How to Fix White Text and Missing Buttons in WordPress Visual Editor

The “White Text and Missing Buttons” issue in the WordPress Visual Editor typically occurs due to JavaScript errors, plugin conflicts, or missing TinyMCE files. Here are the common causes and their solutions:

  • Conflicting Plugins or Themes – Sometimes, plugins or themes don’t play nice with WordPress and can break the editor.
  • Broken Editor Files – The files that power the editor (TinyMCE) might be missing or damaged.
  • JavaScript Problems – If there’s an issue with JavaScript (the code that makes things interactive), the editor might stop working. This can happen if themes or plugins are outdated.
  • Cache Issues – Your browser or WordPress might be storing old data, causing things to go wonky.
  • Wrong Settings in wp-config.php – There’s a small setting in WordPress that helps scripts load properly. If it’s missing, the editor can break.
  • File Permission Problems – If WordPress doesn’t have the right access to certain files, the editor won’t work correctly.
missingbuttons

Fixes to fix it :

  • Clear Cache – Your browser or WordPress might be holding onto old data. Clear your browser’s cache and, if you’re using a caching plugin (like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache), clear that too.

  • Check Your Plugins – Turn off all plugins and see if the problem goes away. If it does, turn them back on one by one to find the troublemaker.

  • Try a Default Theme – Switch to a basic WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four) to see if your theme is causing the issue.

  • Fix a WordPress Setting – Open your wp-config.php file and add this line:

     

    define(‘CONCATENATE_SCRIPTS’, false);
     

    Save the file and refresh the editor.

  • Reinstall the Editor Files – The editor (TinyMCE) might be broken. Download a fresh copy of WordPress from wordpress.org, then replace the /wp-includes/js/tinymce/ folder using FTP.

  • Check File Permissions – Make sure WordPress has the right access:

    • Set files to 644 permissions.
    • Set folders to 755 permissions.

  • Look for Errors in the Console – Open your browser’s developer console (press F12, then go to the Console tab) and check for errors. If you see any, they might point to a plugin or theme issue.

  • Update Everything – Make sure WordPress, your theme, and all plugins are up to date. Updates often fix bugs like this.