Using Health Check & Troubleshooting to Diagnose Plugin Conflicts

Introduction

When experiencing issues with WordPress plugins, it’s often difficult to identify the exact cause. Problems can stem from plugin conflicts, theme incompatibilities, or server configuration issues. The “Health Check & Troubleshooting” plugin, developed by the WordPress.org team, is a powerful diagnostic tool that helps isolate and identify these issues.

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What is Health Check & Troubleshooting?

Health Check & Troubleshooting is an official WordPress.org plugin that allows you to:

1. Run diagnostics on your WordPress installation
2. Enter a “troubleshooting mode” that disables all plugins and switches to a default theme for your user session only
3. Selectively re-enable plugins and themes to identify conflicts
4. Gather technical information about your site for support purposes

The key benefit is that troubleshooting mode only affects your admin user – your visitors will continue to see your site normally while you diagnose issues.

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Installation

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
2. Go to Plugins > Add New
3. Search for “Health Check & Troubleshooting”
4. Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”

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Checking Browser Console for JavaScript Errors

Before using the Health Check plugin, it’s often valuable to check for JavaScript errors that might be causing functionality issues:

1. Open your browser’s developer tools:
   • Chrome/Edge: Press F12 or right-click and select “Inspect”
   • Firefox: Press F12 or right-click and select “Inspect Element”
   • Safari: Enable developer tools in Preferences > Advanced, then press Option+Command+I
2. Navigate to the “Console” tab
3. Interact with the problematic feature (click buttons, submit forms, etc.)
4. Look for red error messages that appear in the console
   • Pay attention to script names mentioned in the errors
   • Note any references to specific plugins in the file paths
   • Look for patterns like “undefined” or “null” errors
5. Document any errors you find to share with support teams

JavaScript errors can often immediately identify which plugin is causing an issue or provide valuable clues about the nature of a conflict.

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Using Troubleshooting Mode to Diagnose Issues

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Step 1: Enter Troubleshooting Mode

1. Go to Tools > Site Health
2. Click the “Troubleshooting” tab
3. Click the “Enter Troubleshooting Mode” button
4. WordPress will reload in a basic state with all plugins deactivated and using a default theme (only for your session)

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Step 2: Test Your Issue

Once in troubleshooting mode, test whether the issue you were experiencing still occurs:

• If the issue is RESOLVED (no longer occurs): This confirms the problem is related to either a plugin or your theme
• If the issue PERSISTS: The problem may be related to core WordPress files, server configuration, or database issues

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Step 3: Systematic Testing (If Issue Was Resolved)

If your issue was resolved in troubleshooting mode, follow these steps to identify the specific cause:

1. While still in troubleshooting mode, click “Enable & Test Plugin” next to your theme to test if the theme is causing the issue
   • If the issue returns, your theme is the cause
   • If the issue doesn’t return, continue testing plugins
2. Enable plugins one by one:
   • Click “Enable & Test Plugin” next to a plugin
   • Test if the issue returns after each plugin is enabled
   • Continue until you find the plugin that causes the issue to return
3. When you find the conflicting plugin or theme:
   • Make note of it
   • You can either keep it disabled or contact the developer for support

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Step 4: Exit Troubleshooting Mode

Once you’ve identified the issue:

1. Click “Disable Troubleshooting Mode” at the top of the screen
2. Your site will return to its normal state with all plugins and your theme active

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What to Do After Identifying a Conflict

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If the Issue is with a Plugin:

1. Check if the plugin has updates available
2. Search the plugin’s support forum for similar issues
3. Contact the plugin developer with specific details:
   • WordPress version
   • PHP version
   • Other active plugins
   • Steps to reproduce the issue
   • Any error messages from the browser console

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If the Issue is with a Theme:

1. Check if theme updates are available
2. Consider temporarily switching to a default WordPress theme
3. Contact the theme developer with specific details

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If the Issue Persists in Troubleshooting Mode:

This suggests deeper issues such as:

• WordPress core file integrity problems
• Database corruption
• Server configuration issues
• PHP version compatibility problems

In these cases, consider:

1. Running a Site Health check (Tools > Site Health > Status)
2. Consulting with your hosting provider
3. Seeking help from a WordPress developer

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Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques

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Using the Health Check Debugging Information

1. Go to Tools > Site Health > Info
2. This page contains detailed information about your WordPress configuration
3. Click “Copy to Clipboard” to share with support teams

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Testing with Alternative User Accounts

Sometimes issues only affect specific user roles:

1. Create a temporary user account with a different role
2. Test if the issue occurs for this new user account

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Checking Server Error Logs

Server errors might not be visible in the browser:

1. Check your hosting control panel for error logs
2. Or add define('WP_DEBUG', true); and define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true); to your wp-config.php file
3. Errors will be logged to /wp-content/debug.log

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Tips for Efficient Troubleshooting

1. Binary Search Method: For sites with many plugins, use a “divide and conquer” approach:
   • Enable half of your plugins and test
   • If the issue appears, the problem is in that half; if not, it’s in the other half
   • Continue dividing the problematic group in half until you isolate the issue
   • This method is significantly faster than testing plugins one by one when you have many plugins
2. Complex Conflicts: Be aware that some issues are caused by combinations of plugins:
   • If you can’t identify a single problematic plugin, try testing different combinations
   • Pay attention to plugins that serve similar functions (multiple SEO plugins, multiple caching solutions)
   • Sometimes two plugins work fine individually but conflict when used together
3. Methodical Documentation: Keep detailed notes of what you’ve tested and the results
4. Recent Changes: Start by testing plugins or themes recently installed or updated
5. Common Culprits: Test high-impact plugins first (caching, security, optimization plugins)
6. Clear Cache: Make sure to clear any caching plugins when testing
7. Browser Testing: Test in multiple browsers to rule out browser-specific issues

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When to Contact Plugin Support

If you’ve identified an issue but cannot resolve it yourself:

1. Gather comprehensive information:
   • WordPress version
   • PHP version
   • Complete list of active plugins
   • Theme name and version
   • Browser and device information
   • Exact steps to reproduce the issue
   • Screenshots or screen recordings if applicable
   • Any error messages from the browser console
2. Check existing documentation:
   • Review the plugin’s knowledge base
   • Search the plugin’s support forum for similar issues
3. Submit a detailed support ticket:
   • Include all the information gathered above
   • Be specific about what you’ve already tried
   • Mention that you’ve used Health Check to isolate the issue
   • Provide temporary admin access if possible and appropriate

The more information you provide in your initial support request, the faster the support team can assist you in resolving the issue.

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Finally

The Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin is an invaluable tool for diagnosing WordPress issues without disrupting your live site. By systematically testing plugins and themes, you can identify conflicts and provide detailed information to support teams when needed.

Remember: Always back up your WordPress site before making significant changes to plugins, themes, or core files.

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Resources

• Health Check & Troubleshooting Plugin on WordPress.org
• WordPress.org Support Forums
• How to Submit an Effective Support Request

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