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How to Fix Elementor Stuck on Loading Screen Issue

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as being in the middle of designing a beautiful page with Elementor, only for it to get stuck on the dreaded loading screen. The spinning icon seems to mock your productivity, halting your workflow and leaving you wondering how to move forward. If you’ve ever faced the challenge of Elementor stuck on loading screen, you know exactly what we mean.

Good news! You’re not alone, and more importantly, this is a common issue with multiple straightforward solutions. As experts in WordPress and Elementor, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to help you diagnose and fix why Elementor might be stuck, getting you back to building stunning websites in no time. We’ll walk you through various troubleshooting steps, from the simplest fixes to more advanced configurations, ensuring you have all the tools to resolve this problem effectively.

Let’s dive in and unstick Elementor together!

Understanding Why Elementor Gets Stuck on Loading Screen

Before we jump into the solutions, it’s helpful to understand the potential culprits behind Elementor getting stuck on its loading screen. This issue often stems from conflicts, resource limitations, or outdated components within your WordPress environment. Identifying the root cause can guide you toward the most efficient solution.

• Server Resource Limitations: Elementor is resource-intensive. If your hosting environment doesn’t provide enough PHP memory limit or execution time, Elementor might struggle to load.
• Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Incompatible plugins or your active WordPress theme can interfere with Elementor’s functionality, causing it to freeze.
• Browser Issues: Outdated browsers or aggressive caching can sometimes prevent Elementor from loading correctly.
• Outdated Software: An old version of Elementor, WordPress, your theme, or other plugins can lead to various compatibility problems.
• JavaScript Conflicts: Elementor heavily relies on JavaScript. Conflicts with other scripts can prevent its editor from initializing.
• URL Mismatch: Incorrect WordPress or site URL settings can sometimes cause Elementor to fail loading resources.

Initial Quick Fixes for Elementor Stuck on Loading Screen

Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective. Before diving into more complex troubleshooting, try these quick fixes:

1. Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies

Your browser stores temporary data (cache and cookies) to speed up website loading. However, outdated or corrupted cached data can interfere with Elementor’s operation.

1. Open your browser settings: Typically found in the top-right corner (e.g., three dots for Chrome, three lines for Firefox).
2. Navigate to privacy/security settings: Look for options related to “Clear browsing data,” “History,” or “Privacy.”
3. Select “Cache” and “Cookies”: Ensure these options are checked. For best results, select “All time” for the time range.
4. Clear data: Confirm the action.
5. Reload your Elementor page: Try accessing the Elementor editor again.

Pro Tip: Try opening Elementor in an incognito/private browser window. This bypasses all extensions and cached data, providing a clean slate for testing.

2. Update Elementor, WordPress, and All Plugins/Themes

Keeping your WordPress installation and all its components up-to-date is crucial for performance, security, and compatibility. Outdated software is a common cause of the Elementor stuck on loading screen issue.

1. Backup your website: Before any major updates, always create a full backup of your WordPress site. Many hosting providers (like Hostinger) offer one-click backup solutions.
2. Update WordPress: Go to Dashboard > Updates and update WordPress if a new version is available.
3. Update Elementor and Elementor Pro: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. Look for Elementor and Elementor Pro and update them if an update notification is present.
4. Update other plugins and your theme: While in the Plugins section, update all other plugins. Do the same for your theme under Appearance > Themes.

Reference: For detailed instructions on updating Elementor, refer to the official Elementor documentation on updates.

3. Switch to a Default WordPress Theme

Your active theme can sometimes conflict with Elementor. Temporarily switching to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four or Twenty Twenty-Three) can help rule out theme-related conflicts.

1. Go to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Activate a default theme: Find a recent default WordPress theme and click “Activate.”
3. Test Elementor: Try loading the Elementor editor for your page again.

If Elementor loads successfully after switching themes, your original theme is likely the problem. You might need to contact your theme developer for support or consider using a more Elementor-friendly theme.

Advanced Troubleshooting for Elementor Stuck on Loading Screen

If the quick fixes didn’t resolve the issue, it’s time to dig a bit deeper. These solutions address more common underlying causes of Elementor getting stuck.

1. Increase PHP Memory Limit

Elementor requires a significant amount of PHP memory to function correctly. If your server’s PHP memory limit is too low, Elementor might get stuck loading. The recommended minimum is 128MB, but 256MB or even 512MB is often better.

You can increase your PHP memory limit in a few ways:

a. Edit the wp-config.php File

This is a common method for direct control.

1. Access your website files: Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) or your hosting provider’s file manager (e.g., cPanel File Manager).
2. Locate wp-config.php: This file is usually in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
3. Edit the file: Right-click and choose “Edit” or “View/Edit.”
4. Add the following line: Find the line /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */ and add the following code just above it:

   define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );
   

5. Save and upload: Save the changes and upload the modified file back to your server, overwriting the old one.
6. Test Elementor: Check if the issue is resolved.

Note: Some hosting providers might override this setting. If it doesn’t work, try the next method.

b. Edit the .htaccess File

This file also influences server settings.

1. Locate .htaccess: This file is also in your WordPress root directory. It might be hidden, so ensure you can view hidden files in your FTP client/file manager settings.
2. Edit the file: Add the following line at the top:

   php_value memory_limit 256M
   

3. Save and upload: Save and upload the file.
4. Test Elementor: See if Elementor loads now.

Reference: More information on increasing PHP memory in WordPress can be found in the WordPress Codex.

