Title: "Cannot modify header" error messages Last modified: August 20, 2016 --- # "Cannot modify header" error messages * [cmc618](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cmc618/) * (@cmc618) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/) * today is my first attempt at wordpress, while i am new to wordpress i am not a technical idiot either. but i attempted to search a few solutions that i found in these forums and most of them were beyond my skill and understanding. * i installed word press on my hosting 3 diff times today because every time after installation she i would attempt to modify or update my content/theme whenever i press publish/save i get an error message like the one below. * **Warning: Cannot modify header information – headers already sent by (output started at /home/content/38/8681438/html/wp-content/themes/thecouch/settings. php:668) in /home/content/38/8681438/html/wp-includes/pluggable.php on line 934** * every installation had a similar but different error message, but they all referred to the header with different paths and line numbers every time. * i was wondering if someone can tell me (in english please) how to remedy this problem. everyone has told me how easy wordpress is to use but i have had problems from the begining Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total) * Thread Starter [cmc618](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cmc618/) * (@cmc618) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432489) * here is the line of code from line 934 that it refers to in the directory “/home/ content/38/8681438/html/wp-includes/pluggable.php on line 934” * **header(“Location: $location”, true, $status); i compared it to a fresh download and the lines match exactly… * [Tim S](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tim-s/) * (@tim-s) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432507) * Here’s a link from the codex that may help you solve this problem. Typically, it’s related to white space or an extra character: * [http://codex.wordpress.org/FAQ_Troubleshooting#How_do_I_solve_the_Headers_already_sent_warning_problem.3F](http://codex.wordpress.org/FAQ_Troubleshooting#How_do_I_solve_the_Headers_already_sent_warning_problem.3F) * Thread Starter [cmc618](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cmc618/) * (@cmc618) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432535) * yes i tried that without any result i also tried replacing the wp-admin and wp- includes folders also nothing… * i don’t understand how can their be such a major flaw with the script that hasn’t been modified in any way? this is obviously a widely experienced problem by a lot of people and mine started almost immediately after installation… * [Tim S](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tim-s/) * (@tim-s) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432536) * Instead of replacing the files, you may want to re-type the code. Many times the spaces aren’t visible and it can be resolved that way. Just make sure you remove excess blank lines and any spaces. Be sure to use a plain text editor when doing so. I hope this helps! * Thread Starter [cmc618](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cmc618/) * (@cmc618) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432540) * my wp-config.php has no closing ?> anywhere in the code * [Tim S](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tim-s/) * (@tim-s) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432547) * It doesn’t need one. I checked my sample config file and my current one in use just to make sure. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432548) * Some coders (myself included) consider it good practice to omit the closing `? >` php tag at the very end of a file as – strictly speaking – it’s not needed and helps to avoid these issues. In this case, the problem is within the settings. php file of your current theme. * Thread Starter [cmc618](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cmc618/) * (@cmc618) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432549) * im confused now, according to the tut that you sent me i am supposed to retype or make sure that there are no spaces on a tag that isn’t there? * i not really sure of what it is that i am supposed to be doing now. * Thread Starter [cmc618](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cmc618/) * (@cmc618) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432550) * esmi… any thoughts on how to correct the issue? * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432552) * Unless you’re comfortable editing complex PHP files, I’d recommend switching to another theme. * Thread Starter [cmc618](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cmc618/) * (@cmc618) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432561) * it does the same with every theme, even the twenty ten-eleven * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432571) * No – I think the error messages (if they do occur) will be different. You need to actually read theme. * Thread Starter [cmc618](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cmc618/) * (@cmc618) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432600) * haha yes i have tried 2 more different themes and they all get error messages except for twenty ten-eleven. the error messages vary slightly but still similar… * > Warning: Cannot modify header information – headers already sent by (output > started at /home/content/38/8681438/html/wp-content/themes/HealthCase/functions. > php:242) in /home/content/38/8681438/html/wp-admin/theme-editor.php on line > 99 * so does this mean that wordpress will only allow me to use either the twenty ten or eleven theme? does this mean that i am going to have this problem with every custom theme that i install? if so that is really disappointing * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432602) * No – it means that the HealthCase theme is causing a problem. I suggest you try looking for a recent theme from the Theme Repository. You appear to be choosing some rather poor quality themes. Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total) The topic ‘"Cannot modify header" error messages’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 14 replies * 3 participants * Last reply from: [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * Last activity: [14 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-modify-header-error-messages/#post-2432602) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics