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[Resolved] PLugin won't activate

This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:
The client is experiencing a fatal error when trying to activate the WPML SEO plugin, even though other WPML plugins are functioning correctly.

Solution:
First, we recommend ensuring that your server meets the WPML minimum requirements.

Next, perform a compatibility check by following these steps:
1. Create a full website backup.
2. Disable all plugins except for WPML and its add-ons.
3. Check if the issue persists.
4. If the issue is resolved, reactivate your plugins one by one to identify the conflicting plugin.
5. If the issue still occurs with only WPML plugins active, switch to a default WordPress theme like TwentySeventeen and test again.
It's best to perform these tests in a staging environment if possible.

Additionally, provide your WPML Debug information by following this guide: WPML Debug information.

To get a more detailed error message, add the following code to your 

wp-config.php

file:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );<br />define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', false );<br />define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', true );

If the issue persists, try removing the WPML SEO plugin, re-download it from the official download page, and reinstall it on your site.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, please open a new support ticket for further assistance. We also highly recommend checking related known issues on the WPML Known Issues page, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If the solution provided here is outdated or not applicable to your case, do not hesitate to contact us through the WPML support forum.

This is the technical support forum for WPML - the multilingual WordPress plugin.

Everyone can read, but only WPML clients can post here. WPML team is replying on the forum 6 days per week, 22 hours per day.

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This topic contains 3 replies, has 2 voices.

Last updated by Mihai Apetrei 1 year, 3 months ago.

Assisted by: Mihai Apetrei.

Author Posts
February 12, 2024 at 3:20 pm #15293936

alexE-12

WPML informed me I need to download your plugin, and for SEO compatibility with Rank Math

I need this plugin WPML SEO which I believe is yours as well?

But the issue is could you tell me why they never activate?

See here: hidden link fatal error on SEO activation and nothing on the OTGS plugin
February 12, 2024 at 10:21 pm #15295068

Mihai Apetrei
WPML Supporter since 03/2018

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Europe/Bucharest (GMT+03:00)

Hi there.

The OTGS Installer won't be needed anymore as you already have WPML installed.

In regards to the activation of the WPML SEO addon (https://wpml.org/download/yoast-seo-multilingual/?section=changelog), I am not sure why that returns in a fatal error.

Some things you can try:

1. Please make sure that your server follows the WPML minimum requirements:
https://wpml.org/home/minimum-requirements

2. If the issue is still happening, can you please let me know if it still happens even when only the WPML plugins are active and you are using a default WordPress theme?

Please try the following steps so that we can test for a compatibility-related issue:

- create a full website backup

- disable all plugins except WPML and its add-ons

- check if the issue is happening again

- if it's not, reactivate your plugins one by one, checking every time if the issue shows up again so that you can understand which plugin is causing that issue

If the issue happens even with the non-WPML plugins disabled:
- leave all the non-WPML plugins deactivated

- switch to a default theme like TwentySeventeen

- try to recreate the issue now

If you have the chance, it would be best to do this in a staging (testing) environment.

Please let me know how that goes and if following any of these steps solved your issue or brought any change.

I will be waiting for your response.

Mihai Apetrei
February 16, 2024 at 4:13 pm #15312500

alexE-12

hi

So the OTGS is the only plugin in our WPML dashboard that can be downloaded! As it is not needed I have deleted from our website.

even with only WPML plugin active the WPML SEO creates a 'fatal Error' see here: hidden link

Regards

Rob
February 16, 2024 at 10:14 pm #15313216

Mihai Apetrei
WPML Supporter since 03/2018

Languages: English (English )

Timezone: Europe/Bucharest (GMT+03:00)

Thank you for the update, Rob.

1. Can you please paste your WPML Debug information in the Debug information field I activated below?

- http://wpml.org/faq/provide-debug-information-faster-support/

2. Can you please add this in the wp-config.php file from your WordPress install to see if we can see any extra information besides that general fatal error when you are trying to activate the WPML SEO plugin?

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', false );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', true );

Now please reproduce the issue once again. Hopefully, you should see a more detailed error message on the screen now instead of just that general one.

3. One more thing that I am thinking of is that maybe the WPML SEO plugin has not been installed in full, or maybe it is corrupt or missing specific files.

So you could try to remove it from your site, then re-download it from here (https://wpml.org/download/yoast-seo-multilingual/?section=changelog) and re-install it on the site

4. Also, you can try to use a different theme (default WordPress theme for example) to see if the issue is still happening.

Please let me know how things go.

Mihai