Elementor Custom Field Not Showing? Fix It

You’ve meticulously set up your custom fields, populated them with dynamic content, and designed your Elementor template to display them beautifully. Then, you hit “preview” or go live, only to find… nothing. Your Elementor custom field is not showing, and it can be incredibly frustrating. This is a common hurdle for many WordPress users leveraging the power of custom fields with Elementor. But don’t worry, you’re in the right place!

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through a series of actionable steps and solutions to diagnose and fix why your Elementor custom fields are not displaying. Whether you’re using Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), JetEngine, Toolset, or even native WordPress custom fields, these troubleshooting methods will help you get your dynamic content back on track. We’ll cover everything from fundamental checks to advanced plugin settings, ensuring you have all the tools to solve this problem effectively.

Understanding Why Your Elementor Custom Field Might Not Be Showing

Before we jump into the solutions, let’s briefly understand the common culprits. Identifying the root cause is half the battle when an Elementor custom field is not showing:

• Incorrect field setup: The custom field itself might not be properly configured or saved.
• Elementor widget misconfiguration: The Elementor dynamic tag or widget might not be correctly linked to your custom field.
• Display conditions issues: Elementor’s display conditions or template conditions might be preventing the field from appearing.
• Plugin conflicts or compatibility issues: Another plugin or your theme might be interfering.
• Caching problems: Server-side, plugin-based, or browser caching can prevent new content from showing.
• Theme or template issues: Your theme’s structure or a custom template might override Elementor’s output.
• Data entry errors: The specific post or page might not have data entered for that custom field.

Solution 1: Verify Custom Field Configuration and Data Entry

The first and most crucial step when an Elementor custom field is not showing is to ensure the custom field itself is correctly set up and has data. Many issues stem from this fundamental layer.

1.1. Check the Custom Field Group Settings (ACF, JetEngine, Toolset)

Ensure your custom field group is assigned to the correct post types, taxonomies, or pages.

1. Navigate to your custom fields plugin (e.g., WordPress Dashboard > ACF > Field Groups, or JetEngine > Post Types / CPT & Taxonomies).
2. Edit the relevant field group.
3. Scroll down to the “Location Rules” or “Visibility Conditions” section.
4. Verify that the conditions match the post/page you are trying to display the field on. For instance, if you want it on a custom post type called “Projects,” ensure the rule “Post Type is equal to Project” is present.
5. Save Changes.

1.2. Confirm Data Entry for the Specific Post/Page

Even if the field group is set up correctly, if there’s no data, an Elementor custom field won’t show anything!

1. Go to the WordPress Dashboard > Posts / Pages (or your Custom Post Type) and edit the specific post or page where the custom field should appear.
2. Scroll down and locate your custom field section.
3. Ensure data has been entered and saved for the specific custom field that’s not showing.
4. If you’re using a field like an image or file, ensure the item is correctly uploaded and selected.
5. Update the post/page after making any changes.

1.3. Review Field Name and Type

A simple typo in the field name when connecting it in Elementor can prevent an Elementor custom field from showing.

1. Go back to your custom field group settings.
2. Note down the exact “Field Name” (sometimes called “Field Slug” or “ID”) for the field in question. This is crucial for Elementor’s dynamic tags.
3. Also, note the “Field Type” (e.g., Text, Image, Repeater, Gallery). This helps determine how to display it in Elementor.

Solution 2: Elementor Widget and Dynamic Tag Configuration

Once you’re certain your custom field is set up and has data, the next critical area to check is how you’re trying to display it in Elementor.

2.1. Reconnect the Dynamic Tag in Elementor

A common issue is an incorrect or broken connection between Elementor’s dynamic tag and your custom field.

1. Edit the page/template with Elementor where the custom field should appear.
2. Select the Elementor widget you’re using to display the custom field (e.g., Heading, Text Editor, Image, or a dedicated custom field widget).
3. Look for the dynamic tag icon (a small database cylinder icon ).
4. Click on the dynamic tag icon.
5. From the dropdown, select the custom field source (e.g., “ACF Field,” “JetEngine Field,” “Custom Field”).
6. Once selected, another dropdown will appear for “Key” or “Field.” Select the exact name of your custom field that you noted in step 1.3.
7. For Image fields, ensure you’re using an Image widget and linking the dynamic tag to the image source. For Gallery fields, use the Gallery widget.
8. Update the Elementor page/template.

2.2. Check Fallback Options and Field Formatting

Sometimes, an Elementor custom field might not show because it’s rendering nothing, and Elementor’s fallback options aren’t set.

