How to Fix Elementor Tabs Not Working

You’ve meticulously crafted your website with Elementor, aiming for that perfect, interactive user experience. You add Elementor tabs to neatly organize content, save space, and improve navigation. But then, you preview your page, and to your dismay, your Elementor tabs are not working as expected. Perhaps the content isn’t displaying, the tabs aren’t clickable, or they’re completely missing from the page. Frustrating, right?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This is a common issue that many Elementor users encounter. The good news is that most problems with Elementor tabs not working can be resolved with a few systematic troubleshooting steps. As experts in WordPress and Elementor, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you diagnose and fix your Elementor tab issues, ensuring your website functions flawlessly.

This article will walk you through various solutions, from basic checks to more advanced debugging techniques. By the end, you’ll have your Elementor tabs up and running, providing a smooth experience for your website visitors.

Why Are Your Elementor Tabs Not Working? Common Causes

Before diving into solutions, understanding the root causes of why Elementor tabs might not be working helps pinpoint the right fix. Here are the most frequent culprits:

• Plugin Conflicts: Other plugins on your WordPress site, especially those that modify frontend behavior or load their own scripts, can interfere with Elementor’s functionality.
• Theme Conflicts: An incompatible or poorly coded theme can also clash with Elementor, leading to display or functionality issues.
• Caching Issues: Caching plugins or server-level caching can serve outdated versions of your pages, making it seem like your changes aren’t taking effect.
• Outdated Software: Running an old version of Elementor, Elementor Pro, WordPress, or your theme can lead to compatibility problems and bugs.
• JavaScript Errors: Elementor heavily relies on JavaScript for its interactive elements like tabs. Any JavaScript error on your page can break this functionality.
• Incorrect Elementor Settings: Sometimes, a simple setting within Elementor itself might be misconfigured.
• Corrupted Installation Files: Though less common, corrupted files from Elementor or WordPress can lead to unexpected behavior.
• Server-Side Issues: While rare for specific Elementor widgets, server-side issues (like low memory limits) can sometimes impact performance.

Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Elementor Tabs Not Working

Let’s get your Elementor tabs back in action! We’ll start with the simplest solutions and move towards more in-depth troubleshooting.

1. Clear Caches (Browser, Plugin, and Server)

One of the most common reasons why new changes or fixes don’t appear is stale cache. Caching can prevent your browser or server from loading the most recent version of your Elementor page.

How to Clear Caches:

1. Browser Cache:
   • Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data,” then click “Clear data.”
   • Firefox: Go to Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data. Select “Cached Web Content” and click “Clear.”
   • Incognito/Private Mode: Testing in an incognito or private browsing window is a quick way to bypass browser cache.
2. WordPress Caching Plugin: If you use a caching plugin like WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, or WP Rocket, navigate to its settings page in your WordPress dashboard and look for an option to “Clear All Cache” or “Purge All Cache.”
3. Elementor Cache: Elementor has its own cache.
   • Go to your WordPress Dashboard > Elementor > Tools > Regenerate CSS & Data. Click “Regenerate Files.”
   • Then, go to Elementor > Tools > General > Synch Library, and click “Sync Now.”
4. Server-Level Cache (If Applicable): If your hosting provider offers server-level caching (e.g., Varnish, Memcached, LiteSpeed Cache at the server level), you might need to clear it from your hosting control panel (like cPanel or hPanel for Hostinger users) or contact your host’s support.

2. Update Everything to the Latest Versions

Running outdated software is a recipe for compatibility issues and security vulnerabilities. Many problems, including Elementor tabs not working, are resolved by simply updating.

How to Update Your WordPress Environment:

1. Backup Your Website: Before any major updates, always create a full backup of your website (files and database). This is crucial for recovery if anything goes wrong. You can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or your hosting provider’s backup tools (Hostinger offers automated backups).
2. Update WordPress Core: Go to Dashboard > Updates. If an update is available, follow the prompts.
3. Update Elementor and Elementor Pro: Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. Look for Elementor and Elementor Pro and click “Update” if an update is available.
4. Update Your Theme: Go to Appearance > Themes. If your theme has an update available, perform the update.
5. Update All Other Plugins: Update any other plugins that have available updates.

After updating, clear all caches again (as in Solution 1) and check if your Elementor tabs are functioning correctly.

3. Check for Plugin and Theme Conflicts

This is arguably the most common cause of Elementor tabs not working. Another plugin or your theme might be interfering with Elementor’s JavaScript or CSS.

How to Identify Conflicts:

1. Switch to a Default Theme:
   • Go to Appearance > Themes.
   • Activate a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four or Storefront (if you’re using WooCommerce).
   • Refresh your Elementor page with the tabs. If the tabs start working, it indicates a conflict with your original theme.
   • If the tabs work, contact your theme developer for support or consider switching themes.
2. Deactivate Plugins One by One:
   • Important: Perform this troubleshooting on a staging environment if possible. If not, inform your visitors that your site might be temporarily affected.
   • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
   • Deactivate all plugins EXCEPT Elementor and Elementor Pro.
   • Check your Elementor tabs. If they work, reactivate your plugins one by one, checking the tabs after each activation.
   • When the tabs stop working again, you’ve found the conflicting plugin.
   • Once identified, try to find an alternative plugin, contact the plugin developer for a fix, or report the issue to Elementor support.

