How to Fix Elementor Flexbox Not Working

Elementor’s Flexbox Container feature has revolutionized website design, offering unparalleled flexibility and control over layout. It allows you to create complex, responsive designs with ease, aligning and distributing elements effortlessly. However, like any powerful tool, you might occasionally encounter situations where your Elementor Flexbox not working as expected.

Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many users face these hiccups, but the good news is that most issues related to Elementor Flexbox containers can be easily resolved with the right approach. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into diagnosing and fixing common problems, ensuring your designs look pixel-perfect and responsive across all devices.

Whether you’re struggling with misaligned elements, unresponsive layouts, or simply can’t seem to get your Flexbox containers to behave, this article will provide you with multiple solutions, step-by-step instructions, and expert tips to get your Elementor Flexbox not working issues sorted once and for all. Let’s get started!

Understanding Elementor Flexbox Fundamentals

Before we jump into troubleshooting, it’s crucial to have a quick refresher on how Elementor’s Flexbox Containers work. This understanding will help you better diagnose the root cause when your Elementor Flexbox not working.

• Containers vs. Sections: Flexbox Containers replace the older Section/Column structure, offering more granular control over alignment, direction, and distribution of elements.
• Parent and Child Containers: Flexbox operates on a parent-child relationship. A parent container defines the layout properties for its direct children.
• Core Properties: Key properties include Direction (Row/Column), Justify Content (horizontal alignment), Align Items (vertical alignment), Gap, Wrap, and various sizing options.
• Responsiveness: Flexbox is inherently responsive, allowing you to adjust these properties for different screen sizes directly within Elementor’s responsive mode.

Often, issues arise from a misunderstanding of these basic principles. If you’re new to Flexbox, consider reviewing Elementor’s official documentation for a deeper dive into its capabilities: Elementor Flexbox Container Overview.

Solution 1: Verify Flexbox Container Activation and Updates

One of the most common reasons your Elementor Flexbox not working is simply that the feature isn’t properly enabled or your Elementor installation isn’t up to date.

Step-by-Step: Enabling Flexbox Container

1. Access Elementor Settings: From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Elementor → Settings.
2. Go to Features Tab: Click on the Features tab.
3. Locate Flexbox Container: Scroll down until you find the “Flexbox Container” feature.
4. Set to Active: Ensure its status is set to Active. If it’s set to “Inactive” or “Default,” change it to “Active.”
5. Save Changes: Don’t forget to click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page.

Note: Some older designs might still rely on Sections/Columns. Activating Flexbox Container applies to newly created structures. You might need to convert existing sections to containers, although Elementor often provides a conversion tool.

Step-by-Step: Updating Elementor and WordPress

Outdated software can lead to compatibility issues, especially with a feature as fundamental as Flexbox. Ensuring everything is current is a critical first step when your Elementor Flexbox not working.

1. Backup Your Site: Before any major updates, always create a full backup of your WordPress site. Your Hostinger control panel (hPanel) often offers easy backup solutions.
2. Update WordPress Core: Navigate to Dashboard → Updates and update WordPress if a new version is available.
3. Update Elementor and Elementor Pro: Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins. Check for available updates for “Elementor” and “Elementor Pro” (if you have it). Click “Update Now” for each.
4. Update Your Theme: Ensure your active theme is also up to date. Go to Appearance → Themes and check for updates. Using a well-maintained theme like Hello Elementor or a reputable third-party theme is crucial.

After updating, clear any caching (server, plugin, browser) and recheck your Elementor Flexbox layout.

Solution 2: Inspect Container Settings and Properties

Often, the problem isn’t that Elementor Flexbox is not working, but rather that its properties are misconfigured. A small misstep in settings can drastically alter your layout.

