BugWP logo BugWP
Back to Community
Home / Community / Theme → Rife free

Troubleshooting Common Rife Free Theme and Elementor Conflicts

67 threads Sep 16, 2025 Theme → Rife free

Content

Many WordPress users choose the Rife Free theme for its beautiful design and Elementor integration. However, a recurring issue reported in the community involves conflicts between the two, leading to problems like editors not loading, headers/footers disappearing, or content not saving correctly. This guide will help you diagnose and resolve the most common Rife Free and Elementor conflicts.

Common Symptoms of Rife Free & Elementor Conflict

Based on community reports, the conflict often manifests as:

  • Elementor editor failing to load or getting stuck.
  • "Updating failed. The response is not a valid JSON response" errors when saving.
  • Headers and footers disappearing on pages built with Elementor.
  • Custom footers from plugins like "Elementor Header & Footer Builder" not appearing, being hidden, or causing automatic scrolling.
  • Popup messages (e.g., from Contact Form 7) being hidden behind the theme's footer.
  • Changes made in the Customizer or a page builder not reflecting on the live site.

Why Do These Conflicts Happen?

These issues are typically not due to a single bug but arise from a few key areas:

  1. Overlapping Functionality: Both the Rife Free theme and various page builder plugins often try to control the same parts of a page (like headers, footers, and content layout). This can lead to one overriding the other or a clash in how they output code.
  2. CSS Z-Index and Positioning: A frequent technical cause is the theme's CSS using specific `z-index` or `position` values that can inadvertently hide content from other plugins, such as popup messages or custom footers, behind layers.
  3. Caching Issues: Sometimes, the problem is not a true conflict but a caching issue, either in your browser, a WordPress caching plugin, or on your server, which prevents changes from being visible.
  4. Plugin or Theme Updates: An update to either Elementor, the Rife Free theme, or another plugin can sometimes introduce a temporary incompatibility.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

1. The Basic Checks

Always start with these simple steps:

  • Clear All Caches: Clear your browser cache, any WordPress caching plugins (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache), and your server's cache (if applicable, often done via your hosting control panel).
  • Check for Updates: Ensure WordPress, the Rife Free theme, Elementor, and all other plugins are updated to their latest versions.

2. Isolate the Problem: The Conflict Test

This is the most crucial step for diagnosing the root cause.

  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins.
  2. Deactivate all plugins except for Elementor.
  3. Check if the problem persists. If it is resolved, the conflict is with one of your plugins.
  4. Reactivate your plugins one by one, checking your site after each activation, to identify the culprit.
  5. If the problem remains with all plugins deactivated, it indicates a theme-specific issue or a conflict directly between Elementor and Rife Free.

3. Fixing Header, Footer, and Popup Visibility Issues

If your custom footer, popup messages, or other elements are hidden, the issue is often a CSS stacking context problem. A common solution from the Rife Free community is to add custom CSS to raise the `z-index` of the element.

For a missing custom footer:
Add the following CSS in Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS: 

#colophon {
    z-index: 10;
    position: relative;
}
This CSS ensures the theme's footer area has a higher stacking order, preventing it from being hidden.

For hidden popup messages (e.g., Contact Form 7):
You may need to target the specific popup element with a high `z-index` value. Inspect the element using your browser's developer tools (F12) to find its correct class or ID, then add a rule like: 

.wpcf7-response-output {
    z-index: 9999 !important;
    position: relative;
}

4. Resolving JSON and Saving Errors

If you encounter "not a valid JSON response" or other saving errors:

  • Ensure the `.htaccess` file is present in your WordPress root directory. If it's missing, you can regenerate it by going to Settings > Permalinks and simply clicking "Save Changes" without making any modifications.
  • Contact your web host. The error can sometimes be related to server configuration, mod_security rules, or SSL certificate issues.

5. Configuring Settings Correctly

Some issues are simply a matter of configuration. For example:

  • If you are using a plugin to build your header/footer, you often must disable the theme's native header/footer in Appearance > Customize > Theme Settings. However, note that in some cases, you might actually need it enabled for the plugin to work, so check the plugin's documentation.
  • If you want to use a plugin-based footer, ensure you have published your template and assigned it to display across your site correctly within the plugin's settings.

When to Seek Further Help

If these steps do not resolve your issue, the broader WordPress community can be a great resource. When asking for help, be sure to provide:

  • The exact error messages you see.
  • The URL of your site.
  • A list of all active plugins and their versions.
  • Whether the issue occurs with all other plugins disabled.
  • Screenshots or screen recordings of the problem.

By methodically working through these steps, you can identify and fix most common conflicts between the Rife Free theme and Elementor.

Related Support Threads Support