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Fixing Common SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle Issues: Missing Widgets, White Screens, and Activation Problems

38 threads Sep 9, 2025 Plugin → Siteorigin widgets bundle

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SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle is a powerful tool for any WordPress site, but like any complex plugin, users can occasionally run into problems. Based on community reports, this guide covers the most frequent issues and their solutions.

1. A Specific Widget is Missing or "Not Available"

The Problem: You see a message like "SiteOrigin_Widget_PostBlock_Widget is not available" or a specific widget like the Hero or Testimonial is missing from your list.

Why It Happens: This usually occurs when the Widgets Bundle plugin is not fully installed, is corrupted, or the individual widget has been deactivated in the widget manager.

How to Fix It:

  • Check Widget Activation: Navigate to Plugins → SiteOrigin Widgets. This is a separate menu, not the main Plugins list. Ensure the checkbox next to the missing widget is checked to activate it.
  • Reinstall the Plugin: Completely delete the plugin via your WordPress dashboard (or FTP if necessary) and perform a fresh install. This ensures all files are present and uncorrupted.
  • Clear Caches: Clear any server, plugin, or browser caches after reinstalling.

2. White Screen or Blank Page in WordPress Dashboard

The Problem: Activating the plugin causes a white screen or blank page when trying to edit posts or pages, often accompanied by a fatal error in the browser's source code.

Why It Happens: This is typically caused by a fatal PHP error, often due to a conflict with another plugin, your theme, or an incomplete plugin update.

How to Fix It:

  • Enable Debugging: Enable WP_DEBUG to reveal the specific error message. Add the following lines to your wp-config.php file: 
    define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );
    Check the wp-content/debug.log file for errors after reproducing the issue.
  • Conflict Test: Temporarily deactivate all other plugins and switch to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-One). If the white screen disappears, reactivate your plugins and theme one-by-one to identify the source of the conflict.
  • Reinstall Cleanly: As with the missing widget issue, a complete reinstall often resolves this by replacing any corrupted files.

3. Widget Activation or Settings Not Saving

The Problem: You try to activate a widget or change its settings, but the changes do not stick after a page reload.

Why It Happens: This is almost always a conflict with another plugin, often a security or caching plugin.

How to Fix It:

  • Plugin Conflict Test: Perform the conflict test described above. This is the most reliable way to identify the interfering plugin.
  • Check Security Plugins: If you use a security plugin like Wordfence, check its settings. It may be blocking the AJAX requests the widget manager uses. Try putting Wordfence into "Learning Mode" or adding an exception for the admin-ajax.php file.
  • Ensure Updates: Confirm that your WordPress core, theme, and all plugins are updated to their latest versions.

4. Plugin Fails to Install or Update

The Problem: You receive errors like "Destination folder already exists" or "PCLZIP_ERR_BAD_FORMAT (-10)" during installation.

Why It Happens: This indicates a file permissions issue, a corrupted download, or a leftover plugin folder from a previous incomplete installation.

How to Fix It:

  • Manual Installation via FTP: Access your site via FTP/SFTP. Navigate to /wp-content/plugins/ and delete any existing so-widgets-bundle folder. Then, upload a freshly downloaded ZIP file of the plugin and extract it there.
  • Check File Permissions: Ensure your WordPress directories have the correct file permissions (usually 755 for folders, 644 for files). Your web host's support team can assist with this.

General Troubleshooting Tips

  • Cache Everything: After implementing any fix, clear all levels of caching—your browser, any caching plugins, and your server's cache (if applicable).
  • Check for HTTPS Issues: If you recently moved your site from HTTP to HTTPS, ensure your site URL is updated in Settings → General and that there are no mixed-content issues. A plugin like "Better Search Replace" can help update URLs in the database.
  • Review Documentation: The SiteOrigin team provides extensive documentation on troubleshooting and usage, which can be a valuable resource for less common issues.

Most issues with the Widgets Bundle can be resolved through methodical troubleshooting, primarily focusing on conflicts and ensuring a clean installation. If problems persist after trying these steps, detailing your specific error messages and the steps you've already taken can help the community provide more targeted assistance.

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