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Fixing Common AMP Plugin Compatibility Issues: A Troubleshooting Guide

74 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Amp

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If you've installed the official AMP plugin for WordPress and are encountering unexpected behavior, you're not alone. A significant number of issues stem from compatibility conflicts with other themes and plugins. This guide will walk you through the most common problems and how to resolve them.

Why Do These Compatibility Issues Happen?

The AMP framework has strict standards to ensure fast, secure pages. It does not allow custom JavaScript, which is a common feature in many WordPress plugins and themes for adding functionality like sliders, accordions, and complex e-commerce features. When the AMP plugin encounters this non-compliant code, it can cause errors, broken features, or validation warnings.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

1. Theme and Plugin Conflicts

Many issues arise because a theme or plugin is not fully AMP-compatible.

  • Symptoms: Publishing time discrepancies, broken sliders (like Revolution Slider), missing headers, or layout shifts. Some themes, like Jannah, may even force their own AMP templates, overriding the plugin's settings.
  • Solution:
    1. Identify the source of the conflict using the plugin's built-in validation tools, which often list incompatible components.
    2. Check if updates are available for the conflicting theme or plugin that add AMP compatibility.
    3. If no update is available, contact the theme or plugin author directly and ask about AMP compatibility.
    4. As a last resort, consider switching to a known AMP-compatible theme like Astra or Neve.

2. WooCommerce and E-Commerce Issues

WooCommerce integration is a common pain point.

  • Symptoms: Products not showing prices, 'add to cart' buttons not working, or form submission errors.
  • Solution:
    1. It is highly recommended to disable AMP on cart and checkout pages entirely, as these complex processes often rely on non-AMP JavaScript.
    2. In WooCommerce settings, disable AJAX add-to-cart functionality and set cart behavior to redirect after adding a product.
    3. Be cautious with third-party 'AMP enhancer' plugins, as they can sometimes introduce their own errors and PHP conflicts.

3. JavaScript-Dependent Features Breaking

Features that rely on custom JavaScript will break on AMP pages.

  • Symptoms: Accordions, tabs, sliders, and complex menus not functioning.
  • Solution:
    1. Replace JavaScript-based components with AMP-compatible alternatives. For example, use the standard HTML <details> and <summary> tags to create a simple accordion.
    2. For sliders, check if the plugin developer provides an AMP component (e.g., amp-kaltura-player). Native WordPress <video> tags should convert to <amp-video> automatically.
    3. Contact the feature's developer and request they implement an AMP-compatible version using approved AMP components.

4. Caching and Stale AMP Pages

Caching can cause outdated or broken AMP pages to be served.

  • Symptoms: A site that appears 'stuck' in AMP mode even after disabling the plugin, or changes not appearing on the live site.
  • Solution: After making any changes to your AMP setup or disabling the plugin, you must clear all caching layers. This includes your WordPress caching plugin (e.g., WP Rocket, Litespeed Cache), server-level cache, and any Content Delivery Network (CDN) cache like Cloudflare.

5. Setup and Permission Errors

  • JSON Response Error: A 'not a valid JSON response' error during setup is often a conflict. Use the Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin to disable other plugins and switch to a default theme to identify the culprit.
  • Permission Denied: Ensure you are logged in with a user account that has the Administrator role to access the AMP settings page.

General Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Isolate the Problem: Use the Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin to temporarily disable all other plugins and switch to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Three). If the problem resolves, reactivate your plugins and theme one by one to find the conflict.
  2. Check the AMP Validation Tool: The AMP plugin's validation tool in the WordPress admin will often provide specific details about validation errors and which theme or plugin is causing them.
  3. Reader Mode: If your theme is not compatible, using the plugin's 'Reader Mode' with a supported theme is a reliable way to serve valid AMP pages while keeping your main theme for non-AMP visitors.

By methodically working through these steps, you can diagnose and resolve the most frequent issues that prevent the AMP plugin from working smoothly on your WordPress site.

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