wp-fix-plugin-does-not-exist-notices/.wiki/Troubleshooting.md

Troubleshooting

This page provides solutions to common issues you might encounter when using the "Fix 'Plugin file does not exist' Notices" plugin.

Common Issues and Solutions

Plugin Doesn't Detect Any Orphaned References

Issue: The plugin doesn't detect any orphaned references, but you still see "Plugin file does not exist" notices in your WordPress admin.

Possible Causes and Solutions:

1. Different Source of Notices:

   • The notices might be coming from a different source, not related to orphaned plugin references.
   • Check the exact wording of the notices and look for clues about their origin.
   • Check if the notices appear on specific pages or under specific conditions.

2. Non-Standard Storage Location:

   • Some plugins or themes might store plugin references in non-standard locations.
   • Try enabling the "Deep Scan" option in the plugin settings to scan additional locations.

3. Custom WordPress Modifications:

   • If your WordPress installation has custom modifications, they might be affecting how plugin references are stored or displayed.
   • Consult with your developer or hosting provider about any custom modifications.

4. Caching Issues:

   • Clear your browser cache and any server-side caches.
   • Disable caching plugins temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.

Plugin Doesn't Detect Orphaned References on the Plugins Page

Issue: The plugin doesn't detect any orphaned references when you visit the plugins page.

Possible Causes and Solutions:

1. Browser Caching:

   • Your browser might be caching the plugins page.
   • Try clearing your browser cache or using a private/incognito window.

2. Plugin Conflicts:

   • Another plugin might be interfering with the plugins page.
   • Try temporarily deactivating other plugins to see if that resolves the issue.

3. Theme Customizations:

   • Custom theme modifications might affect how the plugins page is displayed.
   • Try switching to a default WordPress theme temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.

4. Server Configuration:

   • Some server configurations might affect how the plugin operates.
   • Check your server's PHP version and ensure it meets the minimum requirements (PHP 7.0 or higher).

Cleanup Doesn't Remove Notices

Issue: The plugin successfully identifies and cleans up orphaned references, but you still see notices.

Possible Causes and Solutions:

1. Cached Notices:

   • The notices might be cached in your browser or by a caching plugin.
   • Clear your browser cache and any server-side caches.
   • Disable caching plugins temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.

2. Multiple Sources of Notices:

   • There might be multiple sources of notices, and the plugin only addressed some of them.
   • Run the scan again to see if it detects any additional orphaned references.
   • Check the exact wording of the remaining notices to identify their source.

3. Plugin Conflicts:

   • Another plugin might be interfering with the cleanup process.
   • Try temporarily deactivating other plugins to see if that resolves the issue.

4. Database Corruption:

   • In rare cases, database corruption might prevent the cleanup from being effective.
   • Consider running a database repair using a tool like WP-CLI:

     wp db repair
     

Plugin Causes Errors After Cleanup

Issue: After using the plugin to clean up orphaned references, you experience errors or unexpected behavior.

Possible Causes and Solutions:

1. Dependent Plugins:

   • Some plugins might depend on the orphaned references that were removed.
   • Check your active plugins to see if any of them might have dependencies.
   • Consider restoring from a backup if necessary.

2. Custom Code Dependencies:

   • Custom code in your theme or other plugins might depend on the orphaned references.
   • Check your theme's functions.php file and any custom plugins for dependencies.

3. Incomplete Cleanup:

   • The cleanup process might have been incomplete, leaving your database in an inconsistent state.
   • Try running the cleanup process again to ensure all orphaned references are removed.

Advanced Troubleshooting

WordPress Debugging

You can enable WordPress debugging to get more information about what's happening:

1. Add the following code to your wp-config.php file:

   define('WP_DEBUG', true);
   define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
   define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
   

2. Visit the plugins page and perform any cleanup actions.

3. Check the debug.log file in your wp-content directory for any relevant information.

Manual Database Inspection

If you're comfortable working with the WordPress database, you can manually inspect the relevant options:

1. Use a tool like phpMyAdmin to access your WordPress database.

2. Look at the wp_options table (or the equivalent options table in multisite installations).

3. Check the values of the active_plugins and active_sitewide_plugins options.

4. Look for references to plugin files that don't exist in your wp-content/plugins directory.

Getting Help

If you've tried the solutions above and are still experiencing issues, please:

1. Gather as much information as possible about your environment:

   • WordPress version
   • PHP version
   • Server information
   • Active plugins
   • Exact wording of any error messages or notices

2. Open an issue on GitHub with all the information you've gathered.

3. Be prepared to provide additional information if requested by the plugin developers.