“This plugin does not have a valid header” error since updating to PHP 7.3

  • Since my webhost updated the shared server from PHP 7.0 to 7.3 I have been unable to update any existing plugin without the following error:

    “The plugin shortcodes-ultimate/shortcodes-ultimate.php has been deactivated due to an error: The plugin does not have a valid header.”

    The plugin then completely disappears from the plugin list.

    Using Ultimate Shortcode as an example. This happens with every plugin. Also, the plugin PHP file is blank when I open it. In this example case, when I view shortcodes-ultimate.php, it is empty, not one line of code.

    Installing new plugins doesn’t work either, I get a ‘Failed’ error. The only way to update or install is to do it manually through FTP.

    The host support guy won’t help, insisting the problem is on my side. But I have this problem on the live site and the dev site, both since it was updated to PHP 7.3 All the other plugin headers issues I read online don’t apply to or solve the problem I have.

    I’m at lost what is going on. I included a link to the phpinfo details.

    The page I need help with: [log in to see the link]

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    First thing to do is to delete the plugin. If you can’t do so from admin, delete the directory wp-content/plugins/shortcodes-ultimage via FTP or the file manager app in your hosting control panel. Then, reinstall it.

    If that doesn’t solve things, I recommend asking at https://www.ads-software.com/support/plugin/shortcodes-ultimate/#new-post so the plugin’s developers and support community can help you with this.

    Thread Starter daricedotorg

    (@daricedotorg)

    It’s not a problem specific to one plugin, I was using Shortcode as an example. All plugins have this problem. I already tried deleting plugins and installing them again.

    Hence my suspicion that the problem has something to do with updating to PHP 7.3

    Are you using any kind of caching solution? If so: does clearing your cache fix this issue?

    Thread Starter daricedotorg

    (@daricedotorg)

    I turned on wp_debug on a live site and managed to find the problem. An old plugin that uses has_cap and a line of code in fuctions.php that uses create_function

    Either of those two can break plugin updates and install. I removed them and hopefully, the problem is solved when the next plugin updates are available.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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