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Elementor Testimonials Not Working? Fix It

Are your Elementor testimonials playing hide-and-seek on your website? You’ve carefully crafted your client feedback, dragged the Testimonial widget onto your page, but instead of glowing reviews, you’re greeted with an error, an empty space, or an unstyled mess. Frustrating, right?

Testimonials are powerful social proof, crucial for building trust and converting visitors into customers. When your Elementor testimonials not working, it can directly impact your credibility and sales. But don’t fret! You’re not alone, and most of these issues have straightforward solutions. As experts in WordPress and Elementor, we’ve seen it all, and we’re here to guide you through a comprehensive troubleshooting process to get those testimonials back in action.

This guide will walk you through common culprits behind non-functioning Elementor testimonials and provide step-by-step instructions to fix them. From basic checks to more advanced troubleshooting, we’ll cover every angle so you can confidently resolve the problem and showcase your happy clients.

Why Are Your Elementor Testimonials Not Working? Common Causes

Before diving into fixes, it’s helpful to understand why your Elementor testimonials not working in the first place. Pinpointing the cause can significantly speed up the resolution process. Here are the most frequent reasons:

• Plugin Conflicts: Other plugins (especially caching, security, or “optimization” plugins) can interfere with Elementor’s scripts or styles.
• Theme Conflicts: Incompatible or poorly coded themes can override Elementor’s default styling or functionality.
• Caching Issues: Old or corrupted caches (browser, WordPress, server-level) might be serving an outdated version of your page where the testimonials haven’t loaded correctly.
• Elementor Software Glitches: Occasional bugs in Elementor or the Testimonial widget itself, especially after updates.
• Incorrect Widget Configuration: Simple oversight in the widget settings, like missing content or styling.
• Outdated Software: An old version of WordPress, Elementor, or your theme can lead to compatibility problems.
• Server Resources: In rare cases, insufficient server memory or other resources can prevent scripts from loading properly.
• Custom CSS/JavaScript Errors: If you’ve added custom code, it might be breaking the testimonial display.

Now that we have a better understanding of the potential issues, let’s get those Elementor testimonials working!

Solution 1: Basic Checks & Widget Configuration for Elementor Testimonials

Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective. Before diving into more complex troubleshooting, let’s ensure the basics are covered.

Verify Elementor Testimonial Widget Content and Settings

It might sound obvious, but often the problem lies within the widget’s settings itself. Double-check everything here:

1. Edit Page with Elementor: Navigate to the page where your testimonials are located and click “Edit with Elementor.”
2. Select the Testimonial Widget: Click directly on the Testimonial widget you’re having trouble with. This will open its settings in the left-hand panel.
3. Review Content Tab:
   • Image: Is the client’s image uploaded and correctly selected? If it’s missing, the placeholder might be blank, giving the impression of “not working.”
   • Name: Is the client’s name entered?
   • Title: Is their title/company entered?
   • Testimonial Content: Is the actual testimonial text present? Is it properly formatted?
4. Review Style Tab:
   • Typography and Color: Are the text colors sufficiently contrasting with the background? Sometimes, testimonials “disappear” because their text color matches the background color.
   • Spacing and Alignment: Are there any negative margins or padding pushing the content out of view?
   • Image Styling: Is the image size set correctly, or is it too small/large?
5. Review Advanced Tab:
   • Responsive Settings: Under “Responsive,” ensure the widget is not hidden on specific devices (e.g., “Hide on Desktop”).
   • Z-index: Very rarely, another element might be overlapping the testimonial. Check the Z-index.
6. Save Changes: After making any adjustments, click the “Update” button at the bottom of the Elementor panel.
7. Clear Cache: Clear your browser cache and any WordPress caching to see the updated version.

For detailed guidance on widget settings, refer to the official Elementor Testimonial Widget documentation.

Solution 2: Eliminate Caching and Browser Interference

Caching is a fantastic tool for website performance, but it can also be a major culprit when content isn’t updating or displaying correctly. If your Elementor testimonials not working, outdated cached versions of your page are a prime suspect.

Clear All Caches (Browser, WordPress, Server)

This is often the first and easiest step to try when any Elementor component isn’t displaying correctly.

1. Clear Browser Cache:
   • Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Select “Cached images and files” and choose “All time,” then click “Clear data.”
   • Firefox: Go to Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data. Check “Cached Web Content” and click “Clear.”
   • Safari: Go to Safari > Preferences > Advanced. Check “Show Develop menu in menu bar.” Then, go to Develop > Empty Caches.
2. Clear WordPress Caching Plugin: If you use a plugin like WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, or Elementor’s built-in “Regenerate CSS & Data” feature, you need to clear it.
   • Elementor Cache: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Elementor > Tools > Regenerate CSS & Data. Click “Regenerate Files” and then “Sync Library.”
   • Other Caching Plugins: Most caching plugins have a “Clear Cache” or “Purge All Caches” button right in the main WordPress admin bar or within their specific settings page. Click it.
3. Clear Server/Host Cache (if applicable): If your hosting provider (like Hostinger) offers server-level caching, you might need to clear it from your hosting control panel (e.g., hPanel, cPanel). Check your host’s documentation or contact their support if you’re unsure. Hostinger users can refer to Hostinger’s guide on clearing WordPress cache.

After clearing all caches, open your website in an incognito/private browsing window to ensure you’re seeing the absolute latest version without any browser cache interference.

Solution 3: Troubleshoot Plugin and Theme Conflicts

Plugin and theme conflicts are a very common reason for Elementor functionalities to break. If your Elementor testimonials not working, there’s a good chance another piece of your WordPress puzzle is interfering.

