WPML plugin disappeared from WordPress BackOffice

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

Problem:
If you're experiencing an issue where the WPML plugin has disappeared from your WordPress BackOffice and generates a fatal error when attempting to activate or reinstall, and it claims to be already installed even though it's not showing up, this might be due to the core plugin not being updated.
Solution:
We recommend checking if the WPML Multilingual CMS plugin, which is our core plugin, is updated and activated. This was the solution for a similar issue where, after updating and activating the core plugin, the problem was resolved.

Please note that this solution might be irrelevant if it's outdated or not applicable to your case. We highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If the issue persists, please open a new support ticket.

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.

Tagged: Exception

This topic contains 0 replies, has 0 voices.

Last updated by Carlos Rojas 7 hours ago.

Assisted by: Carlos Rojas.

Author	Posts
November 22, 2024 at 10:05 am #16433028
sbsP	Background of the issue: I'm trying to continue using the WPML plugin, but it disappeared from WordPress BackOffice after a critical error. The problem existed before I updated WordPress, and even after the update, the problem persists. The plugin has disappeared from WP BackOffice and won't allow me to install it again, generating the error: 'The plugin could not be activated because it generated a fatal error'. It says it's already installed, even though the other dependencies say it's not. Symptoms: WPML plugin disappeared from WordPress BackOffice and generates a fatal error when attempting to activated or reinstall. Questions: Why did the WPML plugin disappear from my WordPress BackOffice? How can I resolve the fatal error preventing WPML from being reinstalled?
November 22, 2024 at 1:40 pm #16434115
Carlos Rojas Supporter Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)	Hello, Thank you for contacting us I will need to take a look at the site. I have set your next answer private so you can securely share the access credentials. Please don't forget to create a full site backup before sharing the credentials.
November 22, 2024 at 5:35 pm #16434955
Carlos Rojas Supporter Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)	Thanks! Can you confirm that the issue was solved?
November 25, 2024 at 10:52 am #16439233
Carlos Rojas Supporter Languages: English (English ) Spanish (Español ) Timezone: Europe/Madrid (GMT+01:00)	The cause of the issue was that the WPML Multilingual CMS plugin, our core plugin, wasn't updated and activated. After updating and activating the core plugin the issue disappeared.