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How to Fix Elementor Desktop View Not Working

As a leading page builder for WordPress, Elementor empowers millions of users to create stunning websites without touching a line of code. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and live editing capabilities are a game-changer. However, nothing is perfect, and sometimes, you might encounter frustrating issues, such as your Elementor desktop not working as expected. This could manifest in various ways: changes not appearing, elements misaligning, or the editor simply failing to load the desktop view correctly.

Don’t worry; you’re not alone, and usually, these problems are fixable. This comprehensive guide will walk you through a series of practical, step-by-step solutions to diagnose and resolve why your Elementor desktop view is not working. We’ll cover common culprits, offer multiple approaches, and provide expert tips to get your website back on track, ensuring your desktop version looks exactly as you intend.

Why is Elementor Desktop Not Working? Common Causes

Understanding the root cause is half the battle. When your Elementor desktop view isn’t working, it can typically be attributed to one or more of these common issues:

• Plugin Conflicts: Other WordPress plugins can clash with Elementor, especially those that also manipulate front-end content or scripts.
• Theme Incompatibilities: While Elementor works with most themes, some poorly coded or outdated themes can cause issues.
• Server-Side Limitations: Low PHP memory limits, outdated PHP versions, or other hosting configurations can hinder Elementor’s performance.
• Browser Issues: Corrupted browser cache, outdated browser versions, or conflicting browser extensions.
• Elementor Software Glitches: Rarely, an Elementor update might introduce a bug, or your installation might be corrupted.
• Corrupted Database: Less common, but database issues can sometimes affect how Elementor retrieves and displays data.

Solution 1: Check Plugin and Theme Compatibility to Fix Elementor Desktop Not Working

One of the most frequent reasons for Elementor woes is conflicts with other parts of your WordPress installation. This is a critical step when your Elementor desktop not working correctly.

Step-by-Step: Isolate Plugin Conflicts

1. Access Your WordPress Dashboard: Log in to your WordPress admin area.
2. Navigate to Plugins: Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
3. Deactivate All Plugins (Except Elementor and Elementor Pro):
   • Method A (Quick): Select all plugins (except Elementor and Elementor Pro), choose “Deactivate” from the “Bulk actions” dropdown, and click “Apply.”
   • Method B (Manual): Go through each plugin and click “Deactivate.”
4. Test Elementor Desktop View: Open the page in Elementor editor new tab or incognito window. Does the desktop view load correctly now?
5. Reactivate Plugins One-by-One: If the problem is resolved, reactivate your plugins one by one, testing the Elementor editor after each activation. The moment the issue reappears, you’ve found the conflicting plugin.
6. Troubleshoot the Conflicting Plugin:
   • Look for an alternative plugin.
   • Contact the plugin developer for support.
   • Check the plugin’s support forum for reported compatibility issues with Elementor.

Step-by-Step: Check Theme Compatibility

If deactivating plugins didn’t solve the issue, your theme might be the culprit.

1. Access Your WordPress Dashboard: Go to Appearance > Themes.
2. Activate a Default WordPress Theme: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four, Twenty Twenty-Three, or Hello Elementor (if you’re using Elementor Pro, Hello Elementor is often the best choice for minimal conflicts).
3. Test Elementor Desktop View: Check if the desktop view functions correctly with the default theme.
4. If Resolved:
   • Your original theme is causing the conflict.
   • Contact your theme developer for support or an update.
   • Consider using a theme known for its compatibility with Elementor, like Astro, Kadence, or Hello Elementor.
5. Reactivate Your Original Theme: Once testing is complete, switch back to your preferred theme.

Solution 2: Clear Caches and Regenerate Elementor Files

Caching is designed to speed up your website, but a stale or improperly cached version can prevent your Elementor desktop view from displaying correctly or reflecting recent changes.

Step-by-Step: Clear Elementor Specific Cache

1. Access WordPress Dashboard: Go to Elementor > Tools.
2. Under “General” Tab: Click the “Regenerate Files & Sync CSS” button. This clears Elementor’s CSS and data cache.
3. Clear Cache: Switch to the “General” tab (if not already there) and click the “Clear Cache” button.
4. Test Elementor Desktop View: Open your page in Elementor in an incognito window and check the desktop view.

Step-by-Step: Clear Browser Cache and Local Storage

1. For Chrome:
   • Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data.
   • Select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data.”
   • Choose “All time” for the time range.
   • Click “Clear data.”
2. For Firefox:
   • Go to Options > Privacy & Security.
   • Scroll down to “Cookies and Site Data” and click “Clear Data…”.
   • Check “Cached Web Content” and “Cookies and Site Data.”
   • Click “Clear.”
3. Hard Refresh: Simultaneously press Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) when viewing the Elementor editor.

