Home›Support›English Support›[Resolved] Bug Report: JS Error & Conflict with Rank Math SEO after WPML 4.8.2 Update
[Resolved] Bug Report: JS Error & Conflict with Rank Math SEO after WPML 4.8.2 Update
This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.
Problem: The client reported a critical conflict between WPML Multilingual CMS (v4.8.2) and the Rank Math SEO plugin, which caused the WordPress 'Preview' function to break due to a JavaScript error. This issue began after updating WPML to version 4.8.2. Although Rank Math provided a patch for an SEO score display issue, it did not resolve the 'Preview' mode problem.
Solution: We recommended the client to first take a backup of their site, including the database. Then, use the troubleshooting options available at WPML > Support > Troubleshooting: 1. Clear the cache in WPML 2. Fix element_type collation 3. Set language information More details on these steps can be found here: WPML Troubleshooting Options
We also suggested checking if the issue replicates when creating a new translation for yet untranslated content or if it only affects a specific page or older content. Additionally, we offered to investigate further by requesting temporary access (wp-admin and FTP) to the website.
If this solution does not apply to your case, or if it seems outdated, we highly recommend checking related known issues at WPML Known Issues, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If further assistance is needed, please do not hesitate to open a new support ticket at WPML Support Forum.
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Background of the issue:
I have identified a critical conflict between WPML Multilingual CMS (v4.8.2) and the Rank Math SEO plugin on my site, hidden link. The issue started after updating WPML to version 4.8.2. Rank Math provided a patch that fixed an SEO score display issue but did not resolve the broken 'Preview' mode.
Symptoms:
The WordPress 'Preview' function is broken due to a JavaScript error when WPML is active. The issue is confirmed to be caused by WPML as the Preview function works perfectly when WPML is deactivated.
Questions:
Could your development team please investigate this incompatibility with Rank Math that is causing JavaScript errors and breaking the WordPress Preview feature?
Were you already able to confirm if this issue only occurs when running WPML with RankMath on a WordPress standard theme like Twenty Twenty-Five?
Can you please verify if you can replicate this issue on the following test site, which uses the latest versions of WPML and RankMath?
One-Click-Login: hidden link
It would also be great if you could install the latest version of RankMath PRO to test if you can replicate the issue. Note that it might even be the case that you will need to install the Woodmart and its plugin, like for example WP Bakery Builder, to be able to replicate the issue.
Make sure to leave me a comment on this ticket once you are done with this task.
Thank you for the quick response and for providing the test site.
During my own troubleshooting, I discovered that my site does not meet WPML's minimum requirement for the WP Memory Limit. I have already sent an urgent request to my hosting maintenance team to increase the server's memory limit, but I am still waiting for them to complete this action.
I believe it's best to wait until the memory limit is fixed before proceeding with the conflict testing you requested, as low memory could be a contributing factor to the issue.
For your information, my site is already running the latest version of Rank Math PRO, including a specific patch provided by their support team for a related issue.
I will update this ticket and perform the tests on the sandbox site as soon as my maintenance team confirms the memory limit has been increased.
Indeed, I realized that yesterday, I just doubt that this is linked to the error. If you had provided me access, I would have adjusted this before testing.
To adjust the limit, you need to connect to your website's server and open the wp-config.php file in a text editor. The file is located in the WordPress root directory.
Add this code to the wp-config.php file to increase WordPress's memory:
define ('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
Add this just before this comment:
// That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging.
The current values can be viewed under WPML > Support > WordPress.
These settings can be restricted directly by your hosting provider.
Thank you very much for the specific instructions and for confirming the memory limit issue.
As you correctly suspected, my hosting environment restricts my ability to edit the wp-config.php file directly. I have forwarded your instructions to my site's maintenance team and have requested that they increase the WP Memory Limit to 256M at the server level.
I am currently waiting for them to apply this fix. I will update this ticket as soon as I have news from them.
Thank you for your patience and for keeping this ticket open.
I wanted to provide you with a complete update. The issue is still unresolved, and I believe it is directly related to the server's low WP Memory Limit, which my maintenance team has not yet fixed.
For your information, I have since updated the WPML plugin to the latest version (4.8.3), but this did not resolve the conflict, likely because of the persistent server memory issue. My site is also running the latest version of Rank Math PRO, which includes a specific patch their support team provided for a related display issue.
I am still waiting on my maintenance team to increase the server's memory limit. As soon as they confirm this action is complete, I will proceed with the conflict testing you requested on the sandbox site. I hope to have an update for you by early next week.
I can adjust the WP MEMORY LIMIT for you, if you wish.
To do this, you need to connect to your website's server and open the wp-config.php file in a text editor. The file is located in the WordPress root directory.
