How to Fix Elementor Form Redirect Not Working

You’ve crafted the perfect Elementor form, designed to capture leads, encourage sign-ups, or process orders. You’ve set up a beautiful “Thank You” page, eager to redirect your users for a seamless post-submission experience. But then, you hit submit, and… nothing happens. Or worse, it redirects to the wrong place, or simply reloads the same page. Frustrating, right?

If your Elementor form redirect not working as expected, you’re not alone. This is a common hiccup when dealing with WordPress, plugins, and sometimes even server configurations. The good news? Most of these issues are easily fixable with a bit of systematic troubleshooting.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into why your Elementor forms might be failing to redirect and provide you with a multitude of tried-and-true solutions. We’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions, explore common pitfalls, and offer best practices to ensure your forms and redirects work flawlessly every time. Let’s get your Elementor forms back on track!

Understanding Why Your Elementor Form Redirect Not Working

Before we jump into solutions, it’s helpful to understand the potential culprits behind an Elementor form redirect not working. The issue can stem from various parts of your WordPress ecosystem:

• Elementor Form Settings: Incorrect or missing redirect URLs in the form’s “Actions After Submit” settings.
• Caching Conflicts: Server-side, plugin-based, or browser caching serving old versions of your pages.
• Plugin/Theme Conflicts: Other plugins or your active theme interfering with Elementor’s JavaScript or AJAX requests.
• JavaScript Errors: Errors in your website’s JavaScript preventing the redirect script from executing.
• Server Configuration: Issues with your server’s rewrite rules (.htaccess), SSL setup, or resource limits.
• WordPress Core Issues: While less common, sometimes a core WordPress issue can indirectly affect plugin functionality.
• Outdated Software: An old version of Elementor, Elementor Pro, WordPress, or your PHP version can cause compatibility problems.
• Security Measures: Firewalls or security plugins sometimes block legitimate redirects.

By understanding these potential causes, we can approach troubleshooting with a more informed perspective. Now, let’s get to the fixes!

Solution 1: Verify Elementor Form Redirect Settings (The First Check)

The most common reason an Elementor form redirect not working is often the simplest: a misconfiguration in the form settings itself. This should always be your first port of call.

Step-by-Step: Checking Elementor Redirect Settings

1. Edit Your Page with Elementor: Navigate to the page containing your Elementor form and click “Edit with Elementor.”
2. Select the Form Widget: Click on your form widget to open its settings in the left-hand panel.
3. Go to “Actions After Submit”: Under the “Content” tab, find the “Actions After Submit” section and expand it.
4. Add “Redirect” Action: Ensure “Redirect” is added to the list of actions. If it’s not there, type “Redirect” in the input field and select it.
5. Configure Redirect URL: Expand the newly appeared “Redirect” section.
6. Enter the Target URL: In the “Redirect URL” field, enter the full URL of the page you want users to be redirected to. Make sure it starts with https:// or http://. For example: https://yourwebsite.com/thank-you-page/.
   Tip: For internal pages, you can often use relative paths like /thank-you-page/, but using the full URL is generally safer to avoid issues.
7. Update and Test: Click “UPDATE” in the bottom left corner of the Elementor editor. Clear your browser cache and test the form.

For more details on Elementor Form Actions, refer to the official Elementor Form Widget documentation.

Solution 2: Clear Caches and Update Everything

Caching is a double-edged sword: it speeds up your site but can sometimes serve outdated versions, leading to an Elementor form redirect not working issue. Add to this outdated software, and you’ve got a recipe for trouble.

Step-by-Step: Clearing Caches and Updating

A fresh start can often resolve mysterious issues. Follow these steps methodically:

1. Clear Browser Cache: This is a quick and essential first step.
   • Chrome: Ctrl+Shift+Del (Windows) / Cmd+Shift+Del (Mac) -> Clear browsing data.
   • Firefox: Ctrl+Shift+Del (Windows) / Cmd+Shift+Del (Mac) -> Clear Recent History.
   • Edge: Ctrl+Shift+Del -> Clear browsing data.

   Alternatively, try testing the form in an incognito/private browsing window.

2. Clear WordPress Caching Plugins: If you’re using a caching plugin (e.g., WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, W3 Total Cache, SG Optimizer, etc.), clear its cache. You’ll usually find an option for this in the plugin’s settings or an admin bar shortcut.
3. Clear Server/Host Cache: Many hosting providers (like Hostinger!) offer server-level caching. Log into your hosting control panel (e.g., hPanel, cPanel) and look for cache clearing options. If unsure, contact your host’s support.
4. Update Elementor and Elementor Pro:
   • Go to your WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Installed Plugins.
   • Check for updates for Elementor and Elementor Pro. Update them if available.
5. Update WordPress Core: Go to Dashboard > Updates and ensure your WordPress core is up to date.
6. Update Your Theme: Check for any available updates for your active theme.
7. Update All Other Plugins: Outdated plugins can introduce conflicts. Update all plugins to their latest versions.
8. Update PHP Version: Ensure your website is running on a supported and recent PHP version (preferably 7.4 or higher, 8.0+ is even better). You can usually change this in your hosting control panel.
9. Retest: After all updates and cache clearing, re-check your Elementor form redirect.

Solution 3: Check for Plugin and Theme Conflicts

One of the most frequent causes of an Elementor form redirect not working is a conflict with another plugin or your active theme. This often happens because different scripts or styles interfere with each other.

Step-by-Step: Isolating Conflicts

1. Backup Your Website: Before proceeding, always create a full backup of your website. This is crucial for safety.
2. Switch to a Default WordPress Theme:
   • Go to WordPress Dashboard > Appearance > Themes.
   • Activate a default WordPress theme like “Twenty Twenty-Four” or “Twenty Twenty-Three.”
   • Test your Elementor form redirect. If it works, the issue is with your theme. Contact your theme developer for support or consider an alternative.
3. Deactivate Plugins One by One:
   • Go to WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Installed Plugins.
   • Deactivate all plugins except Elementor and Elementor Pro.
   • Test your Elementor form redirect. If it works now, one of the deactivated plugins was causing the conflict.
   • Reactivate plugins one by one, testing the form after each activation, until the redirect breaks again. The last plugin you activated is the culprit.
   • Once identified, try to find an alternative plugin, look for updates, or contact the plugin developer for support.
4. Retest: After each step, clear your cache and test the form.

This process can be time-consuming but is highly effective in pinpointing conflicts.

Solution 4: Inspect for JavaScript Errors

JavaScript plays a critical role in Elementor’s dynamic features, including form submissions and redirects. If there’s a JavaScript error on your page, it could easily cause your Elementor form redirect not working correctly.

Step-by-Step: Using Browser Developer Tools

1. Open Your Website: Go to the page with your Elementor form.
2. Open Developer Tools: Right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element.”
   • Chrome/Edge: F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) / Cmd+Option+I (Mac)
   • Firefox: F12 or Cmd+Option+I (Mac)
3. Navigate to the “Console” Tab: In the Developer Tools window, click on the “Console” tab.
4. Submit Your Form: Now, go back to your webpage and submit the form that isn’t redirecting.
5. Look for Errors: Watch the Console tab for any red error messages. These indicate JavaScript errors.
   • Common errors might involve “Uncaught TypeError,” “net::ERR_ABORTED,” or similar messages.
   • The error message often points to a specific file (e.g., plugin-name.js or theme-name.js) and line number, helping you identify the source.
6. Interpret and Act:
   • If the error points to a specific plugin or theme, this confirms a conflict (refer back to Solution 3).
   • If it’s related to Elementor itself, ensure Elementor and Elementor Pro are updated, and clear all caches.
   • Sometimes, external scripts (like marketing trackers) can cause conflicts.

This method requires a bit more technical understanding, but it’s invaluable for diagnosing client-side issues.

Solution 5: Check .htaccess File and SSL Configuration

Sometimes, server-level configurations can interfere with redirects. This is particularly true if you’ve recently migrated your site, changed domains, or updated your SSL certificate, which can lead to an Elementor form redirect not working.

Step-by-Step: Reviewing Server Configurations

1. Access .htaccess File:
   • Log into your hosting control panel (e.g., hPanel, cPanel, Plesk).
   • Navigate to the File Manager.
   • Go to your website’s root directory (often public_html or www).
   • Locate the .htaccess file.
   • Backup the .htaccess file by downloading it before making any changes.
   • Open the .htaccess file for editing.
   • Look for any custom redirect rules that might conflict with your Elementor forms. Sometimes, old or incorrectly configured redirects can override Elementor’s intended behavior.
   • Ensure the standard WordPress rewrite rules are present:

     # BEGIN WordPress
     <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
     RewriteEngine On
     RewriteBase /
     RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]
     RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
     RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
     RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
     </IfModule>
     # END WordPress

   • If you find suspicious or custom rules, try temporarily commenting them out (add a # at the beginning of the line) and test.
2. Verify SSL (HTTPS) Configuration:
   • Make sure your entire site is running on HTTPS consistently. If your site mixes HTTP and HTTPS content, it can cause redirect loops or broken redirects.
   • Check your WordPress General Settings: Go to Dashboard > Settings > General. Ensure both “WordPress Address (URL)” and “Site Address (URL)” start with https://.
   • Use a tool like Why No Padlock to check for mixed content issues on your form page.
3. Security Plugin Settings: If you’re using a security plugin (e.g., Wordfence, Sucuri), check its firewall settings. On rare occasions, these plugins might block legitimate form submissions or redirects as a security measure. Temporarily disabling the firewall (with extreme caution and only for testing) can help diagnose.

Solution 6: Debugging with WordPress Debug Mode

WordPress has a built-in debugging system that can help you uncover underlying errors, which might be the reason for your Elementor form redirect not working. This is a more advanced step but can be very insightful.

Step-by-Step: Enabling Debug Mode

1. Access wp-config.php:
   • Using your hosting File Manager or an FTP client, navigate to your website’s root directory.
   • Locate and open the wp-config.php file for editing.
   • Backup this file before making any changes.
2. Enable Debug Logging: Find the line that says define( 'WP_DEBUG', false ); (usually towards the end, before the /* That's all, stop editing! */ line).
3. Change it to this:

   define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
   define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
   define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false ); // Set to false to prevent errors from showing on the front-end production site
   @ini_set( 'display_errors', 0 );

4. Test the Form: Visit your form page and try submitting it a few times.
5. Check Error Logs: A new file named debug.log will be created inside the /wp-content/ directory. Download and open this file. Look for any PHP errors, warnings, or notices that occurred when you submitted the form. These errors can provide clues about plugin conflicts or server issues.
6. Disable Debugging: Once you’re done troubleshooting, remember to revert the changes in wp-config.php back to define( 'WP_DEBUG', false ); to improve performance and security. Delete the debug.log file from /wp-content/.

For more information, refer to the WordPress Debugging documentation.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting for Elementor Form Redirect Not Working

Here’s a quick rundown of specific scenarios and what to check when your Elementor form redirect not working:

My form submits but doesn’t redirect at all.

• Double-check Redirect URL: Is the URL absolutely correct and complete (including https://)?
• Missing “Redirect” Action: Did you add “Redirect” in “Actions After Submit”? (Solution 1)
• JavaScript Conflicts: Check browser console for errors. (Solution 4)
• Caching: Clear all levels of cache. (Solution 2)
• Plugin Conflicts: Deactivate plugins one by one. (Solution 3)

My form redirects to the same page or an error page.

• Incorrect Redirect URL: Ensure the URL is not the current page’s URL or a non-existent page. (Solution 1)
• SSL/HTTPS Issues: Mixed content or incorrect SSL setup can cause redirect loops. (Solution 5)
• .htaccess Redirects: Conflicts in your server’s rewrite rules. (