Title: Shortcode in widgets not working Last modified: August 20, 2016 --- # Shortcode in widgets not working * [smoore217](https://wordpress.org/support/users/smoore217/) * (@smoore217) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/) * Hi, * I cannot get shortcodes to work in text widgets to save my life. I heard that this is enabled by default in the latest wordpress, however it will not work. I also tried adding add_filter(‘widget_text’, ‘do_shortcode’); to my functions. php file for the theme, but the shortcode still shows up as a string. Was this feature broke in the newest version of wordpress? Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 19 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/page/2/?output_format=md) * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034419) * > I heard that this is enabled by default in the latest wordpress * Then I’m afraid your sources were incorrect. * Thread Starter [smoore217](https://wordpress.org/support/users/smoore217/) * (@smoore217) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034423) * It was probably from 6 months ago when this: [http://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/10457](http://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/10457) had the release set for version 3.3. Anyway, my problem still stands. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034440) * If you check the Trac ticket, it’s been changed to “Future Release”. At present, the only shortcodes that will work in widgets are those specially created by plugins. * Thread Starter [smoore217](https://wordpress.org/support/users/smoore217/) * (@smoore217) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034457) * Can you move this to the plugins&hacks forums then as this is a known hack and deals with troubleshooting it. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034459) * It’s not a known hack and it does belong in this forum. * Thread Starter [smoore217](https://wordpress.org/support/users/smoore217/) * (@smoore217) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034475) * If it isn’t a known hack, then why are there tons of articles littering the internet with the add_filter(‘widget_text’, ‘do_shortcode’); solution I attempted? [http://digwp.com/2010/03/shortcodes-in-widgets/](http://digwp.com/2010/03/shortcodes-in-widgets/) [http://www.wprecipes.com/how-to-add-shortcodes-in-sidebar-widgets](http://www.wprecipes.com/how-to-add-shortcodes-in-sidebar-widgets) [http://dannyvankooten.com/630/enabling-shortcodes-in-widgets-quick-wordpress-tip/](http://dannyvankooten.com/630/enabling-shortcodes-in-widgets-quick-wordpress-tip/) [http://englishmike.net/wordpress/2008/07/07/wordpress-quick-tips-3adding-a-shortcode-to-a-sidebar-widget/](http://englishmike.net/wordpress/2008/07/07/wordpress-quick-tips-3adding-a-shortcode-to-a-sidebar-widget/) * These all cover the same solution, which is not working. It causes behavior not intended in original design, so I’d consider that a hack. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034478) * It is **not** a core hack. * Thread Starter [smoore217](https://wordpress.org/support/users/smoore217/) * (@smoore217) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034480) * I don’t think the “plugins and hacks” forum consists of very many core hacks… I’d figure this forum is meant for troubleshooting installation and base functionality problems. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034484) * > Hacks > – For Plugin Coding and Core hacking discussion * Thread Starter [smoore217](https://wordpress.org/support/users/smoore217/) * (@smoore217) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034487) * Plugins and Hacks – Extensions and modifications * This is the forum I wanted it transferred to, not Hacks. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034489) * That is for plugins only. * [clawler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/clawler/) * (@clawler) * [13 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034750) * While this semantics argument was entertaining was a solution to this issue ever found? I’m having the same problem. * Smoore217, did you end up posting this issue elsewhere? Any luck? * Thanks. * [Michael](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alchymyth/) * (@alchymyth) * [13 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034751) * [@clawler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/clawler/) * neither you nor the original poster are clear about what shortcodes you were trying to show in the textwidget of what theme. * without these details, this is really just a philosophical topic. * it might possibly be better if your start your own topic and post the necessary details. * [clawler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/clawler/) * (@clawler) * [13 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034752) * Thanks alchymyth, just wanted to see if a solution ever presented itself. * Right now I’m using Twenty Eleven in 3.4.2 and it’s with any shortcode I try. I’m also using one of the many single line Shortcode in Widget plugins. I’ve also tried putting `add_filter('widget_text', 'do_shortcode');` in the functions file myself, but that didn’t work either. * Any recommendations? * [Michael](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alchymyth/) * (@alchymyth) * [13 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/#post-3034753) * > it’s with any shortcode I try * considering that `[gallery]` and `[caption]` are the only genuine shortcodes, and that somethings in `[brackets]` is not always shortcode, what **exact **other shortcodes have you tried? Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 19 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ‘Shortcode in widgets not working’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [fail](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/fail/) * [shortcode](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/shortcode/) * [widgets](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/widgets/) * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 19 replies * 4 participants * Last reply from: [Michael](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alchymyth/) * Last activity: [13 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/shortcode-in-widgets-not-working/page/2/#post-3034759) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics