Encountering the “Invalid JSON Error” while editing your WordPress posts or pages can be a frustrating experience. This error prevents your changes from being saved, but there’s no need to panic. In this article, we will guide you through ten steps to resolve the Invalid JSON Error in WordPress effectively.
Solution 1: Verify WordPress Address and Site Address Settings
Begin by checking your WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) settings. Access the Settings » General tab in your WordPress dashboard and ensure that both fields contain the same URL, unless you have a different setup. Don’t forget to save your changes after making any adjustments.
Solution 2: Review Permalink Settings
Incorrect permalink settings can also trigger the Invalid JSON Error. Visit the Settings » Permalinks page and carefully review the available options. If you’re unsure, select a default format. Save the changes and check if the error persists when editing a post or page.
Solution 3: Regenerate the .htaccess File
The .htaccess file plays a crucial role in managing SEO-friendly permalinks in WordPress. However, sometimes this file doesn’t update correctly. To regenerate it, connect to your website using FTP or the file manager in your hosting account dashboard. Locate the .htaccess file in your website’s root folder, download it as a backup, delete all the existing code, and replace it with the code provided below:
# BEGIN WordPress
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index.php$ – [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
END WordPress
Save the changes, upload the file back to your website, and see if the error is resolved.
Solution 4: Check the WordPress REST API
The Invalid JSON Error can also indicate a problem with the WordPress REST API. Visit the Tools » Site Health page in your WordPress admin area to gather more information about this error. Look for the issue labeled “The REST API encountered an unexpected result” and click on it. This may provide insights into which plugin or third-party service is causing the problem.
Solution 5: Deactivate Plugins
Plugin conflicts or conflicts with the WordPress core can lead to unexpected errors, including the Invalid JSON Error. To check if a plugin is causing the issue, go to the Plugins » Installed Plugins page and select all your plugins. Choose “Deactivate” from the “Bulk Actions” drop-down menu and click “Apply”. Check if the error persists. If it disappears, reactivate your plugins one by one to identify the culprit.
Solution 6: Switch to the Classic Editor
If all other solutions fail, temporarily switching to the Classic Editor can be a viable solution. The Classic Editor plugin provides a simpler text editor that relies less on the REST API. Install and activate the Classic Editor plugin, or use WPCode to disable the Gutenberg editor and activate the classic editor safely. This will allow you to continue working on your website while troubleshooting the error separately.
Solution 7: Switch to a Default WordPress Theme
Conflicts between your WordPress theme and plugins or the core software can also trigger the Invalid JSON Error. Test this by switching to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One or Twenty Twenty-Two. This will help eliminate any potential theme-related conflicts.
Solution 8: Turn Off Website Firewall
If you’re using a website firewall plugin or service like Sucuri or Cloudflare, it may occasionally block legitimate requests and cause the Invalid JSON Error. Temporarily disable your firewall plugin or service to check if this resolves the issue. Deactivate the plugin or disable the firewall from your account dashboard, depending on the type of firewall you use.
Solution 9: Turn On Debugging in WordPress
WordPress has a built-in debugging feature that can help identify the cause of errors. To enable it, add the following code to your wp-config.php file:
define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );
Activating this feature enables error logging in WordPress. All errors will be recorded in a debug.log file in the /wp-content/ folder. Analyze the error log to gather insights into the Invalid JSON Error.
Solution 10: Check for Mixed Content Error
If your website has an SSL certificate but still serves some pages over HTTP instead of HTTPS, it can result in the Invalid JSON Error. Check for any mixed content errors and fix them accordingly. Follow our guide on fixing the mixed content error in WordPress for detailed instructions.
Seek Expert Help
If none of the above solutions resolve the Invalid JSON Error, it might be due to a misconfiguration on your WordPress hosting server. Contact your hosting provider’s support team via live chat or support ticket for assistance. They should be able to analyze and rectify the issue for you.
We hope these steps have helped you troubleshoot and fix the Invalid JSON Error in WordPress. For more information on common WordPress errors and their solutions, check out our comprehensive handbook. Additionally, if you’re looking for a reliable email marketing service for your small business, take a look at our top picks. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more WordPress tutorials, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay updated.
