Update broke the site?
Elementor update broke the site? Here’s how to fix it
Broken layout, missing styles or an editor that will not load. Start with the steps below, then make sure the next Elementor update is tested before it reaches the live site.
Fix it now
Get the site working again
- Don’t panic and don’t update anything else. If the site is down for visitors, restore the last backup or roll back the plugin first; find the cause afterwards.
- Clear Elementor’s files and data. In WP Admin go to Elementor → Editor → Home, open Tools in the left panel and click Clear Files & Data. Then clear every other cache: caching plugin, server and CDN.
- Check that Elementor and Elementor Pro are on matching versions. A free/Pro mismatch is the most common cause of a broken editor.
- Still broken? Roll back Elementor. In Elementor → Editor → Home, open Tools, then the Version Control tab, and reinstall the previous version. Report the problem to the add-on that breaks.
Why it happens
The usual causes
Free and Pro out of sync
Elementor and Elementor Pro are updated separately. When one runs ahead of the other, widgets and the editor can fail.
Cached CSS from the old version
The page still loads styles generated before the update, so visitors see a layout that no longer matches.
Add-ons not ready yet
Third-party Elementor add-ons often need their own update before they work with a new Elementor version.
Theme templates
Themes that override Elementor output can clash with changed markup after an update.
Next time
Checklist before the next update
- Make a backup
- Update Elementor and Elementor Pro together
- Run the update on a copy of the site first
- Clear Elementor files and data, then clear all caches
- Compare the home page, a long builder page and the menu on desktop and mobile
- Submit the forms
How Verploy handles it
Test the next update before your clients see it
Every update is checked, and the risky ones are tested on a copy of the site first. Verploy compares the key pages on desktop and mobile, submits the forms and opens the checkout. If something looks off, the update is held back and the live site stays as it was. If a problem only shows after going live, Verploy attempts an automatic rollback and reports the result.
Read how safe updates work, the WordPress update checklist and staging updates for agencies. Another plugin? See all fixes.
No credit card.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Why does my page look different only for visitors?
Usually cached CSS. Clear Elementor files and data, then clear the caches of your caching plugin, server and CDN.
Should I update Elementor add-ons first or after?
After Elementor, on the copy, so you see the combination before it goes live.
Can I roll back Elementor?
Yes. Elementor’s Version Control tab (Elementor → Editor → Home → Tools) lets you reinstall an earlier version.
Spend less time checking WordPress.
Let Verploy do the maintenance work.
Free on up to 3 sites. No credit card. The first 30 agencies keep 40% off for life.