If you see "Narrative cannot find the plug-in on your website" when you connect Publish to WordPress, Publish can't reach the Narrative Publisher plugin on your website. Work through these checks in order.
Is the plugin installed and activated?
The Narrative Publisher plugin needs to be installed and activated on your WordPress website. Check it in your WordPress dashboard.
Also check that the website URL in your publishing settings is right. To set the plugin up again, see Install and connect the Narrative WordPress plugin.
Is my website live?
Publish can't find the plugin while your website is in staging (test), clone or testing mode, or before it's launched, even if the plugin is activated. If your website is password protected, Publish may not be able to reach it either. Connect the plugin once your website is live.
In the meantime, you can still add your posts to your website:
WordPress: publish with embed code instead.
Showit + Advanced Blog: publish with embed code instead.
Showit + Basic Blog: export your post as JPGs and upload them, on a yearly Publish plan. See Publishing to Showit for what works on each Showit plan.
Do I have a firewall plugin on my website?
Firewall plugins protect your website, but they can also stop Publish connecting to the Narrative Publisher plugin. Check your WordPress plugins for a firewall plugin, for example:
Wordfence
Sucuri
If you find one, try deactivating it, then connect Publish again.
Is my hosting company blocking the connection?
Some hosting companies have a firewall or security setting that can stop Publish connecting to the plugin. Start by contacting your web host and asking whether their firewall or security settings are blocking the connection to the Narrative Publisher plugin.
Here's what to ask or do for the most common hosting companies:
SiteGround: Contact SiteGround's support to check whether their firewall is blocking the connection. In the meantime, publish with embed code.
Bluehost: Bluehost's firewall can stop Publish finding the plugin, even when it's installed and activated, so publish with embed code instead.
GoDaddy: Ask GoDaddy's support whether they can allow the URL path
action=narrative.o2switch: Ask o2switch to turn off the security setting that's blocking the plugin.
SiteLock: Ask SiteLock to turn off the restrictive security setting that's on by default.
GreenGeeks: Open a ticket with GreenGeeks to check whether they're blocking the connection.
How do I reconnect the plugin?
If none of these help, reconnect the plugin:
In WordPress, deactivate the Narrative Publisher plugin, then activate it again.
In Publish, open your publishing settings.
Click Continue and Check until you see your access key.
Click your access key to copy it.
In your WordPress dashboard, open the Narrative plugin, paste your access key and click Save Changes.
Go back to Publish and click Check to confirm the connection.
When you see Authentication successful and the Categories section opens, the plugin is connected.
What if Publish still can't find the plugin?
If Publish still can't find the plugin, delete it and install it again. This doesn't affect posts you've already published with the plugin.
In WordPress, deactivate and delete the Narrative Publisher plugin.
Install and activate the Narrative Publisher plugin again.
In Publish, open your post and click the gear icon to open your publishing settings.
Check your website details and click Continue.
When Publish finds the plugin, it shows your access key. Click it to copy it.
In your WordPress dashboard, open the Narrative plugin, paste your access key and click Save Changes. Check that the time and date shown match when you saved it.
Go back to Publish and click Check. Choose your default category, then click Update.
Once your publishing settings are updated, you can publish from Publish, and your post shows in WordPress as a draft.
What if I still can't connect the plugin?
If you see "Sorry, Narrative still can't find the plug-in on your website", or you still can't connect, contact your hosting company to see if they can help. In the meantime, publish with embed code instead.
If you still need help, contact us through the chat bubble or at [email protected] with your website URL and a screenshot of the message. Never send us your website password.