How to Fix Elementor Error: Widgets Panel Greyed Out / Not Draggable

Elementor is one of the most popular WordPress page builders, but sometimes users run into frustrating errors. One of the most common is when the widgets panel is greyed out or you can’t drag widgets onto your page.

This blog post will explain:

• Why this error happens.
• Step-by-step solutions.
• Real-world examples.
• Frequently asked questions (user queries).

Let’s dive in 👇

What is the “Widgets Panel Greyed Out” Error?

When editing a page with Elementor, the left-hand widgets panel appears greyed out (frozen). You may also notice that you:

• Can’t drag widgets into the page.
• The panel doesn’t respond to clicks.
• Elementor feels slow or stuck.

This is usually caused by JavaScript conflicts, plugin/theme compatibility issues, or low server resources.

Causes of the Error

Here are the most common reasons why the Elementor widgets panel becomes greyed out:

1. Plugin conflicts (cache, optimization, or security plugins).
2. Theme compatibility issues.
3. JavaScript errors blocking Elementor’s scripts.
4. Cache problems (browser, Elementor, or CDN).
5. Low PHP memory limit.
6. Corrupted Elementor installation.
7. Browser extensions blocking scripts.

Step-by-Step Solutions

1. Check for Plugin Conflicts

Elementor depends on JavaScript. Cache or optimization plugins may block these scripts.

How to Fix:

• Deactivate all plugins except Elementor and Elementor Pro.
• Try editing the page again.
• If it works → Reactivate plugins one by one to find the conflict.

Example:
A site using WP Rocket showed the greyed-out panel. Disabling “Optimize JavaScript Delivery” fixed the issue immediately.

2. Switch to a Default Theme

Some themes override Elementor’s editor layout.

How to Fix:

• Temporarily switch to Hello Elementor or Twenty Twenty-Four.
• Test Elementor. If it works → your theme is causing the conflict.

Example:
A client using OceanWP found Elementor unresponsive. Disabling OceanWP’s performance optimizations fixed the problem.

3. Enable Safe Mode in Elementor

Elementor has a Safe Mode that runs without theme and plugin interference.

How to Fix:

• Go to Dashboard → Elementor → Tools → Safe Mode → Enable.
• Open the editor again.

If it works in Safe Mode, you have a plugin or theme conflict.

4. Check for JavaScript Errors

JavaScript errors are the most common reason for frozen widgets panels.

How to Fix:

• Open Elementor editor.
• Right-click → Inspect → Console tab.
• Look for red errors.

Example:
Error shown:

Uncaught ReferenceError: elementor is not defined

This meant Elementor’s script didn’t load. Reinstalling Elementor fixed it.

5. Clear Cache Everywhere

Cached files may block Elementor’s scripts.

How to Fix:

• Clear browser cache (Ctrl+Shift+Del).
• Go to Elementor → Tools → Regenerate CSS & Data → Sync Library.
• Purge CDN/Cloudflare cache.

6. Increase PHP Memory Limit

A low memory limit can break Elementor’s editor.

How to Fix:
Add this line in your wp-config.php:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

Example:
A site running with only 40M PHP memory showed the error. Increasing it to 256M made Elementor work again.

7. Disable Browser Extensions

Extensions like AdBlock or Grammarly sometimes block Elementor’s drag-and-drop.

How to Fix:

• Try Elementor in Incognito Mode.
• Disable extensions and reload.

8. Update or Reinstall Elementor

If none of the above work, your Elementor installation may be corrupted.

How to Fix:

• Update Elementor to the latest version.
• If already updated → delete and reinstall Elementor.

Real Case Study

A client was using Elementor Pro with WP Rocket. The widgets panel was greyed out, and dragging was impossible.

• Console error:

Uncaught ReferenceError: $ is not defined

• Cause: WP Rocket was delaying jQuery loading.
• Fix: Disabled “Delay JS Execution” in WP Rocket.
• Result: Elementor panel worked perfectly again.

Conclusion

The Elementor widgets panel greyed out / not draggable error can be frustrating, but it’s almost always fixable.

Start with Safe Mode and plugin/theme checks, then move on to cache clearing, increasing memory, and checking JavaScript errors.

👉 By following the above troubleshooting guide, you can quickly get Elementor running smoothly again. Or you can just Contact Us at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why is my Elementor panel greyed out?

This usually happens due to JavaScript conflicts, plugin/theme issues, or low server resources.

Q2: I can’t drag widgets in Elementor. What should I do?

Start by enabling Safe Mode, disabling plugins, and checking your console for errors.

Q3: My changes in Elementor are not showing on the live site. Is it the same issue?

Not exactly. That’s usually a cache problem, not a greyed-out panel issue. Try clearing Elementor and browser cache.

Q4: Will increasing PHP memory limit fix the issue?

Yes, in many cases. Elementor requires at least 128M, but 256M is recommended.

Q5: Can my browser cause Elementor to freeze?

Yes. Extensions like AdBlock, Grammarly, or script blockers can stop drag-and-drop from working.