Step-by-Step: Clear Server-Level/Plugin Caching

If you’re using a caching plugin (e.g., WP Super Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, WP Rocket) or your host provides server-level caching (like Hostinger’s LiteSpeed Cache), you’ll need to clear those too.

1. Check Your Hosting Control Panel: Look for caching options (e.g., “Purge Cache,” “Clear Cache”).
2. Clear Caching Plugin Cache: Each plugin has a slightly different interface, but typically you’ll find a “Clear Cache” or “Purge All Cache” option in its settings or a prominent button in the WordPress admin bar.
3. Test Elementor Desktop View: After clearing all caches, retry loading the Elementor editor and checking the desktop view.

Solution 3: Update Elementor, WordPress, and PHP Version

Outdated software is a common source of bugs and compatibility conflicts. Ensuring everything is up to date is crucial for preventing your Elementor desktop not working.

Step-by-Step: Update Elementor & Elementor Pro

1. Backup Your Website: Before any major updates, always create a full website backup. This is paramount!
2. Access WordPress Dashboard: Go to Dashboard > Updates or Plugins > Installed Plugins.
3. Update Elementor and Elementor Pro: If updates are available, click on “Update Now.”
4. Clear Caches: After updating, clear all caches (Elementor, browser, and server/plugin cache) as described in Solution 2.
5. Test: Verify if the Elementor desktop view is functioning.

Step-by-Step: Update WordPress Core

1. Backup Your Website: Again, a backup is essential.
2. Go to Dashboard > Updates.
3. If a new WordPress version is available, click “Update Now.”
4. Clear Caches: After updating, clear all caches.
5. Test: Check Elementor functionality.

Step-by-Step: Update PHP Version

Elementor officially recommends PHP 7.4 or higher for optimal performance and compatibility. If your hosting uses an older version, this could be why your Elementor desktop not working.

1. Access Your Hosting Control Panel (cPanel, hPanel, Plesk, etc.).
2. Locate PHP Manager/Selector: This is usually found under a “Software” or “Advanced” section.
3. Select a Higher PHP Version: Choose PHP 7.4 or 8.0/8.1/8.2.
4. Apply Changes: Save your selections.
5. Clear Caches: Clear all caches after changing PHP versions.
6. Test: Elementor should now work more smoothly.

For more details on Elementor’s system requirements, refer to the official Elementor documentation.

Solution 4: Increase PHP Memory Limit and Adjust Other Server Settings

Elementor is a resource-intensive plugin. If your WordPress site doesn’t have enough PHP memory allocated by your server, it can lead to various issues, including the Elementor desktop not working.

Step-by-Step: Increase PHP Memory Limit

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

1. Via wp-config.php File (Recommended):
   • Connect to your website via FTP/SFTP or use your hosting provider’s file manager.
   • Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation.
   • Find and edit the wp-config.php file.
   • Add the following line just above the /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */ line:

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

   • Save the file.
2. Via php.ini File:
   • Access your hosting control panel.
   • Look for a “PHP Manager,” “PHP Selector,” or “MultiPHP INI Editor.”
   • Find the memory_limit directive and increase its value to 256M or 512M.
   • Save changes.
3. Via .htaccess File:
   • Connect to your website via FTP/SFTP or use your hosting file manager.
   • Find and edit the .htaccess file in your WordPress root directory.
   • Add the following line:

     php_value memory_limit 256M

   • Save the file.
   Note: Some hosting providers do not allow PHP value changes via .htaccess. If this doesn’t work, try the wp-config.php method or contact your host.
4. Contact Your Hosting Provider: If you’re uncomfortable editing files or the above methods don’t work, contact your hosting support. They can often adjust these limits for you.

Elementor recommends a minimum of 128MB, but 256MB or 512MB is often better for complex sites. For reference, check Elementor’s System Requirements documentation.

Other Important PHP Settings to Check:

• post_max_size: Should be at least 64M.
• upload_max_filesize: Should be at least 64M.
• max_execution_time: Elementor recommends 180 (seconds) or higher.
• max_input_vars: Elementor suggests 5000 or higher.

Solution 5: Check for JavaScript Errors and Debug

JavaScript errors can easily break Elementor’s editor functionality, especially when the Elementor desktop not working. Your browser’s developer console is your best friend here