Update broke the site?
WPBakery update broke the layout? Here’s what to check
With WPBakery, the first question is where your copy comes from: bundled with the theme, or licensed on its own. The fix depends on it.
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.
- Bundled with a theme? Update the theme first. Themes ship their own WPBakery version and expect it to match.
- Clear caches and resave the page once to rebuild its custom CSS.
- No update showing? A bundled copy updates with the theme; a standalone copy needs an active WPBakery licence.
Why it happens
The usual causes
Theme and builder out of sync
The theme expects one WPBakery version and the site runs another.
No licence, so no update
Without an active licence the update never arrives, and the site falls behind.
Add-ons not ready
Add-ons for WPBakery may need their own update.
Cached CSS
Old CSS keeps loading after the update.
Next time
Checklist before the next update
- Know whether WPBakery is bundled or licensed
- Make a backup
- Update theme and builder together on a copy
- Compare builder-heavy pages on desktop and mobile
- Then update live
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.
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Questions
Frequently asked questions
Why don’t I get WPBakery updates?
Bundled versions update with the theme; a standalone copy needs a licence.
Can I update WPBakery without updating the theme?
Not safely when it’s bundled with the theme.
Can I test the update first?
Yes, on a copy of the site.
Spend less time checking WordPress.
Let Verploy do the maintenance work.
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