Yoast SEO Premium Plugin ‘View Update Details’ Problem

As a general rule we prefer to preview what’s new in WordPress plugin updates. After plopping down $89 for Yoast SEO Premium I’m impressed. However when a new Yoast SEO premium update was available, I was not able to view the new version details because of a error. I could preview other WordPress plugin update details before actually doing the update, but not on Yoast SEO Premium.

Yoast SEO Premium Support
Screenshot of this blogs WordPress admin plugin update section with Yoast SEO premium and another.

So it was time to check out Yoast’s world class Premium Support, so i fired off an email. Received a reply back in about two hours. Unfortunately the rep misread my email saying “i understand your having problems updating.”

Hi Doc, Thanks for your message. In regards to your issue, we understand that you are receiving an error when attempting to update the SEO Premium plugin of ‘An unexpected error occurred. Something may be wrong with WordPress.org or this server’s configuration. If you continue to have problems, please try the support forums.’

This error message is in relation to an issue that exists in the WordPress installation itself, and is not related to the Yoast plugin. We would recommend contacting your hosting provider in order to resolve this, and you can find additional information about this error in the WordPress forums at the following link: https://wordpress.org/support/topic/an-unexpected-error-occurred-something-may-be-wrong-with-wordpress-org/

If you are unable to resolve the warning though, as a workaround, you can also perform a manual update of the plugin. We have instructions on how to upgrade the plugin manually at the following link: https://kb.yoast.com/kb/how-can-i-update-my-premium-plugin/#manual. You will need an FTP program such as FileZilla and your FTP details, which can be obtained from your host provider.

This was turning into a support ticket calamity. I replied and got another response back from another agent.

Please reread my question. I am the hosting provider. I want to review your plugins revision details before updating and get that error in the popup info window. All other plugins I’m able to review update details before installing. Only Yoast SEO Premium is generating an error.

Hi Ed, Thank you for getting back to us. We apologize for the confusion.

Unfortunately, there is no way to be sure why you are getting that error when trying to view the update details, it’s usually specific to the WordPress installation.

Do you have WP_DEBUG enabled? If so, are you getting any error message related to this issue? Additionally, please go to Settings → General and make sure that the Site Address and WordPress Address fields are not empty, as this is a common reason for this error message. Does that solve your issue?

No i did not have WP_DEBUG enabled but did so. No difference. Also if the WordPress site and location urls were not entered WordPress would not load. Those are written to the database WP_Options table. So another reply.

Hi Marius, Yes debug is enabled. added wp_http_block as False. Same error. See attached screen shots.

Why is it i can preview other plugins update details, but not on Yoast SEO Premium? Sounds like something on y’all’s end.

I’m really not trying to give you a hard time, as I’m quite a fan of Yoast SEO and are looking forward to V 7.0. Sounded like an easy enough question. I really prefer to review update details before upgrading.

My site is here: https://www.docsplace.org. I was one of those BBS SysOps back before the net took over. My old bbs went online in 1991 and is still online today. http://bbs.fidosysop.org there still are callers after all this time.

So i’m no newbie and have my own self administrated cPanel server. Just checking out that world class Yoast Support.. 🙂

A final response from Premium Yoast Support admitting the bug is in their Yoast SEO Premium plugin.

Hi Ed,

Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention.

We apologize for the trouble you are experiencing with our plugin. A bug report is currently open with our development team for the ‘view details’ link of plugin updates. We do not have an estimated time for a solution, but we’ll inform you once it’s solved.

In the meantime, you can view the changelog of Yoast SEO Premium here: https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/change-log/

Please, let us know if you have any other questions.

Tried tweeting this screen video to Joost DeValk but he did not respond.


Was Yoast support team setting me up for an expensive diagnosis? Seems they quickly admitted there was a problem with their plugin after finding out I’m no WordPress newbie.

I am 100% Satisfied with Yoast SEO Premium WordPress plugin. And highly recommend it to others. Just not sure about the included Premium Support 🙁

Oh well.. As usual.. Just my two cents worth 😎

DocsPlace.org was registered in 1998 and is a large archive open to the public. I’m 72 years old and are a non drinker/smoker who has been around the block many times. I am self-educated in many trades, and mastering the www is my continuing adventure in cyberspace. I aim also looking for one good woman to share my golden years with, Is that you? Contact me! 😏

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