Advanced Layout Builder stopped working – resolved the issue

Hello all.

I had been working on a website for a client, and was nearly finished setting up all essential pages and had even gotten the blog off to a good start.

I had implemented the Enfold theme, which came with it the Advanced Layout Builder – which is a nice option, but I sadly found it missing several options of design or elements which I knew were available in Elementor (I’ve worked with Elementor on multiple websites – and have a license to use it and employ it to multiple websites). So – I opted to install the Elementor option, and ended up switching mid-way in my editing of the home/landing page (essentially the most important aspect of the website). The mid-way switch involved converting the home page mode for editing from Advanced Layout Builder (on which the Enfold theme is based), and used Elementor for editing this page.

Naturally, in my going and coming between pages and content and issues, I did not complete the full editing as needed for the home page – there were still some minor ticks that needed tending to.

When I later returned to edit the page, opening up in editing mode, only a small horizontal bar across the top of the page appeared labeled “Advanced Layout Builder” – with none of the actual editing options.

When I chose the Elementor editor mode – the earlier (demo) version of the page came up – not the elements and content which I had edited into it and saved.

I didn’t like the appearance of all of this, and so did not “save” this page in this mode – and opted to simply view it – and I was reassured (multiple times through the course of my attempt to regain Advanced Layout Builder mode) that the page was how I wanted it to appear -with the previous edits I had done – but I could no longer edit any more, as the edit engine of Advanced Layout Builder would not / could not appear for my use. Well, at least I had not lost my edits on the page for the appearance I needed.

I googled the following: “advanced layout builder not working” and it brought me to forums here on this website – and in particular a thread titled “Advanced Layout Builder not working after upgrade”. Had wanted to reply there, but that thread is now closed for further replies and input – so I’ve opted to post my story (and resolution) here.

I got the bright idea that most likely it was a glitch of the two theme builders working against each other, seeing as how I had started out with Advanced Layout Builder, and the home page (as I imported the demo that I wanted to use as a springboard for my website development) had been established using Advanced Layout Builder…and then mid-way I switched theme builders and incorporated Elementor on the same page already built with ALB, to insert specific elements and content.

According to the thread, the ultimate solution to correct it would be to disengage WP entirely, and in the process disengage the Advanced Layout Builder and even the Enfold theme, and then to re-install all with a new fresh start – essentially starting the website back from scratch.

Well, I was willing to try that – but most definitely as a LAST resort. I mean – although the network paging system of the website was still rather minimalist (Home, About, Blog & Contact pages only) – still I had already programmed at least 5 or 6 rather extensive and media-rich blog entries, as well as I had already established the official Legal pages section of the website (6 legal pages in all) – and if I were to disengage the website by uninstalling the theme and WP and then re-install again, I would be starting once more from ground zero, and all of those pages would need to be re-programmed from scratch. I had all the content reserved, but the formatting of those pages takes time and effort. And I wanted to avoid that if at all possible.

So, I figured, well – I’m heading towards that ultimate step one way or another, and so if I take a detoured step first, perhaps I can avoid that headache.

What I did was I deactivated the Elementor plugin entirely (I had installed and activated both the essential Elementor as well as the Pro version – complete with license to cover Pro usage and enable Pro benefits).

Naturally, before I did this, I went through the pages section to remind myself of which pages I had used elementor for the setup – and there were only two. And those two pages were also enabled with the Advance Layout Builder – and so, if the deactivation of Elementor meant messing up the programming or setup of pages, it would only be those two.

Once I had deactivated the Elementor plugin, I went back to the main page I was concerned about – the Home page – and first checked it for its essential appearance by “view”. It was OK. Now I opted to try entering into edit mode by choosing the selection “Edit with Advanced Layout Builder”.

Lo and behold! The plugin was now back to normal working order, and the interface of the editing mode for this plugin on this page (as well as all others) was now visible and accessible.

Point of the story – beware of employing more than one plugin at once on a single website intended for resulting in the same activity. In particular, do not employ two different theme builders in one website. They may very well cancel out one another, and may also even mess up the appearance of your pages to the public.

For my situation, as I had installed and activated another theme builder in addition to Advanced Layout Builder, the answer was rather simple – simply deactivate (and even delete or uninstall) the additional theme builder – in this case, Elementor.

Hope this will help others to find a solution to any issues arising.