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Fixing 'Cannot read properties of null (reading '0')' in Site Kit by Google

38 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Site kit by google

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If you're seeing the frustrating Cannot read properties of null (reading '0') error in your Site Kit by Google dashboard, you're not alone. This common JavaScript error prevents widgets from loading properly and can stem from various underlying issues. This guide will help you understand why it happens and walk you through the most effective troubleshooting steps.

What Causes This Error?

This error typically occurs when Site Kit's dashboard tries to access data that hasn't been properly loaded or is unexpectedly structured. Based on community reports and analysis, the most common causes include:

  • Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Other plugins, particularly those that modify JavaScript behavior or HTTP headers, can interfere with Site Kit's data fetching.
  • Hosting Configuration Issues: Specific server configurations, especially on nginx, can break how Site Kit communicates with Google's services.
  • Caching Problems: Aggressive caching at the server or plugin level can serve stale or corrupted data to the dashboard.
  • Known Plugin Conflicts: Some plugins, like the Transliterator plugin mentioned in the threads, have known compatibility issues with Site Kit.
  • Data Fetching Interruptions: The error can appear after a Site Kit update if there's a temporary issue with how analytics data is retrieved and processed.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix the Error

Step 1: Basic Checks

Start with these simple steps to rule out common issues:

  1. Test in Incognito Mode: Open your browser's incognito or private window and check the Site Kit dashboard. This helps determine if the issue is related to browser extensions or cached data.
  2. Check Browser Console: While in the incognito window, open the browser's developer tools (F12) and go to the 'Console' tab. Note any red error messages that appear when the dashboard loads and include them in any further research.
  3. Review Site Health: Navigate to Tools > Site Health > Status in your WordPress admin. Address any critical recommendations or issues listed there, as they can affect overall site functionality.

Step 2: Conflict Testing

A plugin or theme conflict is a very common cause. To test for this:

  1. Temporarily switch your theme to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four).
  2. Deactivate all plugins except Site Kit by Google.
  3. Check if the error persists on the Site Kit dashboard.
  4. If the error is gone, reactivate your plugins one by one, checking the dashboard after each activation, until you identify the conflicting software.

Step 3: Check for Known Specific Conflicts

As referenced in the support threads, certain plugins have known conflicts. If you use any of the following, try deactivating them as a test:

  • Transliterator plugins or any plugin that heavily modifies text or character sets.
  • Plugins that modify HTTP headers or API requests.
  • Aggressive caching or optimization plugins. Try clearing all caches or temporarily disabling them.

Step 4: Server Configuration (For Advanced Users)

If you are running your site on an nginx server (like a Raspberry Pi setup mentioned in the threads), an incorrect configuration can cause this error. Review your nginx configuration files for any rules that might be blocking or altering API requests to or from Google's services. Ensure your permalink structure is working correctly.

Step 5: Wait for an Update

In some instances, like the issue reported after the Site Kit 1.149.0 update, the error was a known bug that the Site Kit by Google team was actively investigating. Your analytics data is likely still being collected. You can check your reports directly at analytics.google.com while waiting for a patched plugin version to be released.

When All Else Fails

If you've tried all the steps above and the issue continues, the problem may be more complex and specific to your hosting environment. In such cases, gathering your Site Health information can be crucial for deeper investigation. You can find this information at Tools > Site Health > Info and click the 'Copy site info to clipboard' button.

Remember, this error is almost always a display or data-fetching issue within the WordPress admin area. It does not typically mean your site has stopped tracking valuable analytics data with Google.

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