If the featured posts on your WordPress homepage suddenly stop appearing, the issue is often due to changes in how post categories or display modules are configured. In this guide, we explain how Freshy resolved this issue by swapping out the module used to display the posts.
Issue Background
A WordPress site owner reported that their homepage no longer displayed posts marked as “Featured.” Previously, a custom post category called “Featured Post” was used to control which posts appeared in the featured area of the homepage. However, newly created posts were no longer showing, even when marked with the correct category.
Additionally, the user experienced confusion in the WordPress admin area where the “Posts” screen appeared cluttered with column format issues.
Diagnosis
Freshy’s team determined:
- The issue was not caused by the post categories themselves — the “Featured Post” category was being applied correctly.
- The actual problem stemmed from the homepage display module (likely a WordPress page builder module) no longer properly querying and displaying posts in that category.
Resolution Steps
Step 1: Identify the Broken Module
The homepage used a page builder module (such as Elementor, Divi, or Beaver Builder) to query and display posts assigned to the “Featured Post” category.
Freshy confirmed that:
- The module previously used to display these posts had stopped pulling them correctly.
- Possible reasons included plugin updates, conflicts, or configuration changes.
Step 2: Replace the Display Module
To restore functionality:
- Freshy replaced the existing Posts module on the homepage with a different, stable module from the site’s page builder library.
- The new module was configured to:
- Query posts from the Featured Post category.
- Display them in the same visual layout as before.
This effectively bypassed the faulty module and restored the intended functionality.
Step 3: Adjust WordPress Admin Display
The user also reported confusing column formatting on the Posts > All Posts screen in WordPress Admin.
Solution:
- Use the Screen Options dropdown in the top-right corner of the Posts screen.
- Enable or disable columns as needed to simplify the view.
- Adjust how many posts display per page.
Final Outcome
After swapping out the homepage module and cleaning up the admin screen options:
- Featured posts once again appeared properly on the homepage.
- The WordPress Admin “All Posts” screen was easier to navigate.
Why This Fix Works
Page builder display modules can sometimes stop working due to:
- WordPress or plugin updates.
- Cached or outdated module configurations.
- Theme or plugin conflicts.
Swapping the display module for a fresh instance or a different type ensures the correct query parameters are applied.
Need Help with WordPress Layout Issues?
If you’re experiencing broken post layouts or display issues on your WordPress homepage, Freshy’s expert team can help you diagnose and fix the problem quickly. Contact us today for professional WordPress troubleshooting and layout support.
