Data error in Search Console: The response is not a valid JSON response

[jamesozzie]

Bug Description

One user in the support forums is encountering a "Data error - the response is not a valid json response" error.

The error doesn't appear when using troubleshooting mode with the Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin, suggesting a possible plugin configuration or conflict impacting the Site Kit dashboard operations. There is a JSON related error output in their Site Health status.

Internal testing with a similar environment ongoing - internal testing

Additional Context

• Site Health information provided
• Site Health status

---

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Acceptance criteria

Implementation Brief

Test Coverage

QA Brief

Changelog entry

[jamesozzie]

From testing the same plugin environment as the impacted user with all default configurations I don't encounter any REST errors. I also don't encounter any errors from further attempts with various configurations using WP Asset Cleanup, ASync JavaScript or Autoptimize.

There are some wp-admin or plugin related optimizations when using the pro version of WP Asset Cleanup, or the standard Async JavaScript plugin however I didn't encounter any errors.

Site Health Information

``` ### wp-core ### version: 5.8.2 site_language: en_US user_language: en_US timezone: +00:00 permalink: /%year%/%monthnum%/%day%/%postname%/ https_status: false multisite: false user_registration: 0 blog_public: 1 default_comment_status: open environment_type: production user_count: 1 dotorg_communication: true ### wp-paths-sizes ### wordpress_path: /home/webjamuk1/domains/webjam.uk/public_html wordpress_size: 46.37 MB (48620510 bytes) uploads_path: /home/webjamuk1/domains/webjam.uk/public_html/wp-content/uploads uploads_size: 0.00 B (0 bytes) themes_path: /home/webjamuk1/domains/webjam.uk/public_html/wp-content/themes themes_size: 6.47 MB (6780262 bytes) plugins_path: /home/webjamuk1/domains/webjam.uk/public_html/wp-content/plugins plugins_size: 9.92 MB (10403701 bytes) database_size: 1.74 MB (1819624 bytes) total_size: 64.49 MB (67624097 bytes) ### wp-active-theme ### name: Twenty Twenty-One (twentytwentyone) version: 1.4 author: the WordPress team author_website: https://wordpress.org/ parent_theme: none theme_features: core-block-patterns, widgets-block-editor, automatic-feed-links, title-tag, post-formats, post-thumbnails, menus, html5, custom-logo, customize-selective-refresh-widgets, wp-block-styles, align-wide, editor-styles, editor-style, editor-font-sizes, custom-background, editor-color-palette, editor-gradient-presets, responsive-embeds, custom-line-height, experimental-link-color, custom-spacing, custom-units, widgets theme_path: /home/webjamuk1/domains/webjam.uk/public_html/wp-content/themes/twentytwentyone auto_update: Disabled ### wp-themes-inactive (2) ### Twenty Nineteen: version: 2.1, author: the WordPress team, Auto-updates disabled Twenty Twenty: version: 1.8, author: the WordPress team, Auto-updates disabled ### wp-plugins-active (15) ### Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster: version: 1.3.8.4, author: Gabe Livan, Auto-updates disabled Async JavaScript: version: 2.21.08.31, author: Frank Goossens (futtta), Auto-updates disabled Autoptimize: version: 