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Resolving Issues When Exiting Health Check Troubleshooting Mode

12 threads Sep 7, 2025 Plugin → Health check & troubleshooting

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Many users of the Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin report a common and frustrating issue: getting stuck in Troubleshooting Mode. The "Exit Troubleshooting" button may become unresponsive, or the mode may appear to exit but leave plugins in a deactivated state. This guide explains why this happens and provides the most effective solutions.

Why This Happens

Based on community reports, this problem is often not a direct bug in the plugin's code but is instead caused by conflicts with other elements on a site. The most common culprits are:

  • Caching Plugins: Caching systems (like WP Rocket) can serve a cached version of the admin bar, preventing the live "Exit" button from functioning correctly.
  • JavaScript Conflicts: A plugin being tested, such as Redirection, can sometimes interfere with the JavaScript that controls the Troubleshooting Mode panel.
  • Rare Edge Cases: The Health Check & Troubleshooting team has acknowledged that in some rare, hard-to-pinpoint cases, the mechanism for restoring plugins can fail.

How to Fix It: Clear Solutions

Solution 1: Disable Caching (Most Common Fix)

If you use a caching plugin, this is the first thing to check. You must disable it completely, not just within Troubleshooting Mode.

  1. Access your site's files via FTP, SFTP, or your web host's file manager.
  2. Navigate to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
  3. Find the folder for your caching plugin (e.g., wp-rocket, w3-total-cache).
  4. Rename the folder (e.g., to wp-rocket_old). This will disable the plugin for all users.
  5. Return to your WordPress site. You should now be able to click the "Exit Troubleshooting Mode" button successfully.
  6. After exiting, you can rename the caching plugin's folder back to its original name to re-enable it.

Solution 2: Manually Re-enable Plugins

If you were able to exit the mode but your plugins remained deactivated, you will need to turn them back on manually.

  1. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins in your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Use the bulk action menu to select all plugins and choose Activate.
  3. Remember to also re-enable your theme if it was switched to a default one (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Four) during troubleshooting.

Solution 3: Clear Browser Cookies and Cache

Troubleshooting Mode is controlled by a cookie. A corrupted browser cache or cookie can break its functionality.

  1. Completely log out of your WordPress site.
  2. Clear your browser's cache and cookies for your site.
  3. Close and restart your browser.
  4. Log back into WordPress. This often clears the Troubleshooting Mode session and restores normal functionality.

Solution 4: Check for Conflicting Plugins

As one user found, a specific plugin being tested (Redirection) was the direct cause of the unresponsive "Exit" button. If you are testing a particular plugin and get stuck, try disabling that specific plugin via FTP (using the renaming method above) before attempting to exit Troubleshooting Mode.

Important Note on Plugin Maintenance

Some users have questioned if the plugin is abandoned. The Health Check & Troubleshooting team has confirmed that development is active. If you encounter this issue, it is recommended to create a new support thread on the official WordPress.org plugin forums to provide the developers with specific details about your environment, which helps them investigate these edge cases.

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