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Troubleshooting Common Autoptimize Conflicts: A Guide to Fixing Broken Layouts and Features

44 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Autoptimize

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Autoptimize is a powerful tool for speeding up your WordPress site by optimizing CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. However, its aggressive optimization techniques can sometimes conflict with other plugins or themes, leading to broken layouts, missing features, or other unexpected behavior. This guide will walk you through the most common issues and how to resolve them.

Why Do These Conflicts Happen?

Autoptimize works by aggregating and minifying your site's code. This process can sometimes alter the order in which scripts load or change how styles are applied. If a theme or plugin relies on a very specific loading order or a particular piece of un-minified code, Autoptimize's optimizations can break it. These issues are almost always due to conflicts, not bugs in Autoptimize itself.

Step 1: Identify the Culprit

The first and most crucial step is to identify which Autoptimize optimization is causing the problem. The Autoptimize team suggests a methodical approach:

  1. Go to Autoptimize → Settings.
  2. Disable one optimization option at a time (e.g., CSS, JS, HTML, Image Lazyload).
  3. After disabling each one, check your site to see if the issue is resolved.

This process will pinpoint the exact setting causing the conflict. For example, if the problem goes away when you disable "Optimize CSS Code," then you know the CSS optimization is the source of the trouble.

Step 2: Apply the Right Fix

Once you know which optimization is to blame, you can apply a targeted solution instead of disabling Autoptimize entirely.

Common Scenario 1: Broken JavaScript Features (Sliders, Popups, Menus)

Problem: Features like Elementor popup menus, LayerSliders, or image carousels stop working. This is often caused by the "Aggregate JS-files" or "Do not aggregate but defer" options.

Solution: Exclude the specific plugin's JavaScript files from optimization.

  1. In your Autoptimize settings, find the field labeled "Exclude scripts from Autoptimize."
  2. Add the path to the plugin's JS files. Common examples include:
    • plugins/image-horizontal-reel-scroll-slideshow/
    • plugins/layerslider/
    • plugins/woocommerce/assets/js/frontend/add-to-cart.min.js
    • jquery.js (if jQuery itself is causing issues)

Common Scenario 2: CSS Layout Issues (Spacing, Images, Mobile View)

Problem: Images disappear on mobile, spacing is removed, or the mobile view displays the desktop layout. This is frequently caused by the "Aggregate CSS-files" option.

Solution: Exclude CSS or adjust Critical CSS settings.

  • Option A: Try disabling the "Aggregate CSS-files" option first to confirm it fixes the issue.
  • Option B: If you use the "Inline and Defer CSS" option, ensure you have provided adequate "Above the Fold CSS" to prevent a Flash of Unstyled Content (FOUC).
  • Option C: The issue might be a conflict with another plugin's lazyload (like Smush). If images disappear, try disabling lazyload in one of the plugins.

Common Scenario 3: Problems for Logged-in Users (Admins/Editors)

Problem: Features in your page builder (like Elementor or Cornerstone) don't work correctly when Autoptimize is active.

Solution: Disable optimization for logged-in users. Simply uncheck the option "Also optimize for logged in editors/administrators" in the Autoptimize settings. This is a common fix for page builder conflicts.

Common Scenario 4: Google Bot or Mobile Usability Errors

Problem: Google Search Console reports mobile usability errors like "Clickable elements too close together," but your site looks fine on an actual mobile device.

Solution: This often happens if your robots.txt file is blocking Googlebot from accessing the optimized CSS and JS files. Check your robots.txt file and ensure it is not disallowing access to /wp-content/cache/ or similar paths.

Step 3: Test and Confirm

After making any changes, clear all your caches (Autoptimize, page cache, CDN) and test your site thoroughly. Use a browser's developer tools (F12) to check the console for any JavaScript errors, which can provide clues for further troubleshooting.

When the Problem Isn't Autoptimize

If you disable all of Autoptimize's optimizations and the problem persists, or if adding ?ao_noptimize=1 to your URL doesn't fix the issue, the problem likely lies elsewhere. In these cases, you will need to investigate other plugins or your theme as the potential source of the conflict.

By following this structured approach, you can enjoy the speed benefits of Autoptimize while maintaining a fully functional and visually perfect website.

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