2.9.2, author: Frank Goossens (futtta), Auto-updates disabled Classic Widgets: version: 0.2, author: WordPress Contributors, Auto-updates disabled Elementor: version: 3.4.8, author: Elementor.com, Auto-updates disabled Insert Headers and Footers: version: 1.6.0, author: WPBeginner, Auto-updates disabled Limit Login Attempts Reloaded: version: 2.23.2, author: Limit Login Attempts Reloaded, Auto-updates disabled Redirection: version: 5.1.3, author: John Godley, Auto-updates disabled Site Kit by Google: version: 1.45.0, author: Google, Auto-updates disabled UpdraftPlus - Backup/Restore: version: 1.16.63, author: UpdraftPlus.Com, DavidAnderson, Auto-updates disabled WordPress Importer: version: 0.7, author: wordpressdotorg, Auto-updates disabled WP-REST-API V2 Menus: version: 0.10, author: Claudio La Barbera, Auto-updates disabled WP File Manager: version: 7.1.2, author: mndpsingh287, Auto-updates disabled WP Mail SMTP: version: 3.2.1, author: WPForms, Auto-updates disabled Yoast SEO: version: 17.6, author: Team Yoast, Auto-updates disabled ### wp-plugins-inactive (2) ### Akismet Anti-Spam: version: 4.2.1, author: Automattic, Auto-updates disabled Hello Dolly: version: 1.7.2, author: Matt Mullenweg, Auto-updates disabled ### wp-media ### image_editor: WP_Image_Editor_Imagick imagick_module_version: 1801 imagemagick_version: ImageMagick 7.0.9-22 Q16 x86_64 2020-02-12 https://imagemagick.org imagick_version: 3.4.3 file_uploads: File uploads is turned off post_max_size: 64M upload_max_filesize: 64M max_effective_size: 64 MB max_file_uploads: 20 imagick_limits: imagick::RESOURCETYPE_AREA: 45 GB imagick::RESOURCETYPE_DISK: 9223372036854775807 imagick::RESOURCETYPE_FILE: 49151 imagick::RESOURCETYPE_MAP: 45 GB imagick::RESOURCETYPE_MEMORY: 23 GB imagick::RESOURCETYPE_THREAD: 8 imagemagick_file_formats: 3FR, 3G2, 3GP, A, AAI, AI, ART, ARW, AVI, AVS, B, BGR, BGRA, BGRO, BMP, BMP2, BMP3, BRF, C, CAL, CALS, CANVAS, CAPTION, CIN, CIP, CLIP, CMYK, CMYKA, CR2, CR3, CRW, CUBE, CUR, CUT, DATA, DCM, DCR, DCRAW, DCX, DDS, DFONT, DJVU, DNG, DPX, DXT1, DXT5, EPDF, EPI, EPS, EPS2, EPS3, EPSF, EPSI, EPT, EPT2, EPT3, ERF, EXR, FAX, FILE, FITS, FLV, FRACTAL, FTP, FTS, G, G3, G4, GIF, GIF87, GRADIENT, GRAY, GRAYA, GROUP4, HALD, HDR, HISTOGRAM, HRZ, HTM, HTML, HTTP, HTTPS, ICB, ICO, ICON, IIQ, INFO, INLINE, IPL, ISOBRL, ISOBRL6, JNG, JNX, JPE, JPEG, JPG, JPS, JSON, K, K25, KDC, LABEL, M, M2V, M4V, MAC, MAP, MASK, MAT, MATTE, MEF, MIFF, MKV, MNG, MONO, MOV, MP4, MPC, MPEG, MPG, MRW, MSL, MSVG, MTV, MVG, NEF, NRW, NULL, O, ORF, OTB, OTF, PAL, PALM, PAM, PANGO, PATTERN, PBM, PCD, PCDS, PCL, PCT, PCX, PDB, PDF, PDFA, PEF, PES, PFA, PFB, PFM, PGM, PGX, PICON, PICT, PIX, PJPEG, PLASMA, PNG, PNG00, PNG24, PNG32, PNG48, PNG64, PNG8, PNM, POCKETMOD, PPM, PS, PS2, PS3, PSB, PSD, PTIF, PWP, R, RADIAL-GRADIENT, RAF, RAS, RAW, RGB, RGB565, RGBA, RGBO, RGF, RLA, RLE, RMF, RW2, SCR, SCREENSHOT, SCT, SFW, SGI, SHTML, SIX, SIXEL, SPARSE-COLOR, SR2, SRF, STEGANO, SUN, SVG, SVGZ, TEXT, TGA, THUMBNAIL, TIFF, TIFF64, TILE, TIM, TM2, TTC, TTF, TXT, UBRL, UBRL6, UIL, UYVY, VDA, VICAR, VID, VIFF, VIPS, VST, WBMP, WMF, WMV, WMZ, WPG, X, X3F, XBM, XC, XCF, XPM, XPS, XV, XWD, Y, YCbCr, YCbCrA, YUV gd_version: bundled (2.1.0 compatible) gd_formats: GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP