Common AI feature problems and errors

Do the Yoast AI Generate features not work for you? Are you getting an error trying to use Yoast AI Optimize? In this article, we’ve listed the solutions to most common problems and errors that can occur when you use the Yoast AI features. With these solutions, you’ll get back to generating in no time!

You see the ‘something went wrong’ error message

When you receive the message that something went wrong, there are several possible causes. Check below if these solutions fix the AI feature problems and errors.

CauseSolution
Your site language and the language of your content are differentGo to the WordPress dashboard and go to Settings > General > Site language. Ensure that the content language and site language match. Otherwise, the AI feature will not work.
You have chosen a formal languageGo to the WordPress dashboard and go to Settings > General > Site language. Choose the non-formal version of the site language.
Your connection has timed outPlease follow the steps under How to refresh your connection

You see the following error message

There are several other types of AI feature problems and errors. Try the solutions below to continue generating.

ErrorCauseSolution
To access this feature, you need a Yoast SEO Premium subscriptionThe Yoast SEO Premium and/or Yoast SEO WooCommerce subscription is not activated for this siteCheck that you have connected your subscription to your site. In addition, check in the Yoast SEO menu under the Premium category that your subscription status displays both Installed and Activated.
Connection timeoutThere is a problem with your connection, causing a delayPlease follow the steps under How to refresh your connection
Due to OpenAIs strict ethical guidelines and usage policies, we are unable to generate […] for your pageYour content includes material that is not compliant with OpenAI’s ethical guidelines and usage policiesIf you want to use the AI features, please remember to avoid any explicit content, such as violent or sexual material
Yoast AI cannot reach your site

Browser console error callback failed: the site that requested the token could not be reached
Your site is unable to communicate with our AI features. This applies to test sites, instances where your REST API is password-protected, some sites that are monitored by security services, or when the site is not publicly accessible for another reason.
Check that your security plugins and services, such as the Cloudflare Bot Fight mode, do not prevent communication between your site and the AI features.

Review the settings for the service blocking the AI features and ensure it allows all traffic to /wp-json/yoast/v1/ai_generator/ and all subfolders under this path. If you have other plugins or need to use the core WordPress REST API, you’ll need to allow additional variations of that path. For example, /wp-json/wp/v2/ is the core WordPress path
You’ve reached the rate limit for todayYou have hit the rate limits for using the AI features set by Yoast SEOSpread out your requests for AI Generate and AI Optimize. For more information, see also Rate limits for the AI features in Yoast SEO

You have another problem

See below if the error or problem you have encountered has a solution.

ErrorCauseSolution
I cannot find the Yoast Generate or Yoast AI Optimize features in WordPressYou are using the free version of Yoast SEO or have not upgraded to the latest version of Yoast SEO Premium and/or Yoast SEO WooCommerceIf you want to use the AI features for posts, pages, categories and tags, upgrade to Yoast SEO Premium and make sure you have updated to the latest version
If you want to use Yoast Generate for products, upgrade to Yoast SEO Premium and Yoast SEO WooCommerce and make sure you have updated to the latest version
The AI features are unavailable in my Yoast SEO metabox/sidebar, even though I enabled the feature in the Yoast SEO settingsYour connection has timed outPlease follow the steps under How to refresh your connection

How to refresh your connection

Follow the steps below to ensure that your connection to the internet and the AI features work.

  1. Check that your internet connection works

    Ensure that you have a stable internet connection.

  2. Go to Site features

    In your WordPress dashboard or Shopify app, go to the Yoast SEO Settings and click on Site features.

  3. Disable the Yoast AI feature

    Click on the Yoast AI button Enable feature. This will turn off the AI features. Then, click on Save changes: this will pop up automatically when making changes.

  4. Log out and clear your browser cache

    Log out of WordPress or Shopify and clear your browser’s cache. We’ve provided instructions for clearing browsers. Close all the tabs and windows of your browser.

  5. Restart your browser and log in

    You can now restart your browser and log into WordPress or Shopify again.

  6. Enable the Yoast AI feature

    Click on the Yoast AI button Enable feature. This will restart the AI features. Then, click on Save changes: this will pop up automatically when making changes.

My problem or error is not in this list

The AI features are still in beta, which means that the features are currently in a testing phase. As a result, they may still undergo some improvements or adjustments before they become fully stable. While it’s available for use now, keep in mind that there may be occasional issues or changes as the developers refine the feature.

If you run into problems or errors that are not on this list, please contact our support team for assistance.

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