Perform a Conflict Test

This method helps you isolate the problematic plugin or theme. It’s a systematic process and requires a bit of patience, but it’s highly effective.

1. Backup Your Website: Crucial Step! Before making any major changes, always create a full backup of your WordPress site. You can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or your hosting provider’s backup utility. Hostinger users can easily manage backups via hPanel.
2. Switch to a Default WordPress Theme:
   • Go to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard.
   • Activate a default WordPress theme like ‘Twenty Twenty-Four’ or ‘Twenty Twenty-Three.’
   • Check your page with the Elementor testimonials. If they now appear correctly, your original theme is the root cause. You might need to contact your theme developer for support or look for an updated version.

   If the testimonials are still not working, switch back to your original theme and proceed to the next step.

3. Deactivate All Plugins (Except Elementor and Elementor Pro):
   • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
   • Select all plugins except “Elementor” and “Elementor Pro” (if you’re using it).
   • From the “Bulk Actions” dropdown, select “Deactivate” and click “Apply.”
   • Check your page with the Elementor testimonials. If they now work, one of your deactivated plugins is causing the conflict.
4. Identify the Conflicting Plugin:
   • Reactive your plugins one by one.
   • After reactivating each plugin, check your page to see if the testimonials have stopped working again.
   • The last plugin you activated before the testimonials broke is likely the conflicting plugin.
5. Resolve the Conflict: Once you’ve identified the problematic plugin:
   • Update: Check if there’s an update available for the conflicting plugin. Often, developers release fixes for known conflicts.
   • Replace: Look for an alternative plugin that offers similar functionality without causing issues.
   • Contact Support: Reach out to the plugin developer’s support team. Provide them with details of the conflict.
   • Disable (as a last resort): If the plugin isn’t critical, you might have to disable it permanently.

Remember to clear your cache after each step of the conflict test to see the changes immediately.

Solution 4: Ensure Software is Up-to-Date

Running outdated software is a common source of bugs, security vulnerabilities, and compatibility issues. If your Elementor testimonials not working, verify that everything is current.

Update WordPress, Elementor, Themes, and Plugins

Keeping your WordPress ecosystem updated is paramount for security, performance, and functionality.

1. Backup Your Website: Always create a full backup before performing any updates.
2. Update WordPress Core:
   • Go to Dashboard > Updates.
   • If an update is available for WordPress, follow the instructions to update it.

   For more details, see WordPress Codex on Updating WordPress.

3. Update Elementor and Elementor Pro:
   • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
   • Look for “Elementor” and “Elementor Pro.” If an update is available, you’ll see a notification below their names. Click “update now.”

   It’s generally recommended to update Elementor Pro first, then the free Elementor plugin.

4. Update Your Theme:
   • Go to Appearance > Themes.
   • If your active theme has an update, you’ll see a notification. Click to update.

   If you’re using a child theme, ensure your parent theme is also updated.

5. Update Other Plugins:
   • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
   • Update all other plugins that have available updates.
6. Clear Cache: After all updates, clear all caches (browser, WordPress, server) and check your page again in incognito mode.

Solution 5: Check Server Resources and Debugging

While less common for a simple widget not displaying, server-side issues can sometimes cause scripts to fail. If the above solutions haven’t worked and your Elementor testimonials not working, it’s time to dig a bit deeper.

Increase WordPress Memory Limit

WordPress has a default memory limit, which can sometimes be insufficient for Elementor, especially on complex pages or with many plugins.

1. Access Your `wp-config.php` File:
   • Connect to your website via FTP (using an FTP client like FileZilla) or through your hosting’s File Manager.
   • The `wp-config.php` file is located in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
2. Edit `wp-config.php` File:
   • Open the `wp-config.php` file for editing.
   • Scroll down until you find the line that says `/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */`.
   • Just *above* this line, add the following code:

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

   • Save the changes to the file.
3. Check Elementor System Info:
   • In your WordPress dashboard, go to Elementor > System Info.
   • Look for “WordPress Memory Limit.” It should now reflect the increased value (e.g., 256M).
4. Clear Cache: Clear all caches and check your testimonials again.

Contact your hosting provider (like Hostinger support) if you encounter issues editing `wp-config.php` or if the memory limit doesn’t update after increasing it. They can usually adjust server-side PHP limits for you.

Enable WordPress Debugging Mode

WordPress’s built-in debugging mode can help reveal underlying errors that are otherwise hidden.

1. Access Your `wp-config.php` File: As in the previous step, connect via FTP or File Manager.
2. Edit `wp-config.php` File:
   • Find the line:

     define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );

   • Change `false` to `true`:

     define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

   • To log errors without displaying them on the front end (which is better for live sites), also add these lines *below* `WP_DEBUG`:

     define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
     define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );
     @ini_set( 'display_errors', 0 );

   • Save the file.
3. Reproduce the Issue: Visit the page where your Elementor testimonials are not working.
4. Check Error Logs: A `debug.log` file will be created in your `wp-content` directory. Open this file to look for any error messages related to Elementor, your theme, or other plugins.
5. Disable Debugging: Once you’ve identified the issue or finished debugging, remember to change `WP_DEBUG` back to `false` and remove the other debugging lines to prevent performance issues and security risks on a live site.

Error messages can provide crucial clues. Search for the error message or consult the WordPress Debugging documentation for further guidance.

Solution 6: Advanced Troubleshooting for Elementor Testimonials

If you’ve exhausted the previous steps and your Elementor testimonials not working, it’s time for some more advanced tactics. These often involve directly interacting with Elementor’s settings or even reinstalling components.

Test Elementor Safe Mode

Elementor’s Safe Mode provides a clean environment by temporarily deactivating plugins and themes that might conflict with Elementor, without affecting your visitors.

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