A Reference Guide On How To Fix Issues and Problems with Divi
If you are a DIY website maker for your business or blog or a web designer or developer using Divi, chances are you have run into some problems. It’s software, it happens to them all, and it does not mean that Divi is bad. In fact, most of the problems with Divi are not related to Divi at all, even though they may seem like it on the surface.
βΆοΈ Please watch the video above to get all the exciting details! π
RELATED: Why do bugs happen in Divi and WordPress? Learn more in our explainer guide here.Β
#1. Clear Your Cache (Especially After Every Update)
Cache is files and resources that are stored locally in a browser or network to help your website page load faster by reducing the need to reload every single item every single time. It’s a great thing to have, but it can also be the most common cause for any issues and problems you face while using the Divi Builder or Divi Theme. Here are some of the things you should clear as you diagnose a problem.
Check Our Full Guide!
We made an entire tutorial and video about how to clear your Divi website cache!
Clear your browser cache
Go to https://www.refreshyourcache.com/en/home/ and click on the browser you are using. From there, follow the instructions.
Clear the Static CSS File Generation in Divi
Go to Divi>Theme Options>Builder>Static CSS File Generation and select the βClearβ button. It is generally best practice to keep this setting disabled while the site is in active development, and only enable it after the site is finalized.
Superpower Automation!
Automatically clear the Divi static CSS cache based on a schedule or trigger actions.
Bonus Trick!
Add a link to your WordPress admin bar to conveniently clear Divi static CSS cache!
Clear any caching plugin
Most of you probably have a caching plugin. Check the settings or menu bar and see if there is a βdelete cacheβ button. I use the SG Optimizer plugin from Siteground they have a βPurge SG Cacheβ button in the menu bar.
Clear the CDN cache
I use Cloudflare and it’s as simple as logging in, choose your domain, find the cache tab, and select “Purge All.”
Clear the cache on your WiFi router
This may surprise you, but itβs possible that your local network is storing an old version of your site and is causing problems. Check your app or instructions online to clear that. (This cause is rare. I would check other things before bothering with this one.)
#2. Re-Save Permalinks
When you have problems with our Divi website, flushing your WordPress permalinks could be the trick you need to solve the problem, and it is very easy to do. Re-saving permalinks can solve several types of issues, but it is hard to narrow it down to a list. Most commonly, problems with permalinks can occur in your WordPress site after youβve made huge changes to your site structure, or you have migrated your website to a new server. Sometimes, it can just happen whenever a new custom post type is added through a plugin or code, or when troubleshooting 404 errors.Β
From the WordPress dashboard, go to βSettings>Permalinks.β
You donβt even have to make any changes for it to take effect, just click the blue button that says βSave Changes” and you are done.
By doing this, you forced your website to flush the permalink and rewrite rules. This may seem like a strange troubleshooting step, It is just like restarting your smartphone or laptop, and itΒ saves the day more times than you would think! It may or may not solve your specific issue, but doing this simple step will help you narrow it down. Besides, it is one of the easiest things to do, so well worth trying.
#3. Check the System Status
You need to make sure your hosting configuration is compatible with Divi. To do this, go to Divi>Support Center and look at the System Status. You can choose to show the full report or even copy the report to send to your web hosting or Divi support.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you do not get these green dots by default, you need to seriously consider a better hosting provider.
Having all of these items green is essential for solving any issue or problem you are having with Divi! If any of these are red, then you will have endless trouble until you make the necessary changes to the hosting server.
Update PHP Version
WordPress recently raised the minimum PHP version, and it sent some people scrambling. Why? Mostly because the hosting accounts were poor, which resulted in unmonitored PHP versions. It is very important to be sure you are using the recommended PHP version with Divi, and you can find that in the Support Center. It will say something like, “We recommend 7.4 or higher for the best experience.”
#4. Enable Safe Mode
A good way to find out what is causing the problem with your Divi website is to go to Divi>Support Center and toggle on the setting for “Safe Mode.” Keep this on and go see if the problem is still happening.
Here you will see the following message explaining what Safe Mode does:
Enabling Safe Mode will temporarily disable features and plugins that may be causing problems with your Elegant Themes product. This includes all Plugins, Child Themes, and Custom Code added to your integration areas. These items are only disabled for your current user session so your visitors will not be disrupted. Enabling Safe Mode makes it easy to figure out what is causing problems on your website by identifying or eliminating third party plugins and code as potential causes.
Keep this setting enabled and go check your site to see if the problem is still happening. If the issue is still there, then you should contact Elegant Themes support and be sure to tell them that the issue happens when Safe Mode is enabled (this will help speed up the support process).
However, often the problem is due to a plugin conflict. Ironically, you will need to turn off Safe Mode in order to test your plugin conflicts in the next step.
#5. Check The console For Errors
One of the most important website troubleshooting steps is to check the browser Console for errors. This is part of the browser developer tools. To access the browser Console, simply right-click anywhere on any page of your website and choose the “Inspect” option and then click on the “Console” tab.
Here you may see yellow warnings and red errors. These indicate some issue on your site. Don’t worry if you do not understand what it means. If there are any numbers like 500 error, you can search for information about it online. If you see any URL strings, try to follow the path to look for clues about which plugin or software is causing the issue.
