Table of contents

1. Check your theme settings and visibility options2. Verify the header.php file and theme structure3. Clear all caches and rule out conflicts4. Fix Elementor-specific header problems5. Troubleshoot deeper theme and server issues6. Use Developer Tools to inspect hidden header codeNext stepsAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Errors → Header Not Showing

Help! My header is not showing in my WordPress site

Headers disappearing in WordPress can be frustrating, especially when everything else on your site seems to be working. Whether you’re using a page builder or a custom theme, there’s usually a straightforward reason—and fix.

Let’s walk through all the common causes and how to troubleshoot them step by step.

1. Check your theme settings and visibility options

Start with the basics: if your header is hidden by a setting or only missing from certain pages, you might not need to touch any code.

Use the Customizer to confirm visibility

Go to Appearance > Customize > Header or a similar section depending on your theme.
Look for display toggles like “Enable header” or “Display on homepage only.”
If you’re using a commercial theme, check its documentation—many have built-in options to hide the header on specific templates.

Investigate template settings

Edit the affected page in your WordPress dashboard.
In the right-hand sidebar, look under Page Attributes and check the template selected.
Switch to “Default template” and update the page to see if the header reappears.

Review page builder display settings

Page builders can override the default template behavior:

In Elementor, check the Page Layout dropdown and avoid “Elementor Canvas” if you want a header.
In WPBakery or similar builders, open the row or section settings to confirm header visibility is not disabled.

2. Verify the header.php file and theme structure

When settings don’t explain the issue, your theme’s files are the next place to look.

Make sure header.php exists and is included

In your active theme folder (via Appearance > Theme File Editor or FTP), locate header.php.
Open page.php, index.php, or any relevant template and make sure you see this line near the top:
<?php get_header(); ?>

If it’s missing, WordPress won’t render the header.

Check for broken or missing code

Even a small typo or leftover tag from an edit can prevent the header from loading:

Review your header.php and surrounding files for missing </div> or PHP errors.
Restore a clean copy of your theme from backup if needed.

Understand the theme hierarchy

If you’re using custom post types or specialized templates (single-portfolio.php, for example), they may bypass standard header calls.

Refer to the WordPress Template Hierarchy to ensure each template includes a proper call to get_header().

3. Clear all caches and rule out conflicts

Even after fixing settings or code, a cached version of your site might still show a broken layout.

Clear your caches

Clear your browser cache manually or using incognito mode.
If using a caching plugin, clear your WordPress cache.
If you’re using a CDN like Cloudflare, log in and purge its cache as well.

Disable plugins temporarily

A plugin could be unintentionally hiding or breaking the header:

Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
Click Deactivate on all plugins.
Reload your site. If the header returns, reactivate plugins one by one to find the culprit.

Rule out theme conflicts

Switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four under Appearance > Themes.
If the header works there, your original theme likely has a bug or missing file.

Look for issues in custom CSS or JavaScript

Check for CSS that could be hiding your header:

Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS.
Look for rules like:
header { display: none; }
Remove or adjust those as needed.

Also inspect any custom JavaScript, especially if it alters the DOM or applies animation effects.

Disable lazy loading (if applicable)

Lazy loading is great for speed but can delay the loading of header images or elements:

Check your image lazy load plugin settings.
If needed, add exclusions or disable lazy loading for the header section.

4. Fix Elementor-specific header problems

If you’re using Elementor, the issue may live inside its Theme Builder system.

Review Theme Builder settings

Go to Elementor > Theme Builder.
Open your Header template.
Click Conditions and make sure it’s set to display on “Entire Site” or appropriate pages.

Avoid using “Elementor Canvas” unless intentional

The Canvas layout removes the entire header and footer:

Edit the page with Elementor.
In the page settings gear icon (bottom left), check the Page Layout setting.
Switch to “Default” or “Elementor Full Width.”

Regenerate Elementor CSS

To reset any corrupt or outdated styling:

Go to Elementor > Tools.
Click the Regenerate CSS button.
Refresh your site and clear your browser cache.

5. Troubleshoot deeper theme and server issues

Still missing your header? These are some lesser-known, but critical, checks.

Check your WordPress and PHP version

In Tools > Site Health, look for:

WordPress version compatibility issues.
Warnings about outdated PHP versions (should be PHP 8.0+).

Outdated environments can cause themes to misbehave.

Inspect for missing or corrupted theme files

Sometimes a partial update or failed upload can corrupt a theme:

Reinstall your theme or child theme via Appearance > Themes > Add New > Upload Theme.
Or upload a clean copy via FTP, overwriting the existing files.

Confirm admin toolbar visibility

This one’s just for logged-in users, but it trips people up:

Go to Users > Profile.
Ensure “Show Toolbar when viewing site” is checked.
This only affects admins but can create confusion if you’re looking for a header element that’s actually the toolbar.

6. Use Developer Tools to inspect hidden header code

This method helps you visually confirm whether the header is present but hidden.

Inspect the DOM with browser tools

Right-click your site and choose Inspect (or press F12).
Use Ctrl+F to search for <header> or a class like .site-header.
If it exists but isn’t visible, CSS might be hiding it.

Look for missing assets in the Network tab

Click the Network tab and reload the page.
Watch for any 404 errors on CSS, JS, or PHP files related to the header.

Check for JavaScript errors in the console

In the Console tab, look for:

Red error messages pointing to header.js, main.js, or theme-related files.
Plugin-related JavaScript errors that could interrupt layout rendering

Next steps for fixing a missing WordPress header

A missing header usually points to a theme, template, or plugin issue—not a broken site. With a bit of digging, you can identify exactly what’s going wrong and restore your layout.

If you’re still stuck, try switching themes or checking browser tools to see what’s really loading behind the scenes.

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