Add this code to the wp-config.php file to increase WordPress's memory:
define ('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
Add this just before this comment:
// That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging.
The current values can be viewed under WPML > Support > WordPress.
I would like to request temporary access (wp-admin and FTP) to the website to investigate the issue further.
You will find the required fields below the comments section when you log in to leave the next reply. The information you provide is private, meaning only you and I can see and access it.
IMPORTANT
Please be sure to create a backup of your website and database before granting us access.
If you can't see the "wp-admin / FTP" fields, your post and website credentials will be set to "PUBLIC." DO NOT publish the data unless you see the required wp-admin / FTP fields.
The private reply form looks like this: hidden link
Click "I still need assistance" the next time you reply.
Video: hidden link
Please note that we are required to request this information individually on each ticket. We are not permitted to access any information that was not specifically submitted on this ticket in the private reply form.
Thank you for your patience. I am available to help troubleshoot this.
I need to inform you that my maintenance team has already increased the server's WP Memory Limit to 512M, but this did not resolve the conflict with Rank Math. The 'Preview' function is still broken and the score display is still unstable.
I am now proceeding with the conflict test you suggested on the sandbox site. I will install the latest version of Rank Math PRO and will let you know as soon as I can replicate the issue.
Thank you for providing the sandbox environment. I have completed the test as you requested.
The test was successful, and I was unable to replicate the bug on the sandbox site.
On the clean test site with a standard theme, I installed Rank Math PRO, created and optimized a test page, and confirmed the following:
The "Preview" function works correctly.
The Rank Math SEO score appears correctly in the main "Pages" list.
This result strongly suggests that the conflict on my live site (aietgb.com) is not a direct incompatibility between WPML and Rank Math, but is being caused by my Woodmart theme.
Based on this finding, I will investigate the issue with my theme developer. Thank you for your help in narrowing down the problem.
I have some good news. My hosting maintenance team has taken action and made some server-level changes, including increasing the WP Memory Limit to 512M and disabling the Varnish cache to resolve the persistent caching issues.
I will need some time to thoroughly test everything over the weekend, but I am hopeful that this has resolved the original conflict we were discussing. I will give you a final confirmation early next week.
In the meantime, while we are troubleshooting, I was hoping you could assist with a separate issue. I have been unable to get the WPML language switcher to display correctly in the header on the desktop version of my site. It works perfectly on the mobile version, but it does not appear on desktop.
Now that the server environment is more stable, could you please provide some guidance on how to correctly configure the language switcher for the desktop header?
It looks like the current language switcher is coming from Woodmart and not from WPML.
Could it be that you use a switcher that is coming from Woodmart inside the Header Builder?
I suggest you remove this switcher and instead enable the WPML's menu language switcher at WPML > Languages. This one should work for desktop and mobile.
I have some great news! The original issue with the language switcher not appearing on desktop is now resolved. The root cause was a server-level problem. My maintenance team increased the server memory limit to 512MB and fixed a caching conflict. As soon as they did that, your suggestion to use the WPML menu switcher worked perfectly. Thank you for your help with that!
Unfortunately, while the site is now more stable, we've run into a new, critical issue with a stuck translation job that we cannot clear on our own.
The Problem: I updated my English "Contact Us" page. When I updated the French translation (100% complete), the changes would not appear on the live site, which became a mix of English and French. The translation seems to be 'stuck'.
What We Tried: To fix this, we tried to reset the translation by permanently deleting the French page. However, the gear icon ("In Progress") is now stuck on my English Pages list, and we cannot create a new translation. The job in the WPML > Translations queue now just says "Take and Translate".
Failed Troubleshooting Steps: My technical assistant and I have tried every possible troubleshooting step, but the 'gear' icon will not go away. Here is what we have already done:
Permanently deleted the French page translation.
Used the "Resign" action on the job in the WPML > Translations queue.
Used the WPML > Support > Troubleshooting page functions, including:
"Clear the cache in WPML"
"Synchronize local job ids with ATE"
And finally, "Cancel stuck 'in progress' translation jobs"
None of these steps have been able to clear the ghost job.
On a related note, the French translation of my footer, which was completed some time ago, is also not updating with the most recent changes made to the original English version (specifically, color corrections and the addition of a BBB seal). I suspect this is all connected to the main 'stuck job' issue, so I am not attempting to re-translate the footer until the 'Contact Us' page problem is solved.
Could you please look into our account and help us forcibly remove this ghost translation job for the "Contact Us" page? I believe it is a database-level issue that we cannot solve from the dashboard.
I have a full, fresh backup and can provide you with administrator access if needed.
