If you’ve spent much time building or managing a WordPress website, you’ve probably encountered the trouble of plugin conflicts. Honestly, I’ve faced the same problem many times before. Over the years, through trial, error and more late-night debugging sessions than I’d like to recall, I’ve developed a process for identifying and resolving these conflicts quickly and efficiently.

In this article, here’s the step-by-step process I follow whenever I suspect a plugin conflict. If you’re a developer or a new website owner, I hope my experience will save you some time.

Understanding Plugin Conflicts

Before discussing the solution, it’s important to understand what a plugin conflict is. A plugin conflict typically occurs when two or more plugins (or a plugin and your theme) try to perform overlapping functions or use the same scripts in incompatible ways. This can lead to plugin issues.

In my experience, conflicts often arise due to:

  • Multiple plugins are trying to do the same thing
  • Outdated or poorly coded plugins
  • Incompatibility with your WordPress version or theme
  • JavaScript or CSS clashes on the frontend

Let’s discuss the resolution process.

Step 1: Recognise the Signs of a Conflict

Before you look into troubleshooting mode, identify the symptoms. Common signs of a plugin conflict include:

  • Your site behaves differently after activating or updating a plugin
  • The admin dashboard is unresponsive or not displaying correctly
  • Certain functions (e.g., contact forms, buttons) stop working
  • Error messages like “There has been a critical error on this website.”

Tip: Always keep a log of changes you make, especially before and after plugin updates.

Step 2: Take a Full Backup of Your Website

Before performing any troubleshooting steps, backup your entire WordPress site, including:

  • The database
  • WordPress core files
  • Themes and plugins
  • Media uploads

You can use plugins like UpdraftPlus, BackupBuddy or All-in-One WP Migration to automate this.

Step 3: Enable Debug Mode in WordPress

WordPress has a built-in debug mode that logs any errors and notices generated by plugins or themes. To enable debug mode:

1. Access your site via FTP or your hosting file manager.

2. Open the wp-config.php file.

Locate the following line:

php
CopyEdit
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, false);

Change it to:

php
CopyEdit
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false);

3. Save the file.

Now visit the site again! Then WordPress will log any issues in a file called debug.log located in the wp-content directory.

Step 4: Identify the Conflicting Plugin

The fastest way to detect the error is through a plugin conflict test.

Method A: Manual Deactivation

  1. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
  2. Deactivate all plugins.
  3. Check if the issue is resolved — if yes, it’s a plugin conflict.
  4. Reactivate plugins one by one.
  5. After activating each plugin, check the site to see if the problem returns.
  6. Once the issue reappears, the last activated plugin is likely the source of the conflict.

Method B: Use a Plugin Conflict Tester

You can also use diagnostic plugins like:

  • Health Check & Troubleshooting: It allows you to disable themes and plugins only for your user session, without affecting the live site.

This tool is useful for testing without disrupting the site for other visitors.

Step 5: Check for Theme Conflicts

Sometimes, the conflict isn’t just between plugins — it could be between a plugin and your WordPress theme.

To test for theme conflicts:

  1. Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
  2. Check if the issue persists.
  3. If the problem is resolved, the conflict lies between the plugin and your theme.

You may need to consult your theme developer or find an alternative plugin with similar functionality.

Step 6: Check Plugin and Theme Versions

Outdated plugins or themes are often to blame for conflicts. Make sure all components are updated:

  • Update your WordPress core to the latest stable version.
  • Update all plugins and your active theme.
  • Avoid using plugins that haven’t been updated for over 6-12 months.

If a conflict appears after an update, try rolling back the plugin using WP Rollback, a plugin that lets you revert to a previous version.

Step 7: Reach Out to Plugin Support

Once you identify the conflicting plugin, contact the developer’s support team. Most reputable plugin authors will help you troubleshoot or provide updates to fix known conflicts.

Provide them with:

  • The exact issue you’re facing
  • Error logs (from debug mode)
  • WordPress, theme and plugin versions
  • A link to your site (or staging environment)

Often, plugin developers collaborate to resolve mutual conflicts.

Step 8: Use a Staging Environment for Testing

Before applying changes to your live site, test them in a staging environment,  a clone of your site where you can safely troubleshoot and experiment.

Many hosting providers like SiteGround, WP Engine and Bluehost offer one-click staging features.

You can also create a local staging setup using tools like:

  • LocalWP
  • MAMP
  • XAMPP

Step 9: Consider Alternatives or Custom Solutions

If the conflict persists and a resolution isn’t possible:

  • Look for alternative plugins with similar functionality but better compatibility.
  • Hire a developer to tweak the conflicting code if both plugins are essential.
  • Use custom code instead of plugins where possible to reduce dependencies.

Minimalism is key — the fewer plugins you use, the fewer conflicts you’ll face.

Tips to Avoid Plugin Conflicts in the Future

  • Stick to trusted plugins: Choose plugins with high ratings, regular updates and active support.
  • Keep everything updated: Don’t ignore update notifications, but test first on staging.
  • Limit plugin use: Use only what you need.
  • Check compatibility: Always check if a plugin is compatible with your WordPress version before installing.
  • Read changelogs: Before updating, skim the changelog to anticipate any breaking changes.

Plugin conflicts are a common but resolvable part of managing a WordPress site. With a careful, step-by-step approach, you can identify and fix the issue, often without any coding experience.

Remember: backup first, debug methodically, test in staging and keep your plugins lean and reliable. By staying proactive and informed, you can enjoy the power of WordPress plugins without the risk of unexpected breakdowns.