Why Your Jetpack Posts Aren't Showing in the WordPress Reader (And How to Fix It)

If your new blog posts aren't appearing in the WordPress Reader, or if the Reader is showing outdated information like an old domain name, you're not alone. This is a common issue reported by many WordPress site owners using the Jetpack plugin. Based on community reports and troubleshooting threads, this guide explains the most likely causes and the steps you can take to resolve the problem.

Why This Happens

The WordPress Reader is a feed aggregator hosted on WordPress.com. For a self-hosted WordPress.org site to appear there, it must be connected via the Jetpack plugin. The most common reasons for content not syncing correctly are:

• Outdated Site URL: After changing a site's domain name, the Reader's internal records might still be pointing to the old URL.
• Sync Issues: A temporary disruption in the data synchronization process between your site and WordPress.com servers can cause stale data to be displayed.
• Incorrect Feed URL: The Reader might be pulling from an old or invalid RSS feed URL, especially after a migration from WordPress.com to WordPress.org.
• Cached Data: The Reader may be serving cached data that hasn't been refreshed to reflect changes on your site.

Common Solutions to Try

1. Re-establish the Jetpack Connection

This is the most effective first step. It forces a fresh connection and can often resolve sync issues.

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
2. Find Jetpack and click Deactivate. Then, click Delete to remove it. (Don't worry, your stats and settings are stored on WordPress.com servers).
3. Go to Plugins > Add New and reinstall the Jetpack plugin.
4. Activate Jetpack and reconnect it to your WordPress.com account by following the on-screen instructions.

After reconnecting, allow up to 24-48 hours for your content to reappear correctly in the Reader.

2. Verify Your Site's Primary Domain

If you have changed your domain name, you must ensure everything is configured correctly.

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings > General.
2. Confirm that both the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) fields are set to your new, correct domain (e.g., https://yournewsite.com).
3. Save changes.

3. Check Your RSS Feed

The WordPress Reader relies on your site's RSS feed. An invalid or broken feed will prevent posts from appearing.

1. Visit https://yourdomain.com/feed/ (replace with your actual domain) in your browser.
2. You should see an XML feed of your recent posts. If you see an error or a regular webpage, your feed is not working correctly.
3. A common fix is to simply resave your permalink structure. Go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes without making any modifications. This can reset and fix the feed.

4. Clear Local and Jetpack Cache

While you cannot clear the WordPress.com server cache directly, you can clear local caches that might be contributing to the problem.

• Use a plugin like Transient Manager to delete any temporary (transient) data stored by Jetpack on your own site.
• Clear any caching from plugins or your hosting provider's control panel.

When to Seek Further Help

If you have tried all the steps above and your posts still do not appear in the Reader after 72 hours, the issue is likely on the WordPress.com backend. Community reports indicate that support personnel can often resolve this by manually updating the site URL or fixing a sync issue in their system.

Since BugWP.com is an independent resource, we cannot directly intervene. However, the pattern from resolved threads suggests that reaching out for support and explicitly asking them to check and correct the recorded site URL and feed information on their end is a successful strategy. Be sure to mention that you have already performed all standard troubleshooting, including disconnecting and reconnecting Jetpack.