Title: Publish/save draft/update button grayed out Last modified: August 21, 2016 --- # Publish/save draft/update button grayed out * Resolved [_alexsmith1](https://wordpress.org/support/users/_alexsmith1/) * (@_alexsmith1) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/) * I’ve been having a weird glitch occurring lately in WordPress where the Publish( or update) and Save Draft button becomes unavailable and grayed out. Usually this is supposed to occur while WordPress is auto-saving a draft and it will show the loading circle while doing so, but that’s not happening. The button will stay grayed-out until I refresh the page, causing me to lose some progress on the post I was working on. Does anybody know how I can fix this? * The only thing I’ve done lately is change themes and I edited some posts directly in the WordPress database because I needed to edit a certain line in a lot of posts quickly. Everything else is working normal, and I still am able to save drafts, update drafts, and publish posts, but I keep getting this glitch. Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total) * Thread Starter [_alexsmith1](https://wordpress.org/support/users/_alexsmith1/) * (@_alexsmith1) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880148) * It’s not browser-related. * Thread Starter [_alexsmith1](https://wordpress.org/support/users/_alexsmith1/) * (@_alexsmith1) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880152) * I also noticed that it no longer will show me the URL of the post underneath the title in the visual editor like it used to, I have to manually click Save Draft first for it to start showing it. I have already tried using the wp_repair function, it didn’t help. * [operapreneur](https://wordpress.org/support/users/operapreneur/) * (@operapreneur) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880329) * I’ve been having a similar problem but the URL is still visible. Keeping the window open for any length of time does not resolve the issue. * Using WordPress 3.9 * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880330) * **[@operapreneur](https://wordpress.org/support/users/operapreneur/)**: If you require assistance then, as per the [Forum Welcome](http://codex.wordpress.org/Forum_Welcome#Where_To_Post), please post your own topic instead of tagging onto someone else’s topic. * Thread Starter [_alexsmith1](https://wordpress.org/support/users/_alexsmith1/) * (@_alexsmith1) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880333) * @**esmi**: why should he start another topic when his issue is related to this one? This thread would be dead if not for his reponse. @**operapreneur**: what theme do you use? I think my issue was theme-related. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880334) * These forums have [guidelines](http://codex.wordpress.org/Forum_Welcome). Please read them. As you will see, one of these guidelines – entitled [Where to Post](http://codex.wordpress.org/Forum_Welcome#Where_To_Post)– specifically states: * > Unless you are using the same version of WordPress on the same physical server > hosted by the same hosts with the same plugins, theme & configurations as the > original poster, **do not** post in someone else’s thread. **Start your own > topic**. * Please abide by this. * [operapreneur](https://wordpress.org/support/users/operapreneur/) * (@operapreneur) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880339) * [@esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/): I understand the guidelines now but I have to agree with [@_alexsmith1](https://wordpress.org/support/users/_alexsmith1/), it seems like a related topic. I could learn or help in finding a solution. * [@_alexsmith1](https://wordpress.org/support/users/_alexsmith1/): it’s a client’s site and they are using a paid theme called GeoTheme. It seems that the problem started when we upgraded to WP 3.9. However, it only happens now and then. * [@esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/): To abide by the guidelines I will start another thread if I need further assistance. Thanks. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880340) * Are you using the same version of WordPress on the same physical server hosted by the same hosts with the same plugins, theme & configurations as the original poster? If “no”, then do not post in someone else’s thread. Start your own topic. * Thread Starter [_alexsmith1](https://wordpress.org/support/users/_alexsmith1/) * (@_alexsmith1) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880349) * @**operapreneur**: it’s most definitely theme-related. I have a different theme, but the issue was in a part of the theme’s review system. It did only occur after WordPress 3.9. * [steyn_](https://wordpress.org/support/users/steyn_/) * (@steyn_) * [11 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880394) * This solved it for me. Didn’t expect it to work. * If you’re using Chrome, right-click on the greyed-out “Update” button and select“ Inspect Element”. You will see something to the likes of: * `` * Just delete the word “**disabled**” and the update button will become clickable again. Click it and it should update. * Saved me reloading and losing work. * [chilaxnanananananana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chilaxnanananananana/) * (@chilaxnanananananana) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880404) * [@esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/): I get it. It’s your job to make sure people follow the guidelines and you seem to be doing an excellent job, so this really isn’t directed to you but more for posterity and hopes of improving the forum, and to whomever knows where these criticisms go(maybe there’s a git page or something). FYI, I don’t have the same version, nor the same physical server, nor am I hosted by the same hosts with the same plugins, theme & configurations. Question: how would it be possible for any 2 people to ever have all those same exact criteria in sync(short of using Vagrant, that is)? The odds must be staggering. I’m sorry but I don’t understand the need for guidelines like this and I promise I will follow them but… IMHO, I have to admit that one particular guideline does not make any sense and might stray people from providing a viable answer. It seems substantially impractical for the effectiveness of this forum and this is a forum I tend to use a lot. So… them’s be my 2 cents. Apologies for the extra long comment. * [@steyn_](https://wordpress.org/support/users/steyn_/): WOW! Thank you. I was having the same issue which got really annoying really fast. I’m using WP 4.0 and that absolutely worked for me. Idk why I didn’t think of that before, but as soon as I read it, I slapped my forehead. Whew!! I thought I was gonna have to do all the changes again from this mega gigantic edit I was in the middle of on a page. Seeing, as it was not the sort of editing I could just copy and paste back up again? Your trick did the trick. Cheers mate. * [steyn_](https://wordpress.org/support/users/steyn_/) * (@steyn_) * [11 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880405) * IMHO I also think those guidelines are pretty stupid. * [@chilaxnanananananana](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chilaxnanananananana/) glad it worked! Been using it tons today again; glad there’s a fix but geez it’s really irritating. * [RobPRocks](https://wordpress.org/support/users/robprocks/) * (@robprocks) * [11 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880406) * Thanks [@steyn_](https://wordpress.org/support/users/steyn_/) , that workaround totally just made my wordpress life easier as I was having the same greyed out box problem 🙂 * Yours, someone without exactly the same configuration. * [Christoph](https://wordpress.org/support/users/camthor/) * (@camthor) * [11 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880407) * Thank you, [@steyn_](https://wordpress.org/support/users/steyn_/) – this worked for me too! * PS: The mentioned guidelines are too strict in that point. If I know the solution or have any other information that can help narrow down the causes or suggest possible solutions, it totally makes sense to use the same thread. Just my opinion. Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total) The topic ‘Publish/save draft/update button grayed out’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 14 replies * 7 participants * Last reply from: [Christoph](https://wordpress.org/support/users/camthor/) * Last activity: [11 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/publishsave-draftupdate-button-grayed-out/#post-4880407) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics