Troubleshooting ElementsKit Template and Menu Insertion Issues

Many users of the ElementsKit plugin for Elementor encounter a frustrating issue where they are unable to insert new header templates or menus. The cursor may change to indicate interaction, but the expected menu or template selection interface fails to appear. This guide will walk you through the common causes and proven solutions to resolve this problem.

Why This Happens

Based on community reports and common configurations, this problem typically stems from one of a few key areas:

• Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Incompatibilities, especially after a major update to a core plugin like Elementor, can break functionality.
• Server Configuration: Specific PHP settings, such as low values for max_input_vars, can prevent the plugin from operating correctly.
• Cached Data: Sometimes, outdated cached data in your browser or a caching plugin can cause the interface to malfunction.

How to Fix It

Follow these troubleshooting steps in order. Test your site after each step to see if the issue is resolved.

1. Update Everything

The first and most crucial step is to ensure all your software is up to date. An outdated WordPress, Elementor, or ElementsKit version is a common source of conflict.

• Update WordPress to the latest version.
• Update the Elementor page builder to the latest version.
• Update the ElementsKit Elementor Addons and Templates plugin to the latest version.
• Update your theme (e.g., Astra) to its latest version.

Note: If you recently updated Elementor to a major new version (like 3.0) and the problem started immediately after, a temporary rollback of Elementor to a previous stable version (like 2.9.x) may be necessary while waiting for all other plugins to release compatible updates.

2. Check for a Conflicting Plugin or Theme

A conflict with another plugin or your theme is a frequent culprit. To test for this:

1. Temporarily switch your WordPress theme to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One.
2. Clear your site and browser cache.
3. Try to insert a template again. If it works, the issue is with your theme. Contact your theme's support for guidance.
4. If the problem persists, deactivate all your plugins except for Elementor and ElementsKit.
5. Try to insert a template. If it works, one of your deactivated plugins is causing the conflict.
6. Reactivate your plugins one by one, testing after each activation, until you find the one that causes the problem.

3. Verify Your Server's PHP Configuration

Inadequate PHP settings can prevent the plugin from loading necessary data. Check your System Info in Elementor (Elementor > System Info). Pay close attention to these values:

• PHP Max Input Vars: A value of 1000 (as seen in one report) is often too low. It is recommended to increase this to 3000 or 5000.
• PHP Max Post Size: Ensure this is set to at least 64M.
• PHP Memory Limit: A value of 256M or higher is recommended.

You will likely need to contact your web hosting provider to have them adjust these PHP settings for you.

4. Clear All Caches

Ensure you clear all possible caches that could be serving old files:

• Clear your browser cache or try accessing your site in an incognito/private browser window.
• Clear any caching from your hosting control panel (e.g., Varnish, Object Caching).
• Clear all data from any WordPress caching plugins you have installed (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache).

When to Seek Further Help

If you have tried all the steps above and the issue remains, more specific troubleshooting will be needed. To get help from the community or the plugin's developers, be prepared to provide your System Info (found in Elementor > System Info) and a clear screenshot or screen recording of the problem. This information is crucial for others to understand and reproduce the issue.