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Troubleshooting

This guide covers common issues and their solutions. For additional help, visit our Support Center.

Content Protection Issues​

Paywall Not Showing​

Symptoms: Protected content is visible to everyone.

Solutions:

  1. Check access level

    • Edit the post → Content Protection meta box
    • Ensure access level is greater than 0

  2. You're logged in as admin

    • Administrators bypass all restrictions
    • Test in an incognito browser window

  3. Caching issue

    • Enable Cache Compatibility in Settings → Advanced
    • Clear all caches (page cache, object cache, CDN)

  4. Theme conflict

    • Some themes use custom content filters
    • Try switching to a default theme temporarily

Protected Content Visible to Non-Members​

Solutions:

  1. Enable Cache Compatibility Mode:

    • Go to Settings → Advanced
    • Enable Cache Compatibility
    • Clear all caches

  2. Configure your caching plugin:

    • Exclude logged-in users from cache
    • Add PaywallWP cookies to cache bypass

  3. Check CDN settings:

    • Add member cookies to cache bypass list

Meta Box Not Showing​

Solutions:

  1. Check Screen Options:

    • In post editor, click "Screen Options" (top right)
    • Enable "Content Protection"

  2. Using Gutenberg:

    • Look in the sidebar under Document settings
    • Or use the classic editor plugin

  3. Page builder conflict:

    • Check page builder settings
    • Some builders hide meta boxes

Payment Issues​

Checkout Not Loading​

Symptoms: Payment form is blank or shows error.

Solutions:

  1. Check API keys:

    • Go to Settings → Payments
    • Verify Stripe/PayPal credentials are correct
    • Ensure you're using test keys for test mode

  2. Check browser console:

    • Open Developer Tools (F12)
    • Look for JavaScript errors
    • Common issue: blocked scripts

  3. Plugin conflict:

    • Deactivate other plugins temporarily
    • Reactivate one by one to find conflict

Payment Succeeds But Subscription Not Activated​

This is almost always a webhook issue.

Solutions:

  1. Verify webhooks are configured:

  2. Check webhook logs:

    • Stripe: Dashboard → Webhooks → Click endpoint
    • PayPal: Developer Dashboard → App → Webhooks
    • Look for failed deliveries

  3. Verify signing secret/webhook ID:

    • Re-copy from gateway dashboard
    • Paste in Settings → Payments

  4. Check firewall/security plugin:

    • Whitelist webhook requests
    • Allow POST to /wp-json/paywallwp/v1/

"Invalid API Key" Error​

Solutions:

  1. Double-check API keys are complete
  2. Ensure correct mode (test keys with test mode)
  3. For Stripe: sk_test_ for test, sk_live_ for live
  4. Generate new keys if issue persists

Test Payments​

Use these test credentials:

Stripe Test Cards:

Card NumberResult
4242 4242 4242 4242Success
4000 0000 0000 0002Declined
4000 0025 0000 31553D Secure

PayPal Sandbox:

  • Use sandbox buyer account
  • Create at developer.paypal.com

Member Access Issues​

Member Can't Access Content​

Solutions:

  1. Check member status:

    • Go to PaywallWP → Members
    • Verify status is "Active"

  2. Check access level:

    • Member's level must meet or exceed content level
    • Edit member to see their access level

  3. Check expiration:

    • Ensure subscription hasn't expired
    • Check "Expires" date in member details

  4. Have member re-login:

    • Ask them to log out and back in
    • Clears any cached session data

  5. Clear cache:

    • Clear page cache
    • Clear browser cache

Subscription Shows "Expired" But Should Be Active​

Solutions:

  1. Check subscription in gateway dashboard:

    • Stripe: Dashboard → Subscriptions
    • PayPal: Dashboard → Subscriptions

  2. Verify webhooks are working:

    • Check webhook delivery logs
    • Renewal events should be received

  3. Manually update if needed:

    • Edit member in PaywallWP → Members
    • Update status and expiration date

Member Logged Out Unexpectedly​

Solutions:

  1. Check WordPress session settings
  2. Security plugins may have session timeouts
  3. CDN/caching may interfere with sessions
  4. Check for multiple login sessions limit

Technical Issues​

REST API Errors​

Symptoms: 401 Unauthorized, 403 Forbidden, or 404 errors.

Solutions:

  1. Check REST API is enabled:

    • Some security plugins disable REST API
    • Enable REST API or whitelist our endpoints

  2. Check permalinks:

    • Go to Settings → Permalinks
    • Re-save (click Save without changes)
    • Don't use "Plain" structure

  3. Check .htaccess:

    • Look for blocking rules
    • WordPress rules should be present

  4. Whitelist endpoints:

    • /wp-json/paywallwp/v1/*

Email Notifications Not Sending​

Solutions:

  1. Test WordPress email:

    • Use WP Mail SMTP plugin
    • Send a test email

  2. Use SMTP:

    • Install an SMTP plugin
    • Configure with your email provider

  3. Check spam folders:

    • Emails may be filtered

Plugin Conflicts​

How to identify:

  1. Deactivate all plugins except PaywallWP Pro
  2. Test if issue persists
  3. Reactivate plugins one by one
  4. Test after each activation
  5. Identify the conflicting plugin
  6. Contact support with details

Common conflicts:

  • Other membership plugins
  • Aggressive caching plugins
  • Security plugins blocking REST API
  • Optimization plugins removing scripts

Debug Mode​

Enable detailed logging:

  1. Go to Settings → Advanced
  2. Enable Debug Mode
  3. Reproduce the issue
  4. Check /wp-content/debug.log
  5. Disable after troubleshooting
warning

Debug mode logs sensitive information. Don't leave enabled in production.

Performance Issues​

Slow Page Load​

Solutions:

  1. Check caching:

    • Enable a caching plugin
    • Configure CDN

  2. Optimize scripts:

    • Scripts load only where needed
    • Ensure no duplicate jQuery

  3. Check hosting:

    • Consider upgrading hosting
    • Use PHP 8.0+

High Database Usage​

Solutions:

  1. Clean up old data:

    • Remove test transactions
    • Archive old members

  2. Optimize tables:

    • Use database optimization plugin

Getting Support​

Before Contacting Support​

  1. Check this troubleshooting guide
  2. Enable debug mode and check logs
  3. Test with default theme
  4. Deactivate other plugins

Information to Provide​

Go to PaywallWP → Help → System and copy the system report:

  • Plugin version
  • WordPress version
  • PHP version
  • Active theme
  • Error messages
  • Steps to reproduce

Contact Support​

Visit paywallwp.com/support to submit a ticket.

Include:

  • System report
  • Screenshots of issue
  • Steps to reproduce
  • Any error messages