Back to Community
Home / Community / Core → Fixing wordpress

Why Your WordPress Posts Won't Save and How to Fix It

15 threads Sep 30, 2025 Core → Fixing wordpress

Content

Few things are as frustrating as spending time writing a post in WordPress, only to have it fail to save, publish, or autosave. The editor gets stuck, spins indefinitely, and eventually fails, leaving your work in limbo. This is a common issue with several potential causes, but it's almost always fixable.

Why Does This Happen?

When you hit 'Save Draft,' 'Publish,' or when an autosave triggers, WordPress communicates with your server in the background. If this communication is interrupted or blocked, the process fails. Common culprits include browser extensions, plugin conflicts, server configuration issues, or corrupted browser data.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix a Stuck WordPress Editor

Work through the following steps methodically. Test after each one to identify which action resolves the issue.

1. Quick Browser Checks

  • Use an Incognito/Private Window: Open your WordPress admin in a private browsing window. If saving works there, the problem is likely a browser extension (like an ad-blocker or security plugin) interfering. Disable your extensions one by one in your regular browser to find the culprit.
  • Clear Your Browser Cache: Old or corrupted cached files can cause conflicts. Clear your browser's cache and cookies for your site.
  • Check the Browser Console: Open your browser's developer tools (usually F12) and go to the 'Console' tab. Look for any red error messages when you try to save a post. These errors can provide a direct clue about what's failing.

2. Investigate Plugin and Theme Conflicts

  • Disable All Plugins: This is the most common fix. If you can't access your admin area, disable plugins by renaming the wp-content/plugins folder via your hosting file manager or FTP. If saving works after this, reactivate your plugins one by one to find which one is causing the conflict.
  • Switch to a Default Theme: A theme conflict can also be the cause. Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four. If you can't access the admin area, rename your current theme's folder via file manager/FTP, which will force WordPress to use a default theme.

3. Check Server and Hosting Environment

  • Increase PHP Memory Limit: A lack of memory can cause processes to fail. Try increasing your WP_MEMORY_LIMIT in your wp-config.php file.
  • Review Server Error Logs: Your hosting provider's control panel (like cPanel) should have error logs. Look for PHP errors or other warnings around the time you tried to save a post.
  • Check ModSecurity: Sometimes, a server security module like ModSecurity can block the POST requests used for saving. Contact your hosting provider to see if any rules are being triggered.

By starting with the simple browser checks and moving to plugins and server configuration, you can systematically identify and resolve the issue preventing your posts from saving.

Related Support Threads Support