ghostscript_version: unknown ### wp-server ### server_architecture: Linux 3.10.0 x86_64 httpd_software: Apache/2 php_version: 7.3.19 64bit php_sapi: fpm-fcgi max_input_variables: 5000 time_limit: 30 memory_limit: 384M max_input_time: 60 upload_max_filesize: 64M php_post_max_size: 64M curl_version: 7.68.0 OpenSSL/1.0.2k-fips suhosin: false imagick_availability: true pretty_permalinks: true htaccess_extra_rules: false ### wp-database ### extension: mysqli server_version: 10.2.31-MariaDB client_version: mysqlnd 5.0.12-dev - 20150407 - $Id: 7cc7cc96e675f6d72e5cf0f267f48e167c2abb23 $ ### wp-constants ### WP_HOME: undefined WP_SITEURL: undefined WP_CONTENT_DIR: /home/webjamuk1/domains/webjam.uk/public_html/wp-content WP_PLUGIN_DIR: /home/webjamuk1/domains/webjam.uk/public_html/wp-content/plugins WP_MEMORY_LIMIT: 40M WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT: 384M WP_DEBUG: false WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY: true WP_DEBUG_LOG: false SCRIPT_DEBUG: false WP_CACHE: false CONCATENATE_SCRIPTS: undefined COMPRESS_SCRIPTS: undefined COMPRESS_CSS: undefined WP_LOCAL_DEV: undefined DB_CHARSET: utf8 DB_COLLATE: undefined ### wp-filesystem ### wordpress: writable wp-content: writable uploads: writable plugins: writable themes: writable mu-plugins: writable ### google-site-kit ### version: 1.45.0 php_version: 7.3.19 wp_version: 5.8.2 reference_url: http://www.webjam.uk amp_mode: no site_status: connected-site user_status: authenticated verification_status: verified-non-site-kit connected_user_count: 1 active_modules: site-verification, search-console, analytics, analytics-4 required_scopes: openid: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/userinfo.profile: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/userinfo.email: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/siteverification: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/webmasters: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/analytics.readonly: ✅ capabilities: googlesitekit_authenticate: ✅ googlesitekit_setup: ✅ googlesitekit_view_posts_insights: ✅ googlesitekit_view_dashboard: ✅ googlesitekit_view_module_details: ✅ googlesitekit_manage_options: ✅ enabled_features: ideaHubModule: ⭕ serviceSetupV2: ⭕ swgModule: ⭕ userInput: ⭕ unifiedDashboard: ⭕ search_console_property: http://www.webjam.uk/ analytics_account_id: 2133••••• analytics_property_id: UA-2133••••••• analytics_profile_id: 2558••••• analytics_use_snippet: yes analytics_4_property_id: 2941150•• analytics_4_web_data_stream_id: 3057•••••• analytics_4_measurement_id: G-8Y•••••••• analytics_4_use_snippet: yes ### wp_mail_smtp ### version: 3.2.1 license_key_type: lite debug: No debug notices found. db_tables: wp_wpmailsmtp_tasks_meta, wp_wpmailsmtp_debug_events lite_install_date: Nov 18, 2021 @ 1:50pm ```

[jamesozzie]

Performed additional checks using the same setup on another hosting provider although unable to recreate the same experience.

The impacted user did state that a combination of Elementor, Elementor pro, Updraftplus and WP File Manager are resulting in this error. The checks performed included these 4 plugins as well as all the plugins listed in their Site Health information, along with the same theme.

Site Health info from impacted user

Site Health info (support side)