Checking the console for errors can save you a lot of headache and time troubleshooting any issue on your Divi site. This guide is not intended to teach you how to read the warnings and errors, but rather to introduce you to them and encourage you to check them carefully, at least for some clues. Often you can find some clue from the errors that indicate who to contact like hosting errors contact the hosting provider, Divi errors contact Elegant Themes, or plugin specific errors contact the developer.
Learn More!
We made an entire tutorial and video about how to check for console errors!
#6. Check For Plugin Conflicts
If the issue disappeared when you enabled Safe Mode, this means that it is not caused by Divi and therefore is not the responsibility of the Divi support to help. This usually means the issue is caused by a plugin conflict. The main goal here is to narrow it down and see which one is causing whatever issue you are facing. The only way to narrow it down is to deactivate your plugins and re-activate them one by one, checking for the problem after each one. This can be a frustrating manual process, but currently there is no other way to know for sure, and you will just need to persevere through it. Try to remember the most recent plugin updates or new installations that you may have done prior to seeing the issue, and check those first.Β
#7. Check Browser Extensions
I have not personally had this issue, but I have heard reports from others that browser extensions can cause issues with the Divi Builder loading. For example, ad blockers can cause conflicts.Β When troubleshooting an issue with Divi, it is best to disable the browser extensions. This will help narrow the problem down, and could be an easy fix.
Pro Tip: I use a Chrome extension called Extensity to toggle all my extensions on and off. This saves a lot of time and makes testing for issues very fast.
#8. Upgrade To A Better Hosting Provider
This step should probably be #1. To be honest, most problems I see reported with Divi in the Facebook groups all are caused by cheap hosting (low cost but also just plain “cheap”). You get exactly what you pay for with cheap hosting.
You should definitely avoid the worst of the bunch. I no longer take clients using GoDaddy, HostGator, or Bluehost because they are simple the worst choices possible and because of all the many problems they create with Divi.
One of the best hosting providers for standard small business Divi websites is Siteground. They understand Divi and will even optimize your server specifically for the needs and requirements of Div if you ask. Their support is absolutely phenomenal, replying to chat instantly and to any ticket within 15 minutes.
Serious Divi users should absolutely check out Cloudways. Donβt expect the same hand-holding experience as Siteground, but with Cloudways you can get away from shared hosting and move to the cloud for the best speeds and performance.
There’s no excuse to have cheap hosting for a critical business asset like a website.
If you want to take this seriously, I recommend using my affiliate links below and getting yourself some hosting that actually works with Divi. I’m an affiliate partner of Siteground and Cloudways because I have seen from experience how amazing their service is, and I fully endorse them.
We created a full post and video about the different types of hosting available. We also list the hosts that are compatible with Divi and those which are not.
Check Our Full Guide!
We made an entire tutorial and video about the best hosting providers for Divi!
#9. Use the Version Rollback Feature
If you happen to find yourself on a version with bugs, go ahead and use that super handy new feature to go back to the previous version. You can find this in Theme Options under the Updates tab.
To avoid needing to use this, be patient when updating. Don’t update the first day. Wait at least a week unless it is a security update.
Check Our Full Guide!
We made an entire tutorial and video about how to roll back to the previous Divi version!
Install ANY Divi Version!
Want a clever trick? You can switch to ANY version of Divi with a simple dropdown!
#10. Contact Support
First determine as good as possible where the issue is, whether it is WordPress or Divi related. If the issue appears to be WordPress related, often your hosting support will help you troubleshoot and fix issues. If they donβt, see point #5 about new hosting.
If the issue is Divi related, contact elegant Themes support first. They will be able to know where the problem is and what steps to take next. Depending on what they find, they may refer you to your hosting provider.
Pro Tip: I usually go ahead and give the support agent what I know they will ask for before they ask. It could save you hours of time.
- Go to the Divi>Support Center and turn on the Remote Access toggle.
- Turn on the Activate Full Admin Privileges toggle
- Copy the support token
- Paste the support token in the support chat
- Copy and paste the admin URL in the support chat (yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/)
Things To Avoid
- Donβt use notoriously bad hosts like Godaddy, Bluehost, iPage, etc.
- Donβt install the Divi Builder with the Divi Theme
- Donβt update right away. Letβs say version 4.8 comes out. Wait until 4.8.3 for example. This gives the developers time to address any bugs and issues with the bigger update.
- Donβt have multiple tools doing the same thing such as caching, optimization, security, minification, etc.
- Donβt complain in the Facebook groups. Often the problem is one on this list, so be sure you have thoroughly completed all checks first.
Check Our Tips!
Here are some pointers to keep in mind when asking for help in Divi Facebook groups!
Facing Other Issues?
We have many guides about troubleshooting specific issues you may face, so be sure to view all the other blog posts.
Thank you!
We are glad to know that our guide helped you in some way. Stay tuned for more such guides.
Hi Nelson
I really love your tutorials and tips.
May I ask you something? I am a bit frustrated with my Windows PC (Windows 10, AMD 7, 32GB RAM, 8GB Graphic card) The visual builder is so slow. When I took the new MacBook Air 16GB from my wife it is so fast.
Do you know this difference? I am thinking to sell my Windows PC and buy an Apple Mac mini 16GB.
Thanks for short feedback.
All the best, Lars
I’m certainly not an expert on that, but based on your specs it should be very fast. There must be some other issue like the server?