Title: An "invalid format" error
Last modified: September 1, 2016

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# An "invalid format" error

 *  [albertogtn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/albertogtn/)
 * (@albertogtn)
 * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/an-invalid-format-error/)
 * Hi,
    when I try to modify any settings this error message pops up:
 * > An “invalid format” error prevented the request from completing as expected.
   > The format of data returned could not be recognized. This could be due to a
   > plugin/theme conflict or a server configuration issue.
 * What does it refer to? How can I try to fix it?
 * Thanks
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/)

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

 *  [tshu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tshu/)
 * (@tshu)
 * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/an-invalid-format-error/#post-7581235)
 * Same thing is happening to me, when trying to blacklist IPs
 *  [dwinden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dwinden/)
 * (@dwinden)
 * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/an-invalid-format-error/#post-7581254)
 * [@albertogtn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/albertogtn/) & [@tshu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tshu/)
 * Please post your website addresses.
 * dwinden
 *  Thread Starter [albertogtn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/albertogtn/)
 * (@albertogtn)
 * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/an-invalid-format-error/#post-7581258)
 * Currently the site is offline, I’m still working on it, but it will be available
   very soon, anyways the url is [B&B Aurelia](http://casaurelia.it).
 * I’m pretty sure about my server configuration, maybe it could be a conflict with
   the theme; i used [this one](https://themeforest.net/item/starhotel-hotel-wordpress-theme/10947944?_ga=1.170405280.1248071356.1469031266).
 * For any other infos, just ask. I need to find a solution, I’ve always installed
   iThemes Security on websites I built, and it’s the first time it happens a thing
   like this.
 *  [tshu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tshu/)
 * (@tshu)
 * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/an-invalid-format-error/#post-7581260)
 * [@dwinden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dwinden/) website is [http://www.damezy.com](http://www.damezy.com)
 *  [dwinden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dwinden/)
 * (@dwinden)
 * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/an-invalid-format-error/#post-7581264)
 * [@albertogtn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/albertogtn/) & [@tshu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tshu/)
 * Try and temporarily set WP_DEBUG to true in the wp-config.php file.
    This may
   help get some errors displayed on screen. If not check the web server error_log
   for any relevant errors.
 * Lastly check the browser console for any javascript errors (unlikely but you 
   never know).
 * Also try and temporarily switch to the WordPress default TwentySixteen theme.
   This will tell us whether the issue is theme related or not.
 * dwinden
 *  [dwinden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dwinden/)
 * (@dwinden)
 * [9 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/an-invalid-format-error/#post-7581302)
 * There are currently 4 different people (in 2 topics) reporting this issue.
 * I think I know what is going wrong.
 * However I do not have an env available that allows me to reproduce the issue.
   So I cannot test my theory.
 * If possible please provide access to a test env that reproduces the issue.
 * Contact me at dwinden at xs4all dot nl.
 * dwinden

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

The topic ‘An "invalid format" error’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://ps.w.org/better-wp-security/assets/icon.svg?rev=3529351)
 * [Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection](https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/)
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 * 6 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [dwinden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dwinden/)
 * Last activity: [9 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/an-invalid-format-error/#post-7581302)
 * Status: not resolved