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Troubleshooting a Blank Settings Page in Really Simple SSL

36 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Really simple security

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If you've installed the Really Simple SSL plugin only to find a blank or unresponsive settings page, you're not alone. This is a common issue reported by users, but the good news is that it's often easily resolved. This guide will walk you through the most likely causes and their solutions.

Why Does This Happen?

The Really Simple SSL plugin relies heavily on the WordPress REST API to load its dashboard and settings interface. When this API is blocked, malfunctioning, or encounters a conflict, the plugin's admin pages can fail to load, resulting in a blank screen or a page where nothing happens when you click on settings tabs.

How to Fix a Blank Really Simple SSL Settings Page

1. Check Your Browser Console for Errors

This is the best first step to diagnose the problem.

  • Navigate to the blank Really Simple SSL settings page.
  • Open your browser's Developer Tools (usually by pressing F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I).
  • Click on the "Console" tab.
  • Look for any red error messages. These errors often point directly to a blocked REST API request or a JavaScript conflict, which is a primary cause of this issue.

2. Test and Fix the WordPress REST API

Since the plugin depends on the REST API, you must ensure it is accessible.

  • Visit your site's REST API endpoint directly by going to: https://yourdomain.com/wp-json/
  • If you do not see a page filled with JSON code, your REST API is blocked. Common causes include:
    • Security Plugins: Check the settings of any security or firewall plugins (e.g., Wordfence, iThemes Security) to ensure they are not blocking REST API requests.
    • Server-Level Firewalls: Contact your hosting provider and ask if they are blocking access to the wp-json endpoint.
    • Corrupted .htaccess: Resave your WordPress permalinks (go to Settings > Permalinks and click "Save Changes"). This can refresh your .htaccess file and fix incorrect rules that might be interfering with the API.

3. Perform a Conflict Test

A theme or plugin conflict can prevent the settings page from loading correctly.

  • Disable All Other Plugins: Temporarily deactivate every plugin except Really Simple SSL.
  • Check the Settings Page: See if the Really Simple SSL settings page loads normally now.
  • Re-enable Plugins: If it works, reactivate your other plugins one by one, checking the settings page after each activation. This will help you identify the conflicting plugin.
  • Switch Themes: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four. If this fixes the issue, the problem lies with your theme.

4. Check for Known Issues and Updates

As seen in the sample threads, the Really Simple SSL team has occasionally released updates to fix bugs that caused blank settings pages. Always ensure you are running the latest version of the plugin. If the problem started immediately after an update, keep an eye on the plugin's support forum for acknowledged bugs and patches.

When All Else Fails

If you are unable to resolve the issue and cannot access the settings, you can safely deactivate or delete the plugin via FTP or your hosting file manager:

  1. Connect to your site via FTP or use your host's file manager.
  2. Navigate to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
  3. Find the really-simple-ssl folder.
  4. Rename this folder to something like really-simple-ssl_off.
  5. This will deactivate the plugin, allowing you to access your WordPress admin again. Remember, this only removes the plugin's configuration; your site's SSL certificate will remain active if it was properly installed.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the cause of the blank settings page. The most common solutions are resolving REST API issues and finding plugin conflicts.

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