``` ### wp-core ### version: 5.8.2 site_language: en_US user_language: en_US timezone: +00:00 permalink: /%year%/%monthnum%/%day%/%postname%/ https_status: true multisite: false user_registration: 0 blog_public: 1 default_comment_status: open environment_type: production user_count: 2 dotorg_communication: true ### wp-paths-sizes ### wordpress_path: /home/ccreygrp/public_html/funk.ie wordpress_size: 43.72 MB (45839213 bytes) uploads_path: /home/ccreygrp/public_html/funk.ie/wp-content/uploads uploads_size: 14.55 MB (15260435 bytes) themes_path: /home/ccreygrp/public_html/funk.ie/wp-content/themes themes_size: 144.38 MB (151388982 bytes) plugins_path: /home/ccreygrp/public_html/funk.ie/wp-content/plugins plugins_size: 188.56 MB (197714359 bytes) database_size: 11.75 MB (12320768 bytes) total_size: 402.95 MB (422523757 bytes) ### wp-dropins (1) ### maintenance.php: true ### wp-active-theme ### name: Divi (Divi) version: 4.6.6 (latest version: 4.13.1) author: Elegant Themes author_website: http://www.elegantthemes.com parent_theme: none theme_features: core-block-patterns, widgets-block-editor, custom-background, automatic-feed-links, post-thumbnails, menus, title-tag, post-formats, woocommerce, wc-product-gallery-zoom, wc-product-gallery-lightbox, wc-product-gallery-slider, customize-selective-refresh-widgets, editor-style, widgets theme_path: /home/ccreygrp/public_html/funk.ie/wp-content/themes/Divi auto_update: Disabled ### wp-themes-inactive (6) ### ampface: version: 1.0.0, author: James Osborne, Auto-updates disabled ampface - blogger child theme: version: 1.0, author: admin, Auto-updates disabled The7: version: 9.16.0, author: Dream-Theme, Auto-updates disabled Twenty Nineteen: version: 2.1, author: the WordPress team, Auto-updates disabled Twenty Twenty: version: 1.8, author: the WordPress team, Auto-updates disabled Twenty Twenty-One: version: 1.4, author: the WordPress team, Auto-updates disabled ### wp-plugins-active (14) ### Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster: version: 1.3.8.4, author: Gabe Livan, Auto-updates disabled Async JavaScript: version: 2.21.08.31, author: Frank Goossens (futtta), Auto-updates disabled Autoptimize: version: 2.9.2, author: Frank Goossens (futtta), Auto-updates disabled Classic Widgets: version: 0.2, author: WordPress Contributors, Auto-updates disabled Elementor: version: 3.4.8, author: Elementor.com, Auto-updates disabled Elementor Pro: version: 3.5.0, author: Elementor.com (latest version: 3.5.1), Auto-updates disabled Insert Headers and Footers: version: 1.6.0, author: WPBeginner, Auto-updates disabled Redirection: version: 5.1.3, author: John Godley, Auto-updates disabled Site Kit by Google: version: 1.45.0, author: Google, Auto-updates disabled UpdraftPlus - Backup/Restore: version: 2.16.57.25, author: UpdraftPlus.Com, DavidAnderson (latest version: 2.16.63.0), Auto-updates disabled WordPress Importer: version: 0.7, author: wordpressdotorg, Auto-updates disabled WP-REST-API V2 Menus: version: 0.10, author: Claudio La Barbera, Auto-updates disabled WP File Manager: version: 7.1.2, author: mndpsingh287, Auto-updates disabled Yoast SEO: version: 17.6, author: Team Yoast, Auto-updates disabled ### wp-plugins-inactive (35) ### Accept Stripe Payments: version: 2.0.47, author: Tips and Tricks HQ, wptipsntricks (latest version: 2.0.51), Auto-updates disabled Add Featured Image Column: version: 1.1.6, author: Robin Cornett, Auto-updates disabled Add Widget After Content: version: 