BugWP logo BugWP
Back to Community
Home / Community / Plugin → Wp go maps (formerly wp google maps)

Troubleshooting Common WP Go Maps Errors: From 500 Internal Errors to Update Failures

31 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Wp go maps (formerly wp google maps)

Content

WP Go Maps (formerly WP Google Maps) is a powerful tool for adding interactive maps to your WordPress site. However, like any complex plugin, users can occasionally run into errors. Based on community reports and troubleshooting threads, we've compiled a guide to the most common issues and their solutions.

1. Fatal Errors and 500 Internal Server Errors on Activation/Update

This is one of the most frequent and disruptive problems. Users report their entire site going down with a "500 Internal Server Error" or a "Plugin could not be activated because it triggered a fatal error" message after installing or updating the plugin.

Why it happens:

  • Outdated PHP Version: This is the most common cause. Modern versions of the plugin require a higher PHP version. Threads show errors like unexpected T_STRING which often point to code syntax that is incompatible with old PHP versions (e.g., 5.3 or 5.6). The plugin team has stated that PHP 5.6 is the minimum recommended version, but newer versions (7.4+) are strongly advised.
  • Server Resource Limits: The plugin may exceed your hosting plan's memory limit or CPU usage, causing the server to crash. This is common on budget or shared hosting plans.
  • Plugin Conflict: A conflict with your theme or another plugin can cause a fatal error during activation.

How to fix it:

  1. Check and Upgrade Your PHP Version: Contact your hosting provider or check your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel) to see your current PHP version. Upgrade to at least PHP 7.4, though PHP 8.0 or higher is ideal for performance and security.
  2. Increase PHP Memory Limit: If upgrading PHP doesn't resolve the issue, try increasing your WordPress memory limit. You can do this by adding define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); to your wp-config.php file. Some users in the threads found that increasing from 132MB to 256MB was necessary.
  3. Enable Debugging: To get more information about the exact error, enable WordPress debugging. Add the following lines to your wp-config.php file: 
    define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
    After reproducing the error, check the wp-content/debug.log file for specific error messages that can pinpoint the problem.
  4. Conflict Test: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-One) and disable all other plugins. Then, try activating WP Go Maps. If it works, reactivate your theme and plugins one by one to identify the conflict.

2. "Cannot modify header information" & "Unexpected Output" Warnings

Users often see warnings during activation like "The plugin generated XXX characters of unexpected output" or "Cannot modify header information - headers already sent."

Why it happens:

  • These warnings are typically caused by whitespace or output being sent to the browser before WordPress sends its HTTP headers. This is often due to a missing PHP closing tag ?> or whitespace in a plugin file.
  • In one specific thread, the issue was traced to the plugin's API loader file.

How to fix it:

  1. The plugin team has stated that these warnings have been patched in newer versions. The first step is always to ensure you are running the latest version of the plugin.
  2. If the error persists, it could be a file permissions issue preventing the plugin from writing necessary data (like marker XML files). Check that your wp-content/uploads/ folder has the correct write permissions (usually 755 for folders).

3. Update Check and Installation Failures

Users report errors like "Update Check Encountered Error," "504 Gateway Timeout," or outright failure when trying to install or update the plugin from the dashboard.

Why it happens:

  • 504 Gateway Timeout: This is almost always a server-side issue. The update process, handled by WordPress core, is taking too long to complete and is being terminated by your hosting provider's timeout settings. This is common on resource-constrained hosting environments.
  • Connection Reset/Upload Failed: This can be caused by server security modules (e.g., mod_security) blocking the request, or simply insufficient server resources (memory, CPU) to complete the installation.

How to fix it:

  1. Contact Your Host: For update timeouts (504 errors), you need to contact your hosting support. The issue is related to their server configuration and resource limits, not the plugin itself.
  2. Manual Installation: If the automatic installation fails, you can manually install the plugin. Download the .zip file from WordPress.org, extract it, and upload the wp-google-maps folder to your wp-content/plugins/ directory via FTP/SFTP. Then, navigate to your WordPress admin plugins page to activate it.

4. JavaScript Errors and Front-End Display Issues

Some users find that after an update, their maps break or cause JavaScript errors in the browser console, such as "'ol' is not defined."

Why it happens:

  • This is frequently caused by a conflict with another plugin or your theme that is also loading JavaScript libraries, causing a clash.
  • It could also be related to the selected map engine within the plugin's settings.

How to fix it:

  1. Perform a conflict test as described earlier. Disable other plugins and switch to a default theme to see if the error disappears.
  2. Check the plugin's settings to ensure you are using a compatible map engine (e.g., OpenLayers).
  3. Clear your WordPress cache (if you use a caching plugin) and your browser cache after making changes.

Important Note on Add-Ons

Many threads show that issues can be specific to the Pro add-on version of the plugin (e.g., "wp-google-maps-gold"). According to WordPress.org guidelines, support for commercial add-ons cannot be provided on the WordPress.org forums. If your issue is related to a Pro add-on, you will need to seek support through the official channels provided upon purchase.

By methodically working through these steps—starting with a PHP upgrade and conflict testing—you can resolve the vast majority of issues encountered with the WP Go Maps plugin.

Related Support Threads Support