Elementor Lottie Not Working? Fix It Fast

Lottie animations bring a dynamic, lightweight, and engaging visual experience to your website. When you integrate them with Elementor, they can elevate your design without sacrificing performance. However, there’s nothing more frustrating than carefully crafting an animation and then seeing your Elementor Lottie not working as expected. If you’re facing this specific issue, you’re in the right place. This comprehensive guide will walk you through a multi-solution approach to diagnose and fix common Lottie animation problems in Elementor.

Whether it’s a blank space where your animation should be, incorrect playback, or general unresponsiveness, we’ve got you covered. We’ll explore everything from basic checks to advanced troubleshooting, ensuring your website’s animations are back to captivating your audience in no time. Let’s dive in!

Understanding Elementor Lottie Animations

Before we jump into fixes, let’s quickly recap what Lottie animations are and how Elementor integrates them. Lottie is a JSON-based animation file format that allows you to ship animations on the web (and elsewhere) at a fraction of the size of traditional animation formats like GIFs or MP4s. They are known for their scalability, high quality, and performance.

Elementor, the popular page builder for WordPress, provides a dedicated Lottie Widget that makes it incredibly easy to embed these animations onto your pages. You simply drag the widget, upload your Lottie JSON file (or link to a remote one), and configure its playback settings. When your Elementor Lottie not working, it means something in this seamless process has gone awry.

Why Is My Elementor Lottie Not Working? Common Culprits

There are several reasons why your Lottie animation might not be displaying or behaving correctly in Elementor. Understanding these common culprits is the first step toward effective troubleshooting:

• Incorrect File Path or Upload: The Lottie widget can’t find or access your .json file.
• Invalid Lottie JSON File: The animation file itself is corrupted, improperly exported, or contains syntax errors.
• Caching Issues: Your website or browser cache is serving an outdated version of your page, preventing the new animation from loading.
• Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Another WordPress plugin or your active theme is interfering with Elementor’s Lottie widget or its scripts.
• JavaScript Errors: Errors in your site’s JavaScript, often caused by conflicts, can prevent Lottie scripts from executing.
• Elementor or WordPress Outdated: Older versions might have bugs or compatibility issues.
• Server-Side Restrictions: Web server configurations might be blocking certain file types or scripts.
• Browser Compatibility: Less common, but some older browsers might struggle with modern animations.
• Misconfigured Widget Settings: Incorrect loop, autoplay, or scroll settings within the Elementor Lottie widget.

Solution 1: Basic Checks and Widget Configuration

Often, the simplest solutions are the most effective. Before diving into more complex troubleshooting, let’s start with foundational checks. If your Elementor Lottie not working, begin here.

Step-by-Step: Initial Verification

1. Verify Lottie File Upload:
   • Open your Elementor editor.
   • Click on the Lottie widget.
   • In the “Content” tab, under “Source,” ensure you have correctly uploaded your .json file to the WordPress media library or provided a valid external URL.
   • If using an external URL, double-check for typos and ensure the URL directly links to the .json file, not an HTML page containing it.
   • Try re-uploading the .json file to rule out a corrupted upload.
2. Check Lottie File Validity:
   • Go to a Lottie JSON validator or viewer (e.g., LottieFiles Web Player).
   • Upload your .json file there. If it plays correctly, the file itself is likely okay. If it shows errors or doesn’t play, you might have a corrupted or poorly exported file.
   • Consider re-exporting the Lottie animation from its source (After Effects, Figma with Lottie plugin, etc.).
3. Review Widget Settings:
   • Select the Lottie widget in Elementor.
   • Under the “Content” tab, meticulously examine settings like “Trigger” (Viewport, On Click, On Hover, Scroll, External URL), “Loop,” “Autoplay,” and “Speed.”
   • If “Trigger” is set to “Viewport,” ensure the animation’s position on the page is within the viewport when you’re testing.
   • If it’s “Scroll,” verify the “Viewport Start” and “Viewport End” values are configured logically for playback during scrolling.
   • Try simplifying the settings: Set “Trigger” to “Autoplay,” enable “Loop,” and set “Speed” to 1 to see if it plays. If it does, the issue might be with your specific trigger configuration.
4. Check the Browser’s Developer Console:
   • Open the page where your Lottie animation is located.
   • Right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect” (or press F12).
   • Navigate to the “Console” tab.
   • Look for any red error messages. JavaScript errors related to Lottie scripts (often mentioning “lottie.js” or “bodymovin”) can provide crucial clues.

Solution 2: Clear Caching and Optimize Performance

Caching is a fantastic tool for website speed, but it can sometimes hide recent changes, making it seem like your Elementor Lottie not working. Obsolete cached files can prevent new scripts or content from loading.

Step-by-Step: Cache Clearing

1. Clear Elementor Cache:
   • From your WordPress Dashboard, go to Elementor > Tools > Regenerate CSS & Data.
   • Click the “Regenerate Files & Data” button.
   • Then, go to the General tab and click “Clear Cache.”
2. Clear Plugin Caches (if applicable):
   • If you use a caching plugin like WP Super Cache, WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, or W3 Total Cache, navigate to its settings and clear all caches. The exact location varies by plugin, but it’s usually prominent in the plugin’s main settings page or a dedicated “Cache” menu item.
3. Clear Server-Side Cache:
   • If your hosting provider offers server-level caching (e.g., Varnish, LiteSpeed Cache at the server level), you may need to log into your hosting control panel (cPanel, hPanel, etc.) and clear the server cache there. Consult your host’s documentation or support if unsure.
   • On Hostinger, you can often find caching options within hPanel’s “Performance” section.
4. Clear Browser Cache:
   • Perform a hard refresh (Ctrl+F5 on Windows, Cmd+Shift+R on Mac) or manually clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
   • Alternatively, open your website in an Incognito/Private window, which typically loads pages without local cache.

