Sometimes, just sometimes, the commands on the toolbars in the WordPress post- or page-write screens decide they’re not going to work.
As frustrating as that is, particularly when you’re trying to get a post published by a deadline, the fix is usually pretty simple.
But that didn’t stop me taking 5 hours today, doing all sorts of investigations, before I was reminded of the first step in WordPress trouble shooting …
Deactivate all your plugins and see if the problem still exists.
A friend I was helping had a problem: every time she tried to insert an image using the ‘Add Image’ button in the Visual View, she was presented with a question: ‘Are you sure you want to do that?’
When she clicked ‘Yes’ she got taken straight back to the post-write screen. No insert image dialogue, no other error messages, nothing.
Frustrating.
I went everywhere in my search for the problem.
The theme she’s using is Thesis, and Thesis has some image insertion and customization capabilities. So I went through all those to eliminate any possible clashes.
I inserted a database management plugin and searched for problems there. I updated a whole bunch of plugins which had available upgrades, verified she was using the latest version of WordPress and even re-installed WordPress.
Nothing.
Inserting and positioning images manually, through the HTML view, worked fine. So I started to write out step by step instructions.
But that wasn’t going to fix the problem. It was just avoiding it.
So I turned to Google. And half way through the first thread I pulled up were the magic words: ‘Deactivate all your plugins and re-activate them one by one until you find the problem’
The 9th plugin I reactivated was the culprit. It was a contact form plugin so I installed a different one, activated it and everything immediately worked like a charm.
Boy did I kick myself 
That should have been my first step and I’d wasted nearly 5 hours with all that other messing around.
Good thing I wasn’t busy today – not!
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Thanks Martin for the clue. Just found out your article from Google for the same problem: cannot insert image in post-write toolbar.
I try this tip.
Fatih´s last blog ..Malaysia Claims Jemur Island
You’re welcome, Fatih,
Hope it solves your problem
Cheers,
Martin.
Hi Martin,
It turns out it hasn’t solved the problem. In my case, it happens after I move into another hosting services.
I give up now. And ask webhosting provider to solve the problem.
Fatih´s last blog ..Malaysia Claims Jemur Island
Fatih, hi,
Yes – that’s a good idea. Often you have to keep digging away at a problem – there are so many things that can cause them!
Cheers,
Martin.
You saved me hours! Your post was the first I found with a solution. I removed my most recent plugin, and I’m back in business. Thank you!
You’re very welcome – happy to help!
Cheers,
Martin.