How to fix content control plugin clashes in WordPress

When your WordPress content restriction settings suddenly stop working, it can be incredibly frustrating. Maybe you’ve set a page to be visible to logged-in users only, but now it’s showing to everyone. Or maybe it’s just not showing up at all. If you’re using the Content Control plugin and things aren’t behaving as expected, there’s a good chance a plugin conflict is to blame.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to figure out what’s going wrong, how to fix it, and how to avoid future issues. We’ll also explain why it’s crucial to back up your site before making any changes.

• How to identify if Content Control issues are caused by plugin or theme clashes
• Steps to safely test for and resolve plugin conflicts on your site
• Why caching plugins might break visibility rules and how to fix it
• The importance of backing up before making any changes
• Tips to prevent future issues with plugin compatibility

The Content Control plugin helps you show or hide content based on user roles, login status, and other rules. It’s often used on membership sites, course platforms, or any site where content should only be shown to certain people.

But when it stops working, it usually looks like this:

• Content is visible to everyone, regardless of settings
• Pages you want to restrict aren’t displaying at all
• Shortcodes or visibility blocks don’t behave correctly

Here’s what might be causing the issue:

• Another plugin is interfering with visibility rules
• Your caching setup is serving outdated pages
• A recent theme or plugin update caused a clash
• The plugin hasn’t been updated in a while

You’re using an unsupported block or shortcode structure

Let’s walk through how to get your plugin working again.

This might sound basic, but caching is one of the biggest culprits behind this problem. If you’re using a caching plugin like WP-Optimize, W3 Total Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache, try clearing the cache there first. Then clear your browser cache, and, if your host provides server-level caching, flush that too.

Check whether caching is enabled for logged-in users – this can sometimes cause outdated or unintended information to be displayed, especially if content is personalized or dynamic.

Sometimes you’ll think your plugin isn’t working, but the page you’re seeing is just a cached version.

Temporarily deactivate all other plugins except for Content Control. Then test your site. If things suddenly start working, you know there’s a conflict.

To do this safely without affecting your live site, you can:

• Set up a staging site
• Or install a plugin like Health Check & Troubleshooting and enable troubleshooting mode, which lets you test plugins one at a time without affecting your visitors

Once you find the conflicting plugin, check for updates or look for alternatives.

Themes can also interfere with how content is displayed. Try switching to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four to see if the issue resolves.

Some custom themes may override visibility settings or not play well with shortcodes and blocks used by Content Control.

Old versions of plugins, themes, or WordPress itself can cause compatibility issues. Go to Dashboard > Updates and make sure:

• WordPress core is up to date
• All plugins (especially Content Control) are current
• Your theme is on the latest version

After updating, clear your cache again and test.

If you’re using Content Control’s shortcodes or blocks to hide or show content, double-check how they’re used. Make sure:

• The blocks are in the right place
• They’re not nested inside unsupported layouts or builder elements
• You’ve selected the right visibility options

Sometimes issues are caused by a simple configuration error or conflict with a visual page builder.

Make sure your test user is in the correct role (subscriber, editor, etc.) and that your Content Control settings match the intended visibility. It’s easy to misconfigure these and end up with no one seeing the content – or everyone seeing it.

Before you start disabling plugins or changing settings, back up your site.

When something goes wrong in WordPress, it’s so important to have a backup of your site. It can save hours of stress and prevent data loss

With a plugin like UpdraftPlus, you can create a full backup of your site and restore it with just a few clicks. That way, if anything breaks while you’re testing for conflicts, you’ve got a safety net.

Learn how to back up your WordPress site with UpdraftPlus.

Once everything’s back to normal, take a few steps to avoid similar problems in the future:

• Vet plugins before installing – Choose well-maintained plugins with good reviews and regular updates
• Use a staging site – Test plugin updates and new installations before applying them to your live site
• Keep everything updated – Outdated plugins and themes are a common source of clashes
• Audit your plugins regularly – Deactivate or delete anything you’re no longer using

When Content Control stops working, it’s rarely the plugin itself – most of the time, it’s a conflict with something else on your site. Go through each step carefully, make sure to back up first, and test changes in a safe environment when you can.

Keeping your plugins updated, avoiding bloat, and using a reliable backup solution like UpdraftPlus will help keep your WordPress site stable and secure long term.