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How to Fix Add Media Button Not Working in WordPress

Is your WordPress ‘Add Media’ button not working? This small problem can make it hard to add pictures or videos to your posts. Many WordPress users have this issue, and it’s tough because there are no error messages to help.

Thankfully, we’ve figured out how to fix this exact problem. We know what usually causes it and how to fix it.

In this guide, we’ll show you two ways to fix your ‘Add Media’ button. We have a quick fix if you’re okay with adding some code. We also have a step-by-step way to find what’s causing the problem if you want to solve it completely.

Fixing add media button not working in WordPress

What Causes the WordPress ‘Add Media’ Button to Stop Working?

The ‘Add Media’ button in the classic WordPress editor may stop working due to conflicts in scripts or styles in your plugins or themes on your site.

Add media button stopped working in WordPress

The default behavior of WordPress is to combine all the required scripts and stylesheets and load them at the same time. This is usually done in the WordPress admin area to improve performance and speed.

That said, if there is a conflict in these scripts or styles, particularly within plugins or themes, it can disrupt the JavaScript functionality of the WordPress post editor. This can disable the ‘Add Media’ button.

That being said, let’s take a look at how to troubleshoot and fix the ‘Add Media’ button not working in WordPress. You can use the quick links below to skip to a specific method:

Method 1: Fix ‘Add Media’ Button Not Working by Adding Code to wp.config.php

The quick fix is to add the following code to your wp-config.php file. You can do this by editing the wp-config.php file and adding this code just before the line that says, ‘That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging’:

define('CONCATENATE_SCRIPTS', false );

This code simply tells WordPress to load each script separately, which helps avoid a JavaScript conflict with buggy scripts and the core WordPress features.

After you have added the code, go ahead and visit the post edit screen to see if the ‘Add Media’ button is now working on your WordPress blog.

Note: In our experience, adding this code is not a proper long-term solution because you still have a script that is causing the issue. For this reason, we recommend trying this next method as well.

Method 2: Fix ‘Add Media’ Button Not Working by Troubleshooting Your Theme or Plugin

If you want a long-term fix for this issue, then you need to perform some basic WordPress troubleshooting tips to figure out which plugin or theme may be causing the issue.

We strongly recommend that you do this on your staging site instead of a live site. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a WordPress staging site.

Plus, all the best WordPress hosting companies, like Bluehost, SiteGround, and WP Engine, offer one-click staging functionality.

One way to find the source of the problem is by using the Inspect tool on the classic editor page. It will show you console errors, which can lead you to the source of the conflict.

Another way is to start by deactivating all your WordPress plugins and then seeing if this fixes the ‘Add Media’ button. If so, then this means one of the plugins was causing the issue.

For more details, you can see our guide on how to deactivate WordPress plugins.

Deactivate all plugins

You can now activate the plugins one by one, and after activating a plugin, just check the ‘Add Media’ button. This will help you find out which plugin is causing the issue.

After you find the problem plugin, you can replace it with another plugin or ask the plugin author for help.

If deactivating plugins doesn’t solve the issue, then the next step is to temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One or Twenty Twenty-Three.

Activate a default theme

If switching to the default theme fixes the issue for you, then this means your theme is causing the conflict. You can then ask the theme author for support or switch to a different WordPress theme.

Once you find the source of the problem on your staging site, then you can apply the fix to your live WordPress website.

Optional: Consider Switching to the Gutenberg Block Editor

While we’ve provided solutions for the classic editor, it’s worth considering a switch to the Gutenberg block editor. This newer editor not only might solve your ‘Add Media’ button issue but also offer several other advantages.

The block editor is now the standard in WordPress, and it handles media differently. Instead of relying on a single ‘Add Media’ button, each block can have its own media insertion options.

This means you’re less likely to encounter the kind of issue we’re addressing in this article.

Selecting the Image block in the block editor

Moreover, as WordPress continues to evolve, many plugins and themes are being optimized primarily for the block editor. Some newer features and functionalities may not be fully compatible with the classic editor.

By switching to the block editor, you ensure you’re using the most up-to-date and widely supported version of WordPress.

If you’re hesitant about the change, don’t worry. While there is a learning curve, you can read our guide on how to use the WordPress block editor for step-by-step instructions.

We also have a guide to help you with solving common block editor problems.

Expert Guides to Solve Common WordPress Errors

Experiencing other common WordPress errors? Check out these articles to fix them:

We hope this article helped you learn how to fix the ‘Add Media’ button not working issue in WordPress. You may also want to see our guide on how to fix the missed schedule post error in WordPress and our expert picks for the best WordPress plugins for managing images.

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Editorial Staff

Editorial Staff at WPBeginner is a team of WordPress experts led by Syed Balkhi with over 16 years of experience in WordPress, Web Hosting, eCommerce, SEO, and Marketing. Started in 2009, WPBeginner is now the largest free WordPress resource site in the industry and is often referred to as the Wikipedia for WordPress.

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Reader Interactions

5 CommentsLeave a Reply

  1. Syed Balkhi

    Hey WPBeginner readers,
    Did you know you can win exciting prizes by commenting on WPBeginner?
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  2. Megan Alves

    Hello! I don’t even have an “add media” button on my new post screen. I’ve used word press before (different account) and I’ve never seen this.

    Can you advise?

    Megan

  3. Tabish Hyyat

    Thanks! I was the one who asked it, But the thing is that I have been testing it in a micro blogging theme (P2) and wanted to remove footer credits, so after I tried plugins, I removed code after which the upload problem occurred on the FRONT END. Now this link is not for advertising purposes, but I want you to have a look here: I put back the code but even now it doesn’t do as it should.

    • WPBeginner Support

      Hi Tabish,

      Please try deactivating all WordPress theme and switching to a default theme. We suspect that using autoptimize plugin may be causing the issue.

      Admin

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