2.4.2, author: Arelthia Phillips, Auto-updates disabled Akismet Anti-Spam: version: 4.1.12, author: Automattic (latest version: 4.2.1), Auto-updates disabled AMP: version: 2.1.4, author: AMP Project Contributors, Auto-updates disabled Change Permalink Helper: version: 1.1.1, author: Frank Bültge, Auto-updates disabled Contact Form 7: version: 5.4.2, author: Takayuki Miyoshi (latest version: 5.5.2), Auto-updates disabled Convert Plus: version: 3.5.22, author: Brainstorm Force, Auto-updates disabled Easy Footnotes: version: 1.1.5, author: Jason Yingling, Auto-updates disabled Give - Donation Plugin: version: 2.13.4, author: GiveWP (latest version: 2.17.0), Auto-updates disabled Go Pricing - WordPress Responsive Pricing Tables: version: 3.3.18, author: Granth, Auto-updates disabled Hello Dolly: version: 1.7.2, author: Matt Mullenweg, Auto-updates disabled Hotel Booking Lite: version: 3.9.13, author: MotoPress (latest version: 4.1.0), Auto-updates disabled Lazy Load - Optimize Images: version: 2.3.4, author: WP Rocket, Auto-updates disabled Media Deduper: version: 1.5.3, author: Cornershop Creative, Auto-updates disabled Meks Easy Social Share: version: 1.2.6, author: Meks, Auto-updates disabled Meks Flexible Shortcodes: version: 1.3.3, author: Meks, Auto-updates disabled Meks Smart Social Widget: version: 1.5, author: Meks, Auto-updates disabled Meks Time Ago: author: (undefined), version: 1.1.6, Auto-updates disabled Modern Events Calendar Lite: version: 5.22.2, author: Webnus (latest version: 6.1.6), Auto-updates disabled noindex SEO: version: 1.0.5, author: Javier Casares, Auto-updates disabled OptinMonster: version: 2.6.7, author: OptinMonster Team (latest version: 2.6.8), Auto-updates disabled Query Monitor: version: 3.7.1, author: John Blackbourn, Auto-updates disabled Recent Tweets Widget: version: 1.6.8, author: Noah Kagan, Auto-updates disabled Redux: version: 4.3.1, author: Extendify (latest version: 4.3.3), Auto-updates disabled RefTagger: version: 2.4.4, author: Logos Bible Software, Auto-updates disabled Simple Banner: version: 2.10.6, author: Ryan Petersen, Auto-updates disabled Slider Revolution: version: 6.5.5, author: ThemePunch, Auto-updates disabled The7 CLI: version: 1.0.0, author: Dream-Theme, Auto-updates disabled The7 Elements: version: 2.5.7.1, author: Dream-Theme, Auto-updates disabled TI WooCommerce Wishlist: version: 1.28.4, author: TemplateInvaders, Auto-updates disabled Ultimate Addons for WPBakery Page Builder: version: 3.19.11, author: Brainstorm Force, Auto-updates disabled User Profile Picture: version: 2.6.0, author: Cozmoslabs, Auto-updates disabled Wordfence Security: version: 7.5.6, author: Wordfence, Auto-updates disabled WPBakery Page Builder: version: 6.6.0.1, author: Michael M - WPBakery.com, Auto-updates disabled ### wp-media ### image_editor: WP_Image_Editor_GD imagick_module_version: Not available imagemagick_version: Not available imagick_version: Not available file_uploads: File uploads is turned off post_max_size: 1024M upload_max_filesize: 1024M max_effective_size: 1 GB max_file_uploads: 20 gd_version: bundled (2.1.0 compatible) gd_formats: GIF, JPEG, PNG, WebP, BMP, XPM ghostscript_version: unknown ### wp-server ### server_architecture: Linux 3.10.0-962.3.2.lve1.5.52.el7.x86_64 x86_64 httpd_software: Apache php_version: 7.3.32 64bit php_sapi: fpm-fcgi max_input_variables: 1000 time_limit: 90 memory_limit: 256M max_input_time: 90 upload_max_filesize: 1024M php_post_max_size: 1024M