Autoptimize has me stuck choosing a broken plugin over a broken homepage

OK, let’s startt with some questions first;
* so is “optimize HTML” the only option you have active in Autoptimize?
* do you, after changing AO settings, systematically clear all page caches you or your host might have?
* does the problem (broken homepage) also happen when all options in AO are off?

Thanks for the quick reply!

– I had other options checked earlier, but after all this happened, now I only have “Optimize HTML” checked, so that my homepage doesn’t break. The popup is still broken, but I turned it off.

– When the popup broke, I deactivated each plugin one by one, until I got to Autoptimize, which simultaneously fixed the popup and broke the homepage layout. Then I tried turning off the Autoptimize options one by one. Each time, I restored the site from back up and made sure it was fixed. Then each time, after unchecking an option, I clicked “Save Changes and Clear Cache” in Autoptimize. Then from the WordPress dashboard, I clicked “Clear CSS/JS Cache” from the Autoptimize pull down menu. After that, I clicked “Purge All Cache” from the Breeze pull down menu (my host is Cloudways). Finally, I logged out of WordPress and went to my Chrome settings and clicked “Delete All Data” for both my site and wordpress.

– Yes, the broken homepage problem still happens when I uncheck all options in Autoptimize, and also when I deactivate Autoptimize entirely.

Does that help? I really appreciate your time and insights.

• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by boatrightbusinesses.
• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by boatrightbusinesses.
• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by boatrightbusinesses.
• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by boatrightbusinesses.
• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by boatrightbusinesses.
• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by boatrightbusinesses.

Not sure if this matters, but after restoring and breaking the site so many times, I noticed something else. Once Autoptimizer has broken the homepage layout, I can fix it by re-checking the “Optimize HTML” button, but that fix only works for the public. If I’m logged into WordPress, I always see the broken version, whether I when I click “View Site” or if I go to edit in Customize > Appearance. The only place it looks normal for me is within Elementor, but I think that would make sense if it’s an HTML thing. Sorry for the small novel over here.

• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by boatrightbusinesses.
• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by boatrightbusinesses.

no worries re. the novel; this is a very specific and weird issue that requires extensive testing and info being shared! ??

Yes, the broken homepage problem still happens when I uncheck all options in Autoptimize, and also when I deactivate Autoptimize entirely.

this is the thing I also noticed (by adding ?ao_noptimize=1 to the URL one can disable AO for that request). now as AO does not make any persistent change to the original HTML (or JS or CSS), the site should be as before when AO is not active (either deactivated or noptimized or with all options off). my best guess is that either Breeze or Elementor somehow change behavior when AO is active and don’t revert that change or something?

I would propose these 2 tests;
1. can you disable Breeze to see if that “fixes” the homepage? also; make sure Breeze (which has some older Autoptimize code in multiple files under inc/minification/minify/) does not have any CSS/ JS/ HTML optimization settings active.
2. can you re-edit the homepage in Elementor (make a very minor change) and publish that?

frank

any news on this topic @boatrightbusinesses ?

Sorry for the lag. I tried both things you recommended, no luck unfortunately. At this point I’m keeping autoptimize on with only the HTML option checked, so the homepage will work, I gave up on Mailpoet for now. Thanks for your advice!