Step-by-Step: Checking Parent Container Direction and Alignment

1. Select the Parent Container: In the Elementor editor, click on the parent container (the one directly holding the elements or other containers that are misbehaving).
2. Go to Layout Tab: In the left panel, navigate to the Layout tab under “Container.”
3. Review Direction:
   • Row (Horizontal): Children will arrange themselves side-by-side.
   • Column (Vertical): Children will stack on top of each other.

   Ensure this matches your intended layout.

4. Adjust Justify Content: This controls horizontal alignment of items along the main axis (e.g., Start, Center, End, Space Between, Space Around, Space Evenly).
5. Adjust Align Items: This controls vertical alignment of items along the cross axis (e.g., Start, Center, End, Stretch).
6. Check Gap Between Elements: Look at the “Gap” setting to ensure spacing is as desired.
7. Experiment with Wrap: If your items are overflowing, try enabling “Wrap” so they move to the next line/column Elementor Container Layout Options.

Pro Tip: Toggle between desktop, tablet, and mobile views in Elementor’s responsive mode. Flexbox properties can be adjusted independently for each device, and often, issues arise from incorrect settings on a specific breakpoint.

Step-by-Step: Reviewing Child Item Sizing and Self-Alignment

Sometimes, the issue isn’t with the parent but how the child elements within the Flexbox container are configured.

1. Select a Child Widget/Container: Click on one of the elements inside the misbehaving parent container.
2. Go to Advanced Tab: Switch to the Advanced tab.
3. Check Width and Height:
   • Width: Under “Layout,” ensure “Width” is set to “Default,” “Full Width,” “Custom” (with appropriate percentage/pixel value), or “Inline (Auto)”.
   • Height: Similarly, check the “Height” setting. If a child element has a fixed width or height that prevents it from distributing correctly, this could be your problem.
4. Review Self Align: Also under “Advanced” → “Layout,” you’ll find “Align Self.” This allows individual child items to override the parent’s “Align Items” setting. If one element is out of place, check if “Align Self” is causing it.
5. Grow and Shrink: These settings (under “Layout” in Advanced tab, or sometimes presented as “Flex Grow” and “Flex Shrink”) dictate how a child item will expand or contract to fill available space. Incorrect values can lead to unexpected sizing.

Solution 3: Clear Caches and Troubleshoot Cache Conflicts

Caching is a double-edged sword. It speeds up your site, but it can also prevent you from seeing the most recent changes you’ve made in Elementor, making it seem like your Elementor Flexbox not working.

Step-by-Step: Clearing Various Caches

1. Elementor Cache:
   • Go to your WordPress dashboard.
   • Navigate to Elementor → Tools.
   • Under the “General” tab, find “Regenerate CSS & Data” and click Regenerate Files.
   • Next, under “Sync Library,” click Sync Library (especially if you’re using Elementor templates).
2. WordPress Caching Plugins:
   • If you use a caching plugin like WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, W3 Total Cache, or SG Optimizer, locate its settings in your WordPress dashboard.
   • Find the option to “Clear All Cache” or “Purge All Cache” and execute it. Refer to your plugin’s documentation if unsure.
3. Server-Side Cache (Hostinger Examples):
   • Log into your Hostinger hPanel.
   • Navigate to Website → Cache Manager.
   • Select your website and click “Purge Cache” or “Clear Cache.”
4. Browser Cache:
   • For most browsers, press Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) to perform a hard refresh.
   • Alternatively, open developer tools (F12), right-click the refresh button, and select “Empty Cache and Hard Reload.”

Clear all these caches, then re-check your Elementor page. This often resolves inexplicable layout issues.

Solution 4: Check for Plugin and Theme Conflicts

One of the most frequent culprits behind mysterious WordPress issues, including Elementor Flexbox not working, is conflicts with other plugins or your active theme. Another script or style sheet might be overriding Elementor’s Flexbox CSS.

Step-by-Step: Resolving Conflicts

The process of identifying conflicts involves systematically isolating the potential problematic plugin or theme.

