Why Isn't WP-PageNavi Working? Common Issues and How to Fix Them

WP-PageNavi is a popular plugin for improving WordPress pagination, but many users find that activating it doesn't immediately change anything on their site. Based on common community support threads, the issue is almost never a bug in the plugin itself but rather a misunderstanding of how it integrates with your WordPress theme.

The Most Common Reason: Missing Template Code

Unlike some plugins, WP-PageNavi is not a "set it and forget it" solution. Simply activating it is not enough. For the pagination to appear, you must manually replace your theme's default pagination code with the WP-PageNavi function.

How to Properly Install WP-PageNavi

The official installation instructions are crucial. You need to locate the template file in your theme (often index.php, archive.php, home.php, or footer.php) that contains the existing pagination code. Look for lines that include functions like:

<?php next_posts_link(); ?>
<?php previous_posts_link(); ?>
<div class="navigation">...</div>

Once you find it, you must replace that block of code with the WP-PageNavi function:

<?php if(function_exists('wp_pagenavi')) { wp_pagenavi(); } ?>

This code checks if the plugin is active and then outputs the new pagination. If the code is not present in your theme, the plugin has nothing to display.

Troubleshooting Specific Page Types

Many users report that pagination works on their blog index (index.php) but not on other pages like tags, categories, or custom post type archives. This usually happens because the theme uses a different template file for those pages (e.g., tag.php, category.php, archive-{post_type}.php). You must add the wp_pagenavi() function to each of these template files where you want the improved pagination to appear.

Resolving Conflicts with Other Plugins and Queries

Another common issue arises when custom queries from other plugins or theme functions interfere with the main WordPress loop that WP-PageNavi relies on. If pagination appears but clicking on page 2 always brings you back to page 1, it's often a sign of a query conflict. The WP-PageNavi team suggests ensuring any custom queries are properly reset using wp_reset_query().

Conditional Display and The is_paged() Gotcha

Some users want to display content only on the first page of their blog index. Using is_home() alone will not work because is_home() remains true on paginated pages (e.g., /page/2/). The correct conditional check to show something only on the first page of the homepage is:

<?php if(is_home() && !is_paged()): ?>
    <p>This text only shows on the first page!</p>
<?php endif; ?>

By following these steps, you can resolve the vast majority of issues where WP-PageNavi appears not to be working. Always remember to clear any caching plugins after making changes to your theme files.