After clearing all relevant caches, reload your page in Elementor editor and on the front-end to see if the Lottie animation now appears.

Solution 3: Addressing Plugin and Theme Conflicts

WordPress websites are complex ecosystems of themes and plugins. Sometimes, another component might unintentionally interfere with Elementor’s Lottie functionality, leading to your Elementor Lottie not working.

Step-by-Step: Conflict Identification

1. Switch to a Default WordPress Theme:
   • This is a crucial diagnostic step. Temporarily switch your site’s theme to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four, Twenty Twenty-Three, or Hello Elementor (if you’re using Elementor Pro).
   • Go to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress Dashboard.
   • Activate a default theme.
   • Important: Do this on a staging site first, if possible, as it will change your site’s appearance. If not, inform your visitors or do it during off-peak hours.
   • Check if the Lottie animation now works. If it does, your previous theme is likely causing the conflict. Contact the theme developer for support or look for updates.
2. Deactivate Plugins One by One:
   • If the theme change didn’t resolve the issue, or if you discovered a theme conflict but want to check for plugin conflicts too, you’ll need to deactivate plugins systematically.
   • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
   • Deactivate all plugins EXCEPT Elementor and Elementor Pro (if you have it).
   • Check if the Lottie animation works.
   • If it does, reactivate your plugins one by one, checking the Lottie animation after each activation, until the problem reappears. The last plugin activated is your culprit.
   • Once identified, decide whether to replace the conflicting plugin, look for an alternative, or contact its developer for a fix.
3. Check Plugin/Theme Documentation and Support:
   • If you identify a conflicting plugin or theme, visit its official documentation (e.g., Elementor Help Center or the plugin’s own documentation) or support forums. Others might have experienced similar issues and found solutions.

Solution 4: Updating Elementor, WordPress, and Other Plugins

Outdated software can lead to known bugs, security vulnerabilities, and compatibility issues. Ensuring everything is up-to-date is a common fix for “Elementor Lottie not working” scenarios.

Step-by-Step: Updating Core Components

1. Backup Your Website:
   • Crucial step! Before any major updates, always create a full backup of your website files and database. Many hosting providers (like Hostinger) offer one-click backup solutions. You can also use a plugin like UpdraftPlus.
2. Update Elementor and Elementor Pro:
   • From your WordPress Dashboard, go to Elementor > Tools > Version Control. Ensure you are on the latest stable version. If not, go to Dashboard > Updates and update Elementor and Elementor Pro.
3. Update WordPress Core:
   • Go to Dashboard > Updates and update your WordPress core to the latest stable version if prompted.
4. Update All Other Plugins and Themes:
   • While in the Updates section, update any other themes and plugins that have available updates.
5. Clear Cache:
   • After updating, clear all website and browser caches as described in Solution 2.

Always update in a logical order: WordPress core, then themes, then plugins. Check for Lottie functionality after each major update batch.

Solution 5: Checking for JavaScript Errors and Server Issues

JavaScript is essential for Lottie animations to play. Errors can prevent them from loading. Server-side misconfigurations can also block necessary files.

Step-by-Step: Advanced Troubleshooting

1. Inspect Browser Console for JavaScript Errors:
   • Open your page in a browser, right-click and select “Inspect” (or F12).
   • Go to the “Console” tab.
   • Look for red error messages. If you see errors related to Lottie (e.g., “lottie.min.js failed to load,” “undefined is not a function” related to lottie), investigate the source of these errors. They often point to conflicting scripts or missing resources.
   • If you find errors, try to identify which plugin or piece of code is generating them. Temporarily disabling that plugin (Solution 3) might resolve it.
2. Check WordPress Site Health Status:
   • Go to Tools > Site Health in your WordPress Dashboard.
   • Review the “Status” and “Info” tabs for critical issues or recommendations. This can sometimes highlight server-related problems, PHP version issues, or missing modules that might affect script execution.
3. Increase PHP Memory Limit:
   • While Lottie files are small, sometimes the overall WordPress environment might struggle if PHP memory is low, especially with many scripts running.
   • You can often increase this by editing your wp-config.php file. Add or modify the following line:

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

     Place it above the line that says /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */. A higher value like 512M or 768M might also be necessary.

   • Alternatively, your hosting provider can help with this.
4. Check File Permissions:
   • Incorrect file permissions can prevent scripts or media files from being accessed.
   • Typically, folders should be 755 and files 644. You can check and correct these via FTP/SFTP client or your hosting file manager.
   • Pay attention to the wp-content/uploads folder where your Lottie JSON files are stored.
5. Verify .htaccess Configuration:
   • A misconfigured .htaccess file can block access to certain file types or resources.
   • If you suspect this, you can temporarily rename your .htaccess file (e.g., to .htaccess_old) via FTP, then go to Settings > Permalinks in WordPress and simply click “Save Changes” (without making any actual changes) to regenerate a fresh .htaccess file.
   • Test your Lottie animation. If it works, gradually reinstate custom rules from your old .htaccess file to find the conflict.

Solution 6: Consider Alternative Methods or Custom Code

If all else fails and your Elementor Lottie not working persists, you might need to bypass the Elementor widget or use a slightly different approach.

Step-by-Step: Utilizing Alternative Embedding

1. Embed Lottie Directly via HTML Widget:
   • LottieFiles provides embed codes for animations. You can get an embed code for your animation from LottieFiles.com after uploading or searching for an animation.
   • Copy the HTML embed code.
   • In Elementor, drag an “HTML” widget onto your page.
   • Paste the Lottie embed code directly into the HTML widget. This method uses the LottieFiles web player and often bypass