Common plugin update issues

Published on
Revised on

Although we take the utmost care of every single byte published with every update, we are still human, and you may run into issues.

If you experience technical difficulties for any reason whatsoever, don’t panic! We are readily available at the support forums to help you out.

My admin area is all messed up!

There are two reasons for this, namely:

  1. A plugin is active that removes query strings from scripts (disable that feature!).
  2. Cache has become stale somewhere and needs a refresh.

The following key combinations should quickly solve the issue for you. Access any admin page with a messed-up interface, and press this:

  • Safari Mac: CMD ⌘+OPTION ⌥+R
  • Chrome/Firefox Mac: CMD ⌘+SHIFT ⇧+R
  • Windows: CTRL ^+SHIFT ⇧+R
  • Linux: CTRL ^+Alt ⌥+T, good luck.

Alternatively, you may want to clear your browser cache after updating.

If neither of these solutions works for you, try using another browser, and see if everything’s OK there.

Although very unlikely, some service solutions cache static files from the server in memory. Litespeed and NGINX web servers may be configured this way, and reinstalling The SEO Framework may resolve this issue. Restarting the webserver should also work.

If none of the solutions mentioned above work for you, please open a support inquiry in the forums. Thank you!

I can’t access my administrative dashboard!

There are two accessible solutions.

1: WordPress error protection

WordPress v5.2 and later has PHP error protection; it allows your site to enter a recovery mode. This mode can help you deactivate plugins that don’t behave well.

  • To access this mode, you must be logged in as an administrator. You should see a message on your screen.
  • If you weren’t logged in during the update process, keep an eye out on the site’s administrator’s email account. You should receive a link shortly.

2: Manual file deletion

If you can’t access the recovery mode, or if you’re on an older version of WordPress, follow these steps:

  1. Take a deep breath.
  2. Enter the file browser of your site, either via the tools your hosting provider gave you or via FTP.
  3. Browse to /wp-content/plugins/
  4. Delete the autodescription folder. That is where The SEO Framework should reside.
  5. Delete the the-seo-framework-extension-manager folder (if available). That is where Extension Manager should reside.
  6. Your site should be available again. You can finally exhale.

Can I roll back to an older version?

Yes, it’s straightforward, and there are no caveats! Both The SEO Framework and Extension Manager support rolling back all previous minor releases, and the previous major release.

  1. Deactivate and delete The SEO Framework v5.0 first (this is optional).
  2. Download the v4.2.8 ZIP file from here.
  3. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
  4. Go to “Plugins” > “Add New”.
  5. Click “Upload Plugin” at the top.
  6. Upload the autodescription.4.2.8.zip file.
  7. Either network-activate the plugin or activate it on a single site.

Get support

If none of the solutions above work for you, please reach out to us.