If your Elementor page looks correct in the editor but appears improperly styled on the live site, the issue is often related to caching, CSS generation, or theme/plugin conflicts. Here are detailed steps to resolve the issue.
Steps to Fix Styling Issues #
1. Clear All Caches #
- Browser Cache: Clear your browser cache or view the site in an incognito/private browsing window.
- WordPress Cache: If WPRocket is enabled, clear the cache from the plugin settings.
- Server Cache: Some hosting providers (WPEngine and SpinUpWP with DigitalOcean) implement server-side caching.
- Clear the Object Cache and Page Cache.
- Cloudflare: Go directly to Cloudflare.com, login and manaually clear all caches. This is often the solution as it forcibly clears Cloudflare’s Edge Caches.
2. Regenerate Elementor CSS #
- Go to WP Admin > Elementor > Tools > Regenerate CSS. This refreshes Elementor’s CSS files and ensures they are up-to-date.
- After regenerating, clear your browser and WordPress caches again.
3. Update CSS Print Method #
- Navigate to Elementor > Settings > Advanced in your WordPress dashboard.
- Locate the “CSS Print Method” option and switch between “Internal Embedding” and “External File” (whichever is not currently active). Save changes and check if this resolves the issue[1][3].
4. Check for Theme Compatibility (HIGHLY UNLIKELY, Avoid) #
- Switch temporarily to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-One) to see if the problem persists.
- If switching themes resolves the issue, contact your theme developer for assistance[4][5].
5. Disable Conflicting Plugins (HIGHLY UNLIKELY, Avoid) #
- Deactivate all plugins except Elementor and Elementor Pro.
- Check if the issue is resolved. If it is, reactivate plugins one by one to identify any conflicts.
6. Verify Custom CSS Placement #
- Ensure custom CSS is applied correctly:
- For global styles: Go to Elementor > Site Settings and check the global CSS field.
- For specific sections or widgets: Open the Elementor editor, select the element, and review the “Custom CSS” field under the “Advanced” tab[1][5].
7. Test in a New Page #
If none of the above works:
- Save your page as a template (Update > Save as Template).
- Create a new page (Pages > Add New) and insert this template. Publish it to see if the issue persists[5][6].
8. Ensure Elementor Is Up-to-Date #
Make sure both Elementor and Elementor Pro are updated to their latest versions to avoid bugs that may have been fixed in updates.
Additional Tips #
- If you use optimization plugins that minify or combine CSS/JS files, disable these features temporarily as they might interfere with Elementor’s styling.
- Check for syntax errors in any custom CSS you’ve added.
By following these steps systematically, you should be able to resolve styling discrepancies between Elementor’s editor and your live site. If issues persist, consider reaching out to Elementor’s support team for further assistance.
Citations:
[1] https://seahawkmedia.com/wordpress/fix-elementor-custom-css-not-reflecting-on-live-site/
[2] https://www.8theme.com/topic/css-from-elementor-not-working/
[3] https://wordpress.org/support/topic/live-page-looks-different-than-elementor-edit-mode-2/
[4] https://bdthemes.com/how-to-fix-custom-css-not-working/
[5] https://elementor.com/help/custom-css-not-working/
[6] https://elementor.com/help/caching-prevents-live-site-from-showing-changes-in-editor/