2. Deactivate Plugins One by One to Check for Conflicts

Plugin conflicts are a very common reason for Elementor editor issues. To identify the culprit, you’ll need to perform a systematic check.

1. Backup your website: Always backup before deactivating plugins, especially on a live site.
2. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
3. Deactivate all plugins EXCEPT Elementor and Elementor Pro: Select all plugins (excluding Elementor and Elementor Pro), then from the “Bulk Actions” dropdown, choose “Deactivate” and click “Apply.”
4. Test Elementor: Try loading the Elementor editor again.
5. If Elementor loads: This indicates a conflict with one of the deactivated plugins. Reactivate them one by one, testing Elementor after each activation, until the problem reappears. The last plugin you activated is the conflict.
6. If Elementor still doesn’t load: This suggests the issue isn’t related to other plugins, or there might be an issue with Elementor itself or your theme (which you would have checked earlier).

Once you identify the conflicting plugin, you can try:

• Looking for an alternative plugin.
• Contacting the plugin developer for support.
• Checking their documentation for compatibility notes.

3. Check for URL Settings Mismatch

Incorrect WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) settings can cause Elementor to fail loading resources, leading to the Elementor stuck on loading screen issue.

1. Go to Settings > General in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Verify URLs: Ensure that both “WordPress Address (URL)” and “Site Address (URL)” are identical and correct. They should reflect the exact URL of your website (e.g., https://yourdomain.com and not https://www.yourdomain.com if you’re not using www, or vice-versa).
3. Save changes: If you made any adjustments, click “Save Changes.”
4. Clear cache: Clear any caching plugins you might be using and your browser cache.
5. Test Elementor: Reload the Elementor editor.

Reference: For more on WordPress URL issues, consult the WordPress documentation on changing the site URL.

4. Regenerate Elementor’s CSS and Data

Elementor generates CSS files and other data that can sometimes become corrupted. Regenerating these files can resolve loading problems.

1. Go to Elementor > Tools in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Under the “General” tab, find “Regenerate CSS & Data.”
3. Click on “Regenerate Files.”
4. Clear cache: After regenerating, clear any caching plugins and your browser cache.
5. Test Elementor: Try loading the editor again.

5. Enable Elementor’s Safe Mode

Elementor includes a “Safe Mode” feature designed specifically to help diagnose and resolve editor loading issues by disabling potentially conflicting elements.

1. Go to Elementor > Tools in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Under the “General” tab, find “Safe Mode.”
3. Change the setting to “Enable” and click “Save Changes.”
4. Try loading Elementor: Attempt to edit your page with Elementor.

If Elementor loads successfully in Safe Mode, it indicates that the issue is caused by your current theme or another plugin. You will then need to systematically deactivate plugins and switch themes (as described above) to pinpoint the exact conflict. Once identified, you can disable Safe Mode as you troubleshoot further.

Reference: Learn more about Elementor Safe Mode in the official documentation.

6. Switch the Editor Loading Method (Backend Editor Loading)

In some cases, Elementor might struggle with its default loading method. Switching it can sometimes help.

1. Go to Elementor > Settings in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Click on the “Advanced” tab.
3. Find the “Switch Editor Loader Method” option.
4. Change the setting to “Enable” and click “Save Changes.”
5. Clear your cache: Both plugin cache and browser cache.
6. Test Elementor: Try loading your page with Elementor.

7. Check Server Error Logs

Server error logs can provide invaluable clues about what’s going wrong behind the scenes. They often record PHP errors, plugin conflicts, or resource limitations that prevent Elementor from loading.

1. Access your hosting control panel: Log in to cPanel, hPanel (Hostinger), or your specific hosting control panel.
2. Locate “Error Logs” or “PHP Logs”: This varies by host but is usually under a “Logs” or “Files” section.
3. Review recent errors: Look for any red flags, especially errors marked as “fatal” or “warning” that occurred around the time you tried to load Elementor. Such errors often point to specific plugins, themes, or PHP issues.
4. Search for solutions: If you find an error message, copy it and search for solutions online. It might lead you directly to a specific conflicting plugin or a server configuration issue. You can also paste it into AI tools like ChatGPT or Bard.

If you’re on a Hostinger plan, you can typically find error logs under hPanel > Websites > Manage > WordPress > Error Logs.

8. Disable CDN or Optimisation Plugins Temporarily

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and performance optimization plugins (like WP Super Cache, WP Rocket, Autoptimize, etc.) are fantastic for speeding up your site. However, their aggressive caching or file optimization can sometimes cause issues with dynamic editors like Elementor.

1. Temporarily deactivate: Go to your Plugins page and deactivate any caching, optimization, or CDN integration plugins.
2. Clear all caches: If you use a CDN, clear its cache as well.
3. Test Elementor: Check if Elementor loads now.

If this resolves the issue, you’ll need to carefully configure your optimisation plugin or CDN to exclude Elementor’s editor pages from being cached or optimized. Look for settings to “Exclude URLs” or “Exclude logged-in users” from caching.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting Elementor Stuck on Loading Screen

Common Problem: Elementor stuck on loading screen not working properly

This often indicates a deeper conflict or resource limitation. Beyond the steps above, ensure your server meets Elementor’