Troubleshooting Elementor Editor Not Loading (Without Losing Content)

This guide walks you through how we fixed the problem without rebuilding the page from scratch.

⚠️ The Issue: Draft Page Won’t Load

A client reached out after noticing that their wordpress site, while the live homepage still loaded—just very slowly. They had already made major edits on the draft and wanted to avoid starting over. The elementor editor was stuck on the loading screen, failing to load the editor panel in both elementor and elementor pro.

Initial signs pointed to a setting, theme, or plugin conflict inside Elementor or interference with elementor’s javascript.

What We Found

• Elementor Experiments Were Active
  We reviewed the settings under elementor → features. Changing these between default, active, and inactive didn’t solve the issue. Versions of elementor and elementor pro were checked, and the editor loader method was switched to test if the editor to load issue could be resolved.

• Conflict With Container Layout
  Disabling Elementor’s Container feature fixed the loading problem—but wiped the page content. Cloudflare’s rocket loader or preloader settings can sometimes interfere with elementor’s javascript, causing the editor to fail.

• The Real Culprit: Icon List Widget
  We isolated the issue to Elementor’s built-in icon list widget. Disabling it from the element manager let the editor load again without deleting content. The standard elementor widgets, including this widget.

How We Fixed It

1. Cloned the Site to Staging
   So we could safely test settings without affecting the live version. Using a staging site is safer to resolve the issue without risking the wordpress dashboard or live content.

2. Disabled the Container Feature
   This restored editor access, but temporarily removed the draft’s content. Low php memory or third-party plugins may also cause the editor not loading issue.

3. Pinpointed the Problem Widget
   We tested individual widgets and found that the icon list was causing the crash. Selecting safe mode, deactivating plugins.

4. Disabled the Icon List
   After turning off just this widget, both the live and test pages loaded perfectly in the editor.

What Changed After the Fix

• Elementor editor loads on both test and live homepages

• No content was lost or deleted

• Editor is slightly faster (but may still lag on heavy pages)

Lessons Learned

• Don’t overlook Elementor’s built-in widgets — even standard elements can cause crashes when combined with certain features

• Use staging to test — always safer to run experiments outside of your live site

• Container layouts aren’t always stable — disabling them temporarily can help isolate the issue

• Performance matters — large pages with complex layouts can still affect editor speed

Need Elementor Help?

 If Elementor is freezing, glitching, or making your pages disappear—let’s fix it before it affects your workflow. Ways to fix elementor editor not loading issues include checking third-party add-ons, wordpress theme conflicts, plugin conflict resolution, or switching the editor loader method.

Frequently Asked Questions (Troubleshooting Elementor Editor Not Loading (Without Losing Content)

How to fix Elementor editor not loading?

To fix Elementor editor not loading, clear your browser and WordPress cache, increase PHP memory limit, and ensure WordPress, Elementor, and your theme are updated. Deactivate conflicting plugins and switch to a default theme to test. Also, enable safe mode in Elementor to isolate issues.

How to fix Elementor can’t edit?

If Elementor can’t edit, first clear your browser and WordPress cache. Increase PHP memory limit and check for plugin or theme conflicts by deactivating them temporarily. Ensure Elementor and WordPress are updated. Enabling Elementor’s safe mode can help identify the issue and restore editing functionality.

How to troubleshoot Elementor?

To troubleshoot Elementor, clear your browser and site cache, increase PHP memory limit, and update WordPress, Elementor, and your theme. Deactivate plugins one by one to find conflicts, switch to a default theme to test, and enable Elementor’s safe mode to isolate and resolve issues effectively.

How to clear Elementor cache?

To clear Elementor cache, go to Elementor → Tools in your WordPress dashboard. Click “Regenerate CSS” and “Sync Library,” then clear your browser cache. If you use a caching plugin, also clear its cache. This ensures your changes appear correctly on the frontend and editor.