Can’t edit pages after WordPress update to 4.8.1

Try deactivating all plugins. If that resolves the issue, reactivate each one individually until you find the cause.

If that does not resolve the issue, try switching to the Twenty Seventeen theme to rule-out a theme-specific issue (theme functions can interfere like plugins).

Hi James,

Thanks for the reply! I tried deactivating all plugins with no luck. Before I proceed to check if this is a theme-specific issue, I just want to make sure — I’m assuming if I change to the Twenty Seventeen theme my website will look different/messy. Would I be able to quickly revert back to the current theme (Salient Child) and have the website looking like it was? Or would I have to start from scratch? Again, I apologize if these are “dumb” questions, I’m extremely new to WordPress.

Thank you!

Abel

I’m assuming if I change to the Twenty Seventeen theme my website will look different/messy.

That is correct.

Would I be able to quickly revert back to the current theme (Salient Child) and have the website looking like it was?

Also correct, it will only be “different/messy” for as long as it takes to determine if switching the theme allows you to edit pages and then re-activate your preferred theme.

Hi James,

I switched the theme to Twenty Seventeen and was technically able to edit pages. I say “technically” because even though it didn’t say “Loading, please wait…”, visual composer itself looked completely different and all over the place. So it may have something to do with my site’s Salient Child theme being incompatible with WordPress 4.8.1?

Honestly, I’d like to downgrade to the previous version if it means I can continue working on my website like I was before the upgrade, but I don’t know if that’s possible. Any suggestions?

Again, thanks for all the help.

Abel

Unless you have a backup that you can restore from, downgrading is a dangerous process, which is why backing up before upgrading is strongly recommended both in the upgrade instructions and automatic upgrade interface.

It would be better to solve your current problem.

Since Salient is a commercial theme, we ask that you please go to their official support channel, so you can get support from the people who know it best: https://themenectar.ticksy.com/

Forum volunteers are also not given access to commercial products, so they would not know why it is not working properly. Other community members who may have faced your issue might be able to help you but your best bet is your product’s developer. Keep in mind we encourage you to use the official support venues, as it allows the developers to be aware of issues with their code and gives back to the community in a more robust way.

HI Jeff @macmanx,

I had the same problem but found out its the WPbakery Visual Composer that is affecting the backend page loads. When I deactivated it it loaded the pages perfectly. If its the visual composer would you happen to know what i can do?

Right now I have WordPress 4.8.1
& Visual composer Version 5.2.1

Thanks in advance,
Julian

Similar to the above, since that is a commercial plugin, we ask that you please go to their official support channel, so you can get support from the people who know it best: https://support.wpbakery.com/

Forum volunteers are also not given access to commercial products, so they would not know why it is not working properly. Other community members who may have faced your issue might be able to help you but your best bet is your product’s developer. Keep in mind we encourage you to use the official support venues, as it allows the developers to be aware of issues with their code and gives back to the community in a more robust way.

Ok thank you James! I will contact WPbakery.
Have a great day!

Hey James,

I’ve tried posting on the theme Nectar website forums but for some reason it’s extremely complicated. I just wanted to ask — I noticed when I go to my list of plugins, it doesn’t even list Visual Composer. I know you suggested we contact those commercial plugin sites directly for support, but I just wanted to know if you think that’s the issue? It’s odd because my pages will have a “visual composer” section with the “Loading, please wait…” message, but if my list of plugins doesn’t even include Visual Composer for whatever reason, do you think it could be as simple as downloading Visual Composer? I paid a company to build my website so I honestly don’t know why I wouldn’t have the visual composer plugin anymore or even if it was previously listed before the WordPress update. If you have any thoughts/suggestions on this I’d greatly appreciate it, thank you!

Abel

To be honest, I don’t have an answer for that, as I have never had the need to purchase and use Visual Composer or any Theme Nectar product, which is why we direct you to support from the developers of the products you purchased.

It’s possible someone may come along here with an answer, but it’s far more likely that you’ll get a correct answer from the people who developed the products you are using, as support is part of what you purchased from them.