curl_version: 7.79.1 OpenSSL/1.1.1l suhosin: false imagick_availability: false pretty_permalinks: true htaccess_extra_rules: true ### wp-database ### extension: mysqli server_version: 10.3.31-MariaDB-cll-lve client_version: mysqlnd 5.0.12-dev - 20150407 - $Id: 7cc7cc96e675f6d72e5cf0f267f48e167c2abb23 $ ### wp-constants ### WP_HOME: undefined WP_SITEURL: undefined WP_CONTENT_DIR: /home/ccreygrp/public_html/funk.ie/wp-content WP_PLUGIN_DIR: /home/ccreygrp/public_html/funk.ie/wp-content/plugins WP_MEMORY_LIMIT: 40M WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT: 256M WP_DEBUG: false WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY: true WP_DEBUG_LOG: false SCRIPT_DEBUG: false WP_CACHE: false CONCATENATE_SCRIPTS: undefined COMPRESS_SCRIPTS: undefined COMPRESS_CSS: undefined WP_LOCAL_DEV: undefined DB_CHARSET: utf8mb4 DB_COLLATE: undefined ### wp-filesystem ### wordpress: writable wp-content: writable uploads: writable plugins: writable themes: writable ### google-site-kit ### version: 1.45.0 php_version: 7.3.32 wp_version: 5.8.2 reference_url: https://funk.ie amp_mode: no site_status: connected-site user_status: authenticated verification_status: verified-file connected_user_count: 2 active_modules: site-verification, search-console, adsense, analytics, analytics-4, pagespeed-insights, tagmanager required_scopes: openid: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/userinfo.profile: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/userinfo.email: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/siteverification: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/webmasters: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/adsense.readonly: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/analytics.readonly: ✅ https://www.googleapis.com/auth/tagmanager.readonly: ✅ capabilities: googlesitekit_authenticate: ✅ googlesitekit_setup: ✅ googlesitekit_view_posts_insights: ✅ googlesitekit_view_dashboard: ✅ googlesitekit_view_module_details: ✅ googlesitekit_manage_options: ✅ enabled_features: ideaHubModule: ⭕ serviceSetupV2: ⭕ swgModule: ⭕ userInput: ⭕ unifiedDashboard: ⭕ search_console_property: https://funk.ie/ adsense_account_id: pub-346••••••••••••• adsense_client_id: ca-pub-346••••••••••••• adsense_account_status: approved adsense_use_snippet: yes adsense_web_stories_adunit_id: none analytics_account_id: 1667••••• analytics_property_id: UA-1667••••••• analytics_profile_id: 2186••••• analytics_use_snippet: yes analytics_4_property_id: 2816959•• analytics_4_web_data_stream_id: 2731•••••• analytics_4_measurement_id: G-GN•••••••• analytics_4_use_snippet: yes tagmanager_account_id: 6004•••••• tagmanager_container_id: GTM-K7C•••• tagmanager_amp_container_id: none tagmanager_use_snippet: yes ```

[jamesozzie]

@bethanylang Escalating this for an engineer review. Some additional notes:

• Updraft plus does have Google Drive integration although it doesn't seem to impact any Site Kit operations during OAuth setup within Updraft.
• Awaiting confirmation from the impacted user that the is a "The REST API encountered an unexpected result" warning remains when they check their Site Health status, while hopefully obtaining the full errors within this once expanded.
• I've suggested to the user to test Site Kit from another site on the same hosting platform (GoDaddy). This wasn't possible.

[mxbclang]

Upon further review and discussion with @jamesozzie I'm closing this one out and will reply to the user in the forums.