For more detailed guidance on identifying conflicts, Elementor’s official documentation offers a comprehensive guide on how to find a plugin conflict.

4. Examine JavaScript Console for Errors

JavaScript errors are a prime reason interactive elements like Elementor tabs fail. Your browser’s developer console can reveal these errors.

How to Check for JavaScript Errors:

1. Open the page where your Elementor tabs are not working in your web browser.
2. Open Developer Tools:
   • Chrome: Right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect,” or press Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) / Cmd+Option+I (Mac).
   • Firefox: Right-click and select “Inspect Element,” or press Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) / Cmd+Option+I (Mac).
3. Navigate to the “Console” tab within the developer tools.
4. Look for any red error messages. These indicate JavaScript errors.

What to do if you find errors:

• Identify the Source: The error message often includes the filename and line number where the error occurred. This can help you determine if it’s from Elementor, your theme, or another plugin.
• Common Errors: Look for messages like “Uncaught TypeError,” “X is not a function,” or “Failed to load resource.”
• Screenshot and Document: Take screenshots of any errors and note down the messages. This information is invaluable if you need to contact support (Elementor, theme, or plugin developers).
• Solutions: If the error points to a specific plugin or theme, refer to Solution 3 (Plugin/Theme Conflicts). If it appears to be an Elementor-specific script, ensure Elementor is updated and clear its cache.

5. Regenerate Elementor’s CSS and Data

Elementor generates custom CSS files to ensure your designs load quickly. Sometimes these files can become corrupted or outdated, leading to display issues like Elementor tabs not working correctly.

How to Regenerate Elementor Files:

1. From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Elementor > Tools.
2. Under the “General” tab, find the section “Regenerate CSS & Data.”
3. Click the “Regenerate Files” button.
4. After regeneration, go back to the “General” tab and click “Synch Library” under the “Synch Library” section if it hasn’t automatically done so.
5. Clear all caches (browser, plugin, and server) as described in Solution 1.
6. Check your Elementor page to see if the tabs are now working.

6. Increase WordPress Memory Limit

WordPress and Elementor can be resource-intensive. A low PHP memory limit can lead to incomplete page loads or scripts not executing properly, potentially causing your Elementor tabs not working.

How to Increase Memory Limit:

1. Access Your wp-config.php File:
   • Connect to your website via FTP/SFTP client (e.g., FileZilla) or use your hosting provider’s File Manager (available in cPanel or hPanel).
   • The wp-config.php file is usually located in the public_html or root directory of your WordPress installation.
2. Edit the File: Open wp-config.php with a text editor.
3. Add or Modify the Line: Look for a line like define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '64M');. If you find it, increase the value. If not, add the following line just before the line that says /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:

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

   Tip: A memory limit of 256M or 512M is generally recommended for Elementor sites. If you go higher and still face issues, consult your hosting provider.
4. Save Changes: Save the wp-config.php file and upload it back to your server, overwriting the old one.
5. Clear all caches and check your Elementor tabs again.

7. Reinstall Elementor (and Elementor Pro)

If core Elementor files have become corrupted, a fresh installation can often resolve the problem. This is a more drastic step and should be done carefully.

How to Reinstall Elementor:

1. Crucial: Create a full backup of your website before proceeding.
2. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins in your WordPress dashboard.
3. Deactivate Elementor Pro (if you have it).
4. Deactivate Elementor.
5. Delete both Elementor and Elementor Pro (don’t worry, your pages and designs created with Elementor are stored in the database and won’t be lost).
6. Go to Plugins > Add New.
7. Search for “Elementor” and install and activate the free version.
8. If you have Elementor Pro, upload and install the plugin file from your Elementor account (elementor.com) and activate it.
9. Clear all caches.
10. Check if your Elementor tabs are functioning.

8. Check Elementor System Info

Elementor’s built-in System Info can help you quickly identify potential issues with your WordPress environment, such as low memory, outdated PHP versions, or conflicting plugins.

How to Check System Info:

1. In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Elementor > System Info.
2. Review the various sections, particularly “WordPress Environment,” “Server Environment,” and “Active Plugins.”
3. Look for any red or yellow alerts that indicate potential problems. For example, if your PHP version is too old (Elementor recommends PHP 7.4 or higher), or if your memory limit is low.
4. Take action on any flagged items, such as updating PHP via your hosting control panel or contacting your host.
5. Elementor’s official documentation provides more details on interpreting system info.

9. Review Elementor Debug Mode / Error Logs

If standard troubleshooting doesn’t yield results, enabling WordPress debug mode can expose underlying errors that aren’t visible in the JavaScript console.

How to Enable Debug Mode:

1. Access wp-config.php: Connect via FTP/SFTP or use your hosting File Manager.
2. Edit the file: Open wp-config.php.
3. Add Debug Constants: Find the line define('WP_DEBUG', false);. Change false to true. If it doesn’t exist, add these lines just before /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:

   define('WP_DEBUG', true);
   define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
   define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false); // Set to false to prevent errors from showing on the frontend

4. Save Changes: Save and upload wp-config.php.
5. Reproduce the Issue: Visit the page where your Elementor tabs are not working.
6. Check the Debug Log