1. Backup Your Site: Again, always start with a full backup.
2. Switch to a Default Theme:
   • Navigate to Appearance → Themes in WordPress.
   • Activate a default WordPress theme like “Twenty Twenty-Four” or Elementor’s “Hello Elementor” theme.
   • Check if your Flexbox layout issue is resolved. If it is, your theme is likely the cause. Contact your theme developer for support or consider switching themes.
3. Deactivate Plugins One by One:
   • Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins.
   • Deactivate all plugins except Elementor and Elementor Pro (if applicable).
   • Check if the Flexbox issue is resolved. If it is, reactivate your plugins one by one, checking the Elementor page after each activation. The plugin that causes the issue to reappear is the culprit.
   • Once identified, consider an alternative plugin, contact the plugin developer, or find a workaround.

Note: Perform these conflict checks on a staging site if possible, to avoid affecting your live website’s user experience.

Solution 5: Review Custom CSS and Global Styles

Custom CSS, whether added via Elementor’s customizer, your theme’s options, or a custom CSS plugin, can easily override Elementor’s default Flexbox styling. Global Styles within Elementor can also inadvertently affect containers.

Step-by-Step: Checking Custom CSS

1. Elementor Custom CSS:
   • Edit the page with Elementor.
   • Click on the Site Settings icon (hamburger menu) in the top-left corner.
   • Go to Custom CSS. Review any CSS entered here.
   • Also, individually check specific containers or widgets under their Advanced → Custom CSS tab.
   • Temporarily comment out (/* css code */) any suspicious CSS rules related to display: flex;, align-items;, justify-content;, width;, height;, or position;.
2. WordPress Customizer:
   • Navigate to Appearance → Customize in WordPress.
   • Look for “Additional CSS” or “Custom CSS” sections typically found at the bottom. Check for conflicting styles.
3. Theme Options:
   • Many themes have their own custom CSS input areas in their theme options panel. Check there.

Step-by-Step: Inspecting Global Styles

1. Access Global Styles: In the Elementor editor, click on the Site Settings icon.
2. Review Design System: Look at options like “Layout” or “Widgets.” Ensure that no global settings are overriding your specific container configurations. For example, if you’ve set a global default width that conflicts with your Flexbox design, it could cause issues.

The Elementor documentation on Global Site Settings can provide more context.

Solution 6: Debugging with Browser Developer Tools

When your Elementor Flexbox not working, browser developer tools (DevTools) are your best friend. They allow you to inspect the live CSS and HTML of your page, helping you pinpoint exactly what styles are being applied and where they’re coming from.

Step-by-Step: Using DevTools to Inspect Flexbox

1. Open Your Page in Browser: View the problematic page on your website (not in the Elementor editor).
2. Open Developer Tools: Right-click on the misbehaving element and select “Inspect” (or “Inspect Element”). This will open the DevTools panel (usually at the bottom or side of your browser).
3. Locate the Container: In the “Elements” tab of DevTools, use the pointer tool (top-left of DevTools) to hover over your Elementor container. Click on it to select it in the HTML tree.
4. Examine Computed Styles:
   • In the “Styles” or “Computed” tab (usually on the right side of DevTools), look for CSS properties like display: flex;, flex-direction;, justify-content;, align-items;, flex-wrap;, gap;, width;, and height;.
   • Pay attention to any styles that are crossed out – this means they are being overridden by another, more specific CSS rule. The DevTools will usually show you which CSS file and line number the overriding rule comes from.
5. Test Changes Live: You can temporarily edit CSS properties directly in DevTools (e.g., change justify-content from “start” to “center”). These changes are not saved to your site but allow you to test solutions quickly and see their effect in real-time.
6. Identify Overrides: If Elementor’s Flexbox styles are not showing or are being overridden, DevTools will clearly indicate the source of the conflicting CSS, guiding you to where you need to make corrections (e.g., a specific plugin’s CSS file or your theme’s stylesheet).

Understanding how to use browser developer tools