Troubleshooting

The scan stops or takes a long time

Big sites are scanned in batches, a few seconds at a time, so the scan never times out. The first scan also reads every installed plugin's code, so it takes longer than later ones. Keep Tools → Pruneline open until the progress bar is done. If you close the page, the scan carries on the next time you open it.

If the status says The scan stopped. Try again., reload the page and click Scan again. A security plugin that blocks the WordPress REST API for logged-in users stops the scan too: allow the REST API for administrators. You can also scan with wp pruneline scan; see WP-CLI.

Without JavaScript, the button scans for about 20 seconds at a time. If the notice says The scan is still running. Start it again to carry on., click the button again until it says Scan finished.

A block that works is listed as missing

Some plugins register their blocks only in the editor. Open the block editor on any post as an administrator, wait a few seconds, then reload the Blocks tab. Pruneline notes the blocks the editor knows, at most once a day per browser, and remembers them for 30 days. If you need it sooner, use another browser or clear the site's data in your browser.

A template shows "No reference found", but I use it

Pruneline sees references in content, page-builder layouts, other templates and patterns, widgets and your theme's template files. It doesn't see:

• a template your theme or a plugin inserts from its code or its own settings;
• a template used only in a draft, when Also scan drafts, pending and scheduled posts is off in Settings → Pruneline;
• a template used only in posts in the Trash.

Leave such templates in place. If you trashed one by mistake, restore it from its builder's Trash.

Widgets or modules show "Needs confirmation"

Divi and WPBakery load their modules only on some pages, and Oxygen's components can't be checked from the admin, so Pruneline can't confirm them. Open a page that uses one: if it shows as it should, it works.

A deleted plugin isn't named

Pruneline can only name a plugin it read while it was installed. Data left by a plugin deleted before Pruneline's first scan shows with an unknown owner: tables and scheduled events under Unknown owner on Leftover data, and its options and meta not at all.

I can't select an item on Leftover data

• Unknown owner: Pruneline never offers to delete data it can't trace.
• (kept on purpose): the data belongs to one half of a plugin pair, and the other half is active.
• On multisite: user meta and network-wide tables are for super admins, once their plugin is inactive on every site.
• Your account may not be allowed to delete data. Ask an administrator.

Delete says "Download the export and tick the box first"

Nothing was deleted. Click Download the export, tick I have downloaded the export and want to delete these items permanently., then delete. The export and the selection are valid for an hour: after that, select the items again.

The Elementor panel doesn't show

• It must be on: Settings → Pruneline, Elementor editor.
• It lists the page as last saved. Click Update to refresh it.
• A shortcode that some plugins register only on certain pages can show as Not registered and still work for visitors. See Elementor editor panel.

Still stuck?

Deactivate other plugins one at a time to rule out a conflict, then contact us with what you expected and what happened instead.