Can’t edit PHP files with built-in editor

  • Recently I needed to make a quick update to a PHP file in my child theme – after a long break. I went in to the editor, made the change, hit the “Update File” button, and I got this strange error message:

    Unable to communicate back with site to check for fatal errors, so the PHP change was reverted. You will need to upload your PHP file change by some other means, such as by using SFTP.

    If that was all, that would be all, but conveniently for me the edited file was wiped clean.

    Thank God for back-ups.

    After much reading on internet, searching for “session_start” in all my plugins and themes, running Health Checks countless times (yes, loopback always works), I still get that error.

    I found a workaround – installed “Theme Editor” plugin and it saves my edits properly. Why can’t WordPress do the same?

    Technically I have no problem now, but I am always striving to keep things lean and simple, and I would prefer to just use the built-in Editor. So, I’m hoping it can be fixed.

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  • Hi there!

    First of all, i invite you to deactivate all your active plugin currently, and switch to a default WordPress theme like Twentysenventeen, then check if the editor is working normally now.

    If so, then the problem is caused by a plugin that you have installed in your website, and you should activate them back one by one to detect which plugin is the responsible. The same thing you need to do with your theme.

    Please let me know if any of these points solve your problem.

Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)
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