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Troubleshooting Common Issues with the Duplicate Post Plugin

22 threads Sep 10, 2025 Plugin → Duplicate post

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Many WordPress users rely on the 'Duplicate Post' plugin (also known as 'Copy Delete Posts') to efficiently create copies of their content. However, like any software, you might occasionally run into problems. This guide compiles the most frequent issues reported by users and provides step-by-step solutions to get you back on track.

1. The Copied Page Appears Blank or Empty

The Problem: After duplicating a page or post and then disabling the plugin, the copy appears empty. Re-enabling the plugin does not fix it.

Why It Happens: The 'Duplicate Post' plugin only creates the initial copy. Once the duplicate is made, the plugin's job is done. The content of the duplicate is stored in your WordPress database, just like any other post. A blank page is almost always caused by a conflict with another plugin or a theme function that interferes with displaying the content, not by the 'Duplicate Post' plugin itself.

How to Fix It:

  1. Check for Plugin Conflicts: Temporarily deactivate all other plugins except 'Duplicate Post'. If the page content reappears, reactivate your plugins one by one to identify the culprit.
  2. Switch Themes: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four. If the content appears, the issue is with your theme.
  3. Inspect the Content: Edit the blank page. Ensure that content (text, blocks, shortcodes) is actually present in the editor. The duplication process might have been interrupted.

2. PHP Warnings and Errors After Duplication

The Problem: You see PHP warnings, deprecation notices, or fatal errors on your screen or in your logs, often mentioning files like handler.php or post.php.

Why It Happens: These errors typically indicate one of two things:

  • Outdated PHP Version: The plugin uses modern code that may not be compatible with old, unsupported versions of PHP (e.g., versions below 7.4).
  • Plugin Code Issues: Specific versions of the plugin may have contained code that triggers warnings on certain server configurations.

How to Fix It:

  1. Update Your PHP Version: This is the most critical step. Contact your web host and ensure you are running at least PHP 7.4, though PHP 8.0 or higher is strongly recommended for both security and performance.
  2. Update the Plugin: Ensure you are running the latest version of the 'Duplicate Post' plugin, as the development team frequently releases patches for known bugs.
  3. Enable Debugging: Temporarily add define('WP_DEBUG', true); and define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true); to your wp-config.php file. This will write errors to a debug.log file in your /wp-content/ directory, giving you more detailed information to troubleshoot.

3. The "Something Went Wrong" Error During Bulk Actions

The Problem: When trying to scan for or delete duplicates in bulk, you get a generic error message: "Something went wrong and we couldn't get the list of publications."

Why It Happens: This is often a JavaScript conflict. Another plugin or your theme is injecting code that interferes with the 'Duplicate Post' plugin's ability to communicate with your WordPress admin.

How to Fix It:

  1. Open the Browser Console: Press F12 on your keyboard (or right-click and select 'Inspect') and click the 'Console' tab.
  2. Trigger the Error: With the console open, try to run the duplicate scan again. Any JavaScript errors that appear will be displayed in red.
  3. Identify the Conflict: The error messages will often point to a specific plugin's script file. Use this information to deactivate the conflicting plugin and report the issue to its developers.

4. Success Message Persists on Every Admin Page Load

The Problem: After a successful copy, the "Copy successful! :)" notification appears on every single page in the WordPress admin area.

Why It Happens: This is a classic symptom of a plugin or theme conflict that is preventing admin notifications from being properly cleared after they are displayed.

How to Fix It:

  1. Clear Your Browser Cache: Sometimes, a simple hard refresh (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R) can resolve this.
  2. Conflict Test: Follow the standard conflict-testing procedure: deactivate all other plugins and switch to a default theme. If the message disappears, you know another extension is causing the problem.

5. Understanding What the Plugin Can and Cannot Do

Many reported issues stem from a misunderstanding of the plugin's scope. Based on user reports, it's important to remember:

  • It Does Not Clone Entire Websites: This plugin duplicates individual posts, pages, and custom post types. It is not a full site cloning or migration tool.
  • It Does Not Change Original URLs: The plugin cannot alter the slug or URL of an existing post. It can only create a new post with a new slug (e.g., appending "-2"). If your original post's URL changed, the cause lies elsewhere.
  • It Does Not Delete Itself: Uninstalling the plugin is safe. All duplicated content is stored in your database and will remain after the plugin is deactivated or deleted.
  • It Stores Data in the Database: Duplicated posts are not created as physical files. They exist as entries in your WordPress database tables (e.g., wp_posts).

By following this troubleshooting guide, you should be able to resolve the majority of common issues with the 'Duplicate Post' plugin. If problems persist after these steps, the next best course of action is to seek help from the wider WordPress community, providing details of the steps you've already taken.

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