1. When you click the dynamic tag, you might see a “Settings” gear icon. Click it.
2. Fallback: Here you can set default text or content to display if the custom field is empty. Setting this can help you determine if the field is truly not showing or if it’s just empty.
3. Formatting: For certain field types (like URL, Date, Number), ensure the formatting options are correct. For image fields, ensure the “Image Size” is chosen.

2.3. Using the Correct Elementor Widget for the Field Type

Not all Elementor widgets can display all custom field types directly.

• Text, Number, Date, URL: Use Heading, Text Editor, Icon Box, Button (for URLs).
• Image: Use the Image widget.
• Gallery: Use the Gallery widget.
• WYSIWYG: Use the Text Editor widget.
• Repeater, Group Fields: These often require either specific dynamic widgets from your custom field plugin (e.g., JetEngine Listing Grid, ACF Repeater Field widget by third parties) or custom code using Elementor’s Shortcode widget. Elementor Pro’s Loop Builder can also handle repeaters.
• Relationship Fields: Often displayed using a Loop Builder or dedicated widgets.

If you’re trying to display a complex field type with a basic widget, an Elementor custom field likely won’t show correctly.

Solution 3: Clear Caches and Address Compatibility

Caching is a notorious culprit for changes not appearing on the front end. Plugin conflicts are also a frequent cause.

3.1. Clear All Caches

This is a foundational troubleshooting step.

1. Browser Cache: Perform a hard refresh (Ctrl+F5 or Shift+Cmd+R) or clear your browser’s cache completely. Test in an incognito/private window.
2. Elementor Cache: Go to WordPress Dashboard > Elementor > Tools > Regenerate CSS & Data. Click “Regenerate Files.” Then, go to the “General” tab and click “Clear Cache.”
   
3. Plugin Cache: If you use caching plugins (e.g., WP Super Cache, WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache), clear their cache. Look for a “Clear Cache” or “Purge All” button in your WordPress admin bar or plugin settings.
4. Server Cache (Hostinger, Cloudflare, etc.): If your hosting provider or a CDN (like Cloudflare) has server-side caching, clear it. For Hostinger, you can often clear cache via hPanel.

3.2. Check for Plugin Conflicts

A recently installed or updated plugin might be interfering, causing your Elementor custom field not showing.

1. Deactivate temporarily: Go to WordPress Dashboard > Plugins.
2. Deactivate all plugins except Elementor, Elementor Pro (if used), and your custom fields plugin (ACF, JetEngine, etc.).
3. Check your page/template. If the custom field now shows, reactivate your plugins one by one, checking after each activation until the problem reappears.
4. The last plugin activated before the problem reappeared is likely the culprit. Contact the plugin developer or look for alternatives. Refer to WordPress Plugin Conflict Troubleshooting.

3.3. Theme Compatibility Test

Occasionally, your theme might conflict with Elementor or your custom field plugin.

1. Switch to a default WordPress theme: Go to Appearance > Themes and activate a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four or Twenty Twenty-Three.
2. Check if your Elementor custom field is now showing.
3. If it appears, your theme is causing the issue. Contact your theme developer or consider switching themes. Remember to revert to your original theme afterwards.

Solution 4: Advanced Troubleshooting for Elementor Custom Field Not Showing

If the simpler solutions haven’t worked, it’s time to dig a bit deeper.

4.1. Review Elementor Debugging and System Info

Elementor Pro has built-in tools that can offer insights.

1. Go to WordPress Dashboard > Elementor > System Info.
   
2. Look for any red flags, warnings, or errors regarding memory limits, PHP versions, or conflicting plugins. Compare your setup to Elementor’s recommended requirements. (See Elementor System Requirements).
3. You can also enable Elementor’s Debug Bar for more detailed front-end debugging. (Needs to be enabled via Elementor > Tools > General > Debug Bar).

4.2. Check PHP Error Logs

Server-side errors, often hidden, can prevent content from rendering. When an Elementor custom field is not showing, it might be due to a PHP error.

1. Access your hosting control panel: Log in to your Hostinger hPanel or cPanel.
2. Locate Error Logs: Look for a section like “Error Logs,” “File Manager” (then navigate to `wp-content/debug.log` if WP_DEBUG is enabled), or “PHP Error Logs.”
3. Analyze recent entries: Look for any errors (especially Fatal Errors or Warnings) that occurred around the time you noticed the issue. These logs can point to a