Title: Fatal error: mb_detect_encoding() does not exist
Last modified: August 22, 2016

---

# Fatal error: mb_detect_encoding() does not exist

 *  Resolved [jpresley23](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jpresley23/)
 * (@jpresley23)
 * [11 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-mb_detect_encoding-does-not-exist/)
 * We use PHP 5.5. After I activate the plugin, I get a PHP Fatal error: function
   mb_detect_encoding() does not exist when I try to edit the form or view the form
   on a page. I did a google search and it looks like this error occurs because 
   I do not have multibyte string extension enabled. Is this function absolutely
   necessary or is it possible to do a check if the function exists before using
   it? There is another plugin which provides the same functionality, but I’d rather
   use your plugin because I think yours is better supported.
 * Thank you.
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/gravityforms-html5-placeholders/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gravityforms-html5-placeholders/)

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  Plugin Author [iSoftware](https://wordpress.org/support/users/isoftware/)
 * (@isoftware)
 * [11 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-mb_detect_encoding-does-not-exist/#post-5734826)
 * There is a dependency on the mb_detect_encoding since we parse the forms in order
   to change field attributes.
 * As GF 1.9 is here, we will focus on making the transition easy for existing users.
 * An update is on the way but we dont have an ETA.
 * Thank you for reporting this.
 *  Thread Starter [jpresley23](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jpresley23/)
 * (@jpresley23)
 * [11 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-mb_detect_encoding-does-not-exist/#post-5734833)
 * Fair enough. We ended up asking our sysadmin to enable the mbstring php module.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘Fatal error: mb_detect_encoding() does not exist’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/gravityforms-html5-placeholders_ccd0d4.
   svg)
 * [Gravity Forms HTML5 Placeholders](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gravityforms-html5-placeholders/)
 * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gravityforms-html5-placeholders/)
 * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gravityforms-html5-placeholders/active/)
 * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gravityforms-html5-placeholders/unresolved/)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gravityforms-html5-placeholders/reviews/)

 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [jpresley23](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jpresley23/)
 * Last activity: [11 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-mb_detect_encoding-does-not-exist/#post-5734833)
 * Status: resolved