Are you experiencing problems with your WordPress store finder plugin? From blank maps to missing stores, these issues are common — but easily resolved. Below, we cover the most frequent problems and how to fix them.

I. Map Not Displaying (Google/MapBox Maps Errors)

Q: Why is my map showing a blank grey box or “For development purposes only”?
A: This usually means your Google Maps API key is missing, expired, incorrectly restricted, or billing isn’t enabled on your Google Cloud project (required even for free usage).

Q: I get a “This API project is not authorized to use this API” error. How do I fix my map?
A: Enable the correct Google Maps APIs in your Google Cloud Console: Maps JavaScript API, Geocoding API, and often Places API. Correctly configuring your API key ensures your store locator for WordPress functions smoothly.

II. Stores / Locations Not Showing Up

Q: Not all of my stores are displayed on the map. Why?
A: The location may have failed to geocode. Check the backend to ensure each store has valid Latitude/Longitude coordinates. Use the plugin’s “Force Geocode” option if available.

Q: Why does my store search return “No results found”?
A: The user’s search term may not geocode correctly, or your search radius/max results settings are too low. Keeping your store locator records geocoded and updated ensures accurate results.

Q: I’m missing stores after an update. What happened?
A: Caching is often the culprit. Flush/clear the transient cache inside your WordPress store finder plugin settings and any site-wide caching/CDN (like Cloudflare or W3 Total Cache).

III. Layout, Styling, and Plugin Conflicts

Q: Why is my map broken in half or search results spread out?
A: This is a CSS/styling conflict with your theme. Add custom CSS to override theme styles or ensure the map container is visible.

Q: My plugin doesn’t work when using a shortcode in a page builder like Elementor or SiteOrigin. Why?
A: Page builders sometimes don’t execute JavaScript correctly. Place the shortcode in a plain text or HTML widget, or trigger a map re-render when the container becomes visible.‍

Explore More Features and Learn More

Enhance your store locator experience with advanced tools:

• Explore advanced WordPress store locator features

Want a complete solution for your locations? Learn how our plugin can help:

• Learn more about our store locator for WordPress

✅ Key Takeaways

• Verify your Google Maps API key setup.
• Ensure all stores are geocoded correctly.
• Check for theme/plugin conflicts and caching issues.
• Use a reliable WordPress store finder plugin for a seamless experience.