Title: Error occurred while checking account status. JSON_DECODE_ERROR
Last modified: February 26, 2026

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# Error occurred while checking account status. JSON_DECODE_ERROR

 *  Resolved [nickburton](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nickburton/)
 * (@nickburton)
 * [4 months, 1 week ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-occurred-while-checking-account-status-json_decode_error/)
 * Hi,
 * On the WordPress dashboard I am getting the following notification:
 * “Access key is not valid, update the plugin settings. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.”
 * And on the settings page, this notification:
 * “Error occurred while checking account status. JSON_DECODE_ERROR”
 * Resaving my access key has removed the notification on the dashboard but not 
   the settings notification.
 * Please advise…
 * Regards,
 * Nick Burton
    -  This topic was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by [nickburton](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nickburton/).

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  Plugin Support [sergecleantalk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sergecleantalk/)
 * (@sergecleantalk)
 * [4 months, 1 week ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-occurred-while-checking-account-status-json_decode_error/#post-18834714)
 * Hello,
 * Have you tried reinstalling the plugin?
    - Go to the WordPress Administrator Panel -> Plugins.
    - Find the plugin ‘Anti-Spam by CleanTalk’ -> Deactivate.
    - After the automatic page refreshing, find the plugin again ‘Anti-Spam by CleanTalk’-
      > Delete. Confirm files deletion.
    - Install plugin anew:
 * [https://cleantalk.org/help/install-wordpress](https://cleantalk.org/help/install-wordpress)
 * Did it help?
 *  Thread Starter [nickburton](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nickburton/)
 * (@nickburton)
 * [4 months, 1 week ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-occurred-while-checking-account-status-json_decode_error/#post-18834782)
 * Thanks for that, in fact just de-activating and re-activating it has cleared 
   the error message.
 *  Plugin Support [sergecleantalk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sergecleantalk/)
 * (@sergecleantalk)
 * [4 months, 1 week ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-occurred-while-checking-account-status-json_decode_error/#post-18834797)
 * Thank you for your feedback. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need 
   any help.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

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 * 3 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [sergecleantalk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sergecleantalk/)
 * Last activity: [4 months, 1 week ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-occurred-while-checking-account-status-json_decode_error/#post-18834797)
 * Status: resolved