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Fixing the Spinning Arrow: Troubleshooting Really Simple CAPTCHA and Contact Form 7 Issues

44 threads Sep 10, 2025 Plugin → Really simple captcha

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If you've installed the Really Simple CAPTCHA plugin to protect your Contact Form 7 forms, only to be met with an endless spinning arrow upon submission, you're not alone. This is one of the most common issues reported by users. This guide will explain why this happens and walk you through the most effective solutions to get your forms working again.

Why Does the Spinning Arrow Happen?

Based on extensive community reports, the endless loading icon is typically not a sign of a form validation error but rather a technical hiccup that prevents the form from completing its submission process. The most common root causes are:

  • File Permission Conflicts: The plugin needs to create and delete temporary image and text files for the CAPTCHA. If your server has strict file permissions, the script might fail when trying to remove these files after validation, causing the form to hang.
  • Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Another plugin or your theme's scripts can sometimes interfere with the AJAX request that handles the form submission.
  • Outdated Software: Using an outdated version of WordPress, Contact Form 7, or Really Simple CAPTCHA can lead to compatibility problems.

How to Fix the Really Simple CAPTCHA Spinning Arrow

Try these solutions in order, testing your form after each step.

Solution 1: Apply the Code Fix (Most Common Solution)

Many users have found that a specific code change resolves the issue. This fix adds an error suppression operator to the file deletion function, preventing a potential permissions error from stopping the script.

  1. Access your WordPress site's files, either via FTP, SFTP, or your hosting provider's file manager.
  2. Navigate to /wp-content/plugins/really-simple-captcha/.
  3. Open the file really-simple-captcha.php in a code editor.
  4. Find line 225 (or search for if ( @is_file( $file ) ) {).
  5. Change the line unlink( $file ); to @unlink( $file );.
  6. Save the file and upload it back to your server, overwriting the old one.
  7. Clear your WordPress cache (if you use a caching plugin) and test your form.

Solution 2: Check File and Folder Permissions

The plugin creates files in wp-content/uploads/wpcf7_captcha/. This folder must be writable by the web server.

  1. Using your FTP or file manager, navigate to the wp-content/uploads/ directory.
  2. Ensure the wpcf7_captcha folder exists. If it doesn't, create it.
  3. Set the permissions (CHMOD) for this folder to 755 or 775. You may need to experiment with 777 as a temporary test, but it's recommended to use more restrictive permissions like 755 for security once it's working.
  4. Test the form again.

Solution 3: Perform a Conflict Test

A conflict with another plugin or your theme is a frequent culprit.

  1. Switch your WordPress theme to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One.
  2. Deactivate all plugins except for Contact Form 7 and Really Simple CAPTCHA.
  3. Test your form. If it works, you know the issue is a conflict.
  4. Re-activate your plugins one by one, testing the form after each, until you find the one causing the problem.
  5. Finally, re-activate your original theme to see if it is the source of the conflict.

Solution 4: Verify You Are Using Correct Form Tags

This is a simple but crucial step. In your Contact Form 7 form template, you must use both tags for the CAPTCHA to work correctly. One generates the image, and the other generates the input field.

  • Correct: [captchac captcha-123] [captchar captcha-123]
  • Incorrect: Using only one of the two tags.

Ensure the unique identifier (e.g., captcha-123) is exactly the same for both tags in the same form.

What If You're Still Getting Spam?

Some users report that spam gets through even with Really Simple CAPTCHA active. This is often because advanced spambots can sometimes decode simpler CAPTCHA images. For a more robust defense, consider these community suggestions:

  • Use Contact Form 7's built-in Akismet integration to add another layer of spam filtering.
  • Add questions to your form using Contact Form 7's Quiz module, which can be harder for bots to bypass.
  • Regularly update the questions or CAPTCHA settings to stay ahead of spambots.

By following these steps, most users can resolve the spinning arrow issue and ensure their forms are both functional and secure. The 'Really Simple CAPTCHA' team is aware of these common issues and the code fix in Solution 1 has been widely accepted by the community as an effective workaround.

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