related to Elementor. Even a random one can create conflict, resulting in the Elementor Not Loading error. However, diagnosing this can be quite challenging. You can only do so manually, one by one. You ought to disable all the plugins except Elementor and then start enabling them one at a time. Also, check Elementor every time you enable it. If it works, then the plugin is safe for use.
Elementor’s add-ons can also cause problems with loading, so you might also want to check them.
Method 3. Change Elementor’s Loader method
Alternatively, you can always try and switch the Elementor Loader method to resolve any loading issues. Elementor includes an in-built feature that allows users to change the way they load it on the page builder. Generally speaking, switching the Loader method isn’t harmful, but still, we recommend it as a last resort. In order to change the method, first go to Elementor and click on Settings. Then go to Advanced and look for the Switch Editor Loader method, and enable it.
Method 4. Update to the latest PHP version and increase PHP memory limit
Elementor can only run on PHP 7 or newer versions. If you are getting stuck on the loading page, do check your PHP version and, if required, update it. Go to the WordPress admin to check PHP and update it via your hosting control panel.
Similarly, your hosting provider might also have easier configurations for updating server configurations. For example, if you are using Kinsta, then the MyKinsta dashboard allows you to select the version of PHP for your website. You can also use it to update PHP.
Another factor that contributes to this issue is your website’s PHP memory limit. It is basically the amount of RAM WordPress can utilize. Lower RAM allocation will result in fewer plugins. Although Elementor requires a minimum of 128 MB of RAM to work, we suggest increasing your PHP memory to 512 MB for better and more consistent results.
Method 5. Double check your .htaccess File
The Hypertext Access, or .htaccess file, is your Apache distributed server configuration file that is used to specify the server configuration of any particular directory. You can alter this file to make essential changes such as error handling, user permissions, authorization, redirects to some URLs, and whatnot. However, a faulty .htaccess file or some wrong settings can stop Elementor from loading. But solving this is easy, as you can simply create a new .htaccess file with default settings. However, we recommend backing up your original file before making any changes, just to be safe.
Method 6. Change your theme
Your theme might also be the reason why Elementor is failing to load. Some codes within the theme or the theme pre-loader itself can cause conflict with Elementor. Thus, we advise you to first remove the theme and check whether Elementor is working or not. If the theme is indeed the cause, then you can only proceed with a different one or use the WordPress default theme. You can also use one of the WordPress themes that supports Elementor.
To change your theme, you need to head to the WordPress Dashboard and go to Appearance. From there, you should go to Themes and change the active one.
Method 7. Increase your Apache Server limit
If your website is big enough to exceed the Apache Server limit, you need to increase the limit in order to accommodate Elementor. You can make changes to the .htaccess file to do so.
Method 8. Clear browser cache or switch to a different browser
No matter what the issue, someone always says to clear your cache. It is so because it works most of the time. By clearing your browser cache, you can load a website as if it were the first time you were visiting it. Caches store certain information pertaining to a website you have visited earlier. Such information, when outdated, can cause all sorts of issues. Thus, by clearing your cache, you are virtually in for a brand-new web experience.
On a different note, your browser extensions or add-ons can also cause Elementor to misbehave. But by switching your browser, you can solve the issue. Or you can try to disable all external extensions and try again.