When reCAPTCHA functionality fails in DigiBlocks forms, users may experience issues with form submissions being blocked or security validation not working properly. This article covers the most common causes and solutions for reCAPTCHA problems.
Verify reCAPTCHA Configuration
The most common cause of reCAPTCHA issues is incorrect configuration in the DigiBlocks settings.
Navigate to DigiBlocks > Settings and check your reCAPTCHA configuration:
- Site Key: Must be correctly copied from your Google reCAPTCHA admin panel
- Secret Key: Must match the corresponding secret key for your site key
Both keys are required for reCAPTCHA to function. DigiBlocks uses Google reCAPTCHA v3, so ensure your keys are generated for reCAPTCHA v3, not v2.
Check Domain Configuration
reCAPTCHA keys are domain-specific. Verify that your domain is properly configured in the Google reCAPTCHA admin panel:
- The domain in your reCAPTCHA settings must exactly match your website domain
- Include both www and non-www versions if your site is accessible via both
- For development, add localhost or your staging domain to the allowed domains list
Form Block Requirements
reCAPTCHA only works with DigiBlocks Forms blocks. Other contact form plugins or custom forms will not inherit the DigiBlocks reCAPTCHA configuration.
Ensure you’re using the DigiBlocks Forms block and that it’s properly configured on your page. The reCAPTCHA script is only loaded when a Forms block is detected on the page.
Browser Console Errors
Check your browser’s developer console for reCAPTCHA-related errors:
- Right-click on your page and select “Inspect” or press F12
- Go to the Console tab
- Look for errors related to reCAPTCHA or Google
Common error messages and their solutions:
“reCAPTCHA has already been rendered”: This indicates multiple reCAPTCHA instances on the same page. Ensure you only have one Forms block per page, or remove duplicate forms.
“Invalid site key”: Your site key is incorrect or doesn’t match your domain configuration.
“reCAPTCHA not loaded”: Network connectivity issues or the reCAPTCHA script failed to load.
Network and Connectivity Issues
reCAPTCHA requires external connections to Google’s servers. Check for:
- Firewall restrictions: Ensure your server allows outbound connections to google.com and gstatic.com
- CDN conflicts: Some CDN configurations may interfere with reCAPTCHA script loading
- Ad blockers: Some browser extensions may block reCAPTCHA scripts
Plugin and Theme Conflicts
JavaScript conflicts can prevent reCAPTCHA from functioning properly:
- Test with default theme: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme (Twenty Twenty-Four) to rule out theme conflicts
- Plugin conflict testing: Deactivate other plugins temporarily to identify conflicts
- Script loading order: Ensure no other plugins are interfering with JavaScript execution
Common conflicting elements:
- Other form plugins that include their own reCAPTCHA implementation
- Security plugins with aggressive JavaScript filtering
- Caching plugins that modify script loading behavior
Server-Side Validation Issues
reCAPTCHA validation occurs on both client and server sides. Server-side issues may include:
- cURL not enabled: DigiBlocks requires cURL for server-side reCAPTCHA validation
- SSL certificate problems: Outdated SSL certificates may prevent communication with Google’s servers
- Server firewall: Outbound HTTPS connections to www.google.com must be allowed
Clear Caching
Caching can cause reCAPTCHA problems, especially after configuration changes:
- Clear any caching plugin cache
- Clear browser cache and cookies
- Clear CDN cache if applicable
- Regenerate DigiBlocks assets by going to DigiBlocks > Settings and clicking “Regenerate All Assets”
Testing reCAPTCHA
To verify reCAPTCHA is working correctly:
- Submit a form with valid information
- Check that the form submits successfully without errors
- Monitor the Network tab in browser developer tools to confirm reCAPTCHA API calls are successful
- Verify that the reCAPTCHA badge appears in the bottom-right corner of your page
API Rate Limits
Google reCAPTCHA has usage limits. If you’re experiencing intermittent failures:
- Check your Google reCAPTCHA admin panel for usage statistics
- Ensure you’re not exceeding the free tier limits
- Consider upgrading to a paid plan if necessary
WordPress Environment Issues
Certain WordPress configurations can interfere with reCAPTCHA:
- WP_DEBUG enabled: While useful for development, debug mode can sometimes interfere with JavaScript execution
- Memory limits: Insufficient PHP memory may cause script execution to fail
- PHP version: Ensure you’re running a supported PHP version (7.4 or higher)
If reCAPTCHA continues to malfunction after checking these common issues, examine your server error logs for additional clues about what might be preventing proper functionality.