Troubleshooting
Common issues and solutions for SyteOps administrators.
License Issues
"License locked" — All users routed to Initial Setup
Cause: License was revoked, disabled, or could not be validated.
Solution: Re-enter your license key in Initial Setup and activate. All settings are preserved and will be restored once the license validates.
Activation Error Codes
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
unauthorized_domain | Site URL doesn't match license | Verify your domain matches the one registered with your license |
in_use | License active on another site | Deactivate on the other site first, or upgrade your plan |
max_activations | Too many active sites | Deactivate unused sites or upgrade your plan |
license_expired | License term ended | Renew your license through your account |
deleted / blacklisted | License permanently blocked | Contact support |
server_unreachable | Can't reach licensing server | Check internet connection; retry later |
License Status Shows "[object Object]"
Cause: Licensing server is unreachable.
Solution: Check your internet connection and retry. The status display will show a human-readable error message.
SyteOps Admin Role Issues
Role Disappeared or Capabilities Missing
Solution: Navigate to any WordPress admin screen. SyteOps automatically recovers the role and its capabilities on admin page load.
Can't Assign SyteOps Admin to Another User
Cause: Only existing SyteOps Admins can assign this role.
Solution: Have an existing SyteOps Admin make the assignment.
Module Issues
Module Not Appearing After Upload
Solution: Ensure the ZIP file is a valid SyteOps module package. Re-upload if needed.
Module Data Missing After Re-activation
Cause: This should not happen — deactivation preserves data.
Solution: Check that the module was deactivated (not uninstalled). If data is truly lost, restore from a backup.
FlowMattic Issues
Variables Not Syncing
- Verify FlowMattic is activated and has a valid license
- Use the Resync All Variables button
- Check for Compatibility Sentinel warnings
FlowMattic Won't Install During Initial Setup
- Check server connectivity to WordPress.org
- Verify
/wp-content/plugins/is writable - Install FlowMattic manually, then return to SyteOps setup
Backup and Restore Issues
Backup Errors
| Error Code | Meaning | Solution |
|---|---|---|
backup_err_zip_open | Cannot open backup ZIP | Verify the file is not corrupted; re-download or re-create |
backup_err_manifest_missing | Manifest.json missing from archive | The ZIP is not a valid SyteOps backup |
backup_err_manifest_schema | Invalid manifest format | Backup may be from an incompatible version |
backup_err_checksum_mismatch | File integrity check failed | Backup file is corrupted; use a different backup |
backup_err_path_traversal | Invalid file path detected | Security violation — do not use this backup |
backup_err_cross_site_invalid | URL mapping failed | Check that URL rewrite is enabled for cross-site restores |
Post-Restore License Lock
Cause: Expected security behavior — license must be re-verified after restore.
Solution: Complete the license re-check prompt that appears after restore.
REST API Issues
Plugin Stopped Working After Enabling REST Restriction
Solution: Add the plugin's REST endpoint to the Custom Allowlist. Format: /wp-json/pluginname/v1/*
WooCommerce Connectivity Issues
WooCommerce OAuth (/wc-auth/v1/*) is automatically allowed. For custom WooCommerce integrations, add their specific routes to the allowlist.
UI Issues
Save Changes Button Does Nothing on Admin Tab
Cause: This was fixed in v1.1.014. Update to the latest version.
WooCommerce Admin Pages Blank
Cause: This was fixed in v1.1.003. SyteOps no longer loads CSS/JS on WooCommerce admin screens.
Safari Form Input Lag
Cause: Known Safari performance issue with form validation. Fixed in codebase — update to latest version.
Debug Mode
Enable Debug Mode in the Admin tab to access:
- Debug Tool — Search across options and FlowMattic variables
- Structured logs — Stored in
wp-content/with automatic rotation and size caps - Destructive wipes — Variable cleanup (requires SyteOps Admin + Debug Mode)
Getting Help
- Visit sytewide.com for support