Most TransistorWP issues come down to one of a few things: the plugin license, the Transistor.fm API key, the selected show, or whether the right data exists in Transistor.fm.
This guide walks through the common things to check when something does not look quite right.
Start here
Before digging into a specific issue,
check these basics:
- TransistorWP is installed and activated.
- Your TransistorWP license key is saved and the site is activated.
- Your Transistor.fm API key is saved in TransistorWP > Settings.
- Your Transistor.fm account has at least one show.
- The show has at least one published episode.
- You are editing the page with the WordPress block editor.
That may sound obvious, but it catches a surprising number of first-setup problems.
License issues
Why does TransistorWP say my license is missing or invalid?
TransistorWP needs an active license before it can enable all settings, blocks, and updates.
Go to
TransistorWP > License and check that:
- Your license key has been entered
- The license key was saved
- The site has been activated
- The license has not expired
- The license is valid for this site
After entering your license key, make sure to click
Activate Site on the license page.
Why do I not see the TransistorWP blocks?
The blocks are registered only when TransistorWP has a valid, active license.
If the blocks are missing from the block inserter, first check
TransistorWP > License.
If the license looks good, also make sure:
- The plugin is active
- You are using the WordPress block editor
- You are searching for TransistorWP, podcast, or the block name
What happens if my license expires?
An expired or inactive license can prevent access to TransistorWP settings, blocks, and updates.
Your existing front-end content may continue to display depending on how the page was saved, but you should renew and activate your license to keep the plugin working properly and to receive updates.
API key issues
Where do I find my Transistor.fm API key?
Log in to your Transistor.fm account and go to your account page. Your API key is shown near the bottom of that page.
Copy that key and paste it into
TransistorWP > Settings > Transistor API Key in WordPress.
Why does TransistorWP ask me to add my API key?
TransistorWP needs your Transistor.fm API key to load shows, episodes, episode descriptions, transcripts, and podcast links.
If you see a message asking for the API key:
- Go to TransistorWP > Settings.
- Paste in your Transistor.fm API key.
- Save the settings.
- Refresh the WordPress editor.
I added the API key, but my shows are still not loading
Check that the API key belongs to the Transistor.fm account that owns the show you want to use.
Then try:
- Save the settings again.
- Refresh the settings page.
- Refresh the page or post editor.
- Wait a few minutes and try again.
TransistorWP caches show and episode data briefly so your site does not make unnecessary API calls on every editor load.
Show and episode issues
My show is not listed
If a show is missing, check that:
- The show belongs to the Transistor.fm account connected by the saved API key
- The API key is entered correctly
- The TransistorWP license is active
- The show was not just added moments ago
If you recently added the show or changed your API key, wait a few minutes and refresh the editor.
My episodes are not listed
TransistorWP loads published episodes for the selected show.
If an episode is missing, check that:
- The correct show is selected
- The episode is published in Transistor.fm
- The episode belongs to the selected show
- The editor has been refreshed since the episode was published
If the episode was just published, give TransistorWP a few minutes and refresh the editor.
Can I search episodes in the Single Episode Embed block?
Yes. The Single Episode Embed block uses a searchable episode selector. Start typing part of the episode title to find the episode more quickly.
This is especially helpful for shows with a large archive.
Why is the wrong show selected when I add a new block?
Check your default show in
TransistorWP > Settings.
The default show is used to preselect a show when you add new TransistorWP blocks. You can still choose a different show inside each block.
Embed/player issues
The player does not appear on the front end
Check the block settings first.
For a
Single Episode Embed block, make sure both a show and an episode are selected.
For a
Latest Episode Embed or
Multi Episode Embed block, make sure a show is selected.
Then check that:
- Your license is active
- Your API key is saved
- The selected show still exists in Transistor.fm
- The selected episode is still available in Transistor.fm
If the editor looked correct but the front end does not, update the page and clear any site/page cache.
Why does the Latest Episode block show a different episode than I expected?
The Latest Episode Embed block always displays the newest published episode from the selected Transistor.fm show.
If you need to display one exact episode, use the Single Episode Embed block instead.
Why does the Multi Episode block not have an episode count setting?
The Multi Episode Embed block uses Transistor.fm's playlist player.
Inside TransistorWP, you choose the show and light/dark player style. The playlist player's contents and behavior are controlled by Transistor.fm.
If you want to change how many episodes appear in the playlist, look for that setting in your Transistor.fm show or player settings.
How do I switch between the light and dark player?
Use the
Light Embed toggle in the block.
- Turn Light Embed on for the light player.
- Turn Light Embed off for the dark player.
The Single Episode Embed, Latest Episode Embed, and Multi Episode Embed blocks all include this option.
Description and transcript issues
How do I display an episode description?
Use the Single Episode Embed block.
- Select a show.
- Select an episode.
- Turn on Display Description.
- Save or update the page.
The description comes from the selected episode in Transistor.fm.
The episode description is not showing
Check that:
- You are using the Single Episode Embed block
- Display Description is turned on
- The selected episode has a description in Transistor.fm
- The page has been saved or updated
The Latest Episode and Multi Episode blocks do not include the description toggle.
How do I display an episode transcript?
Use the Single Episode Embed block.
- Select a show.
- Select an episode.
- Turn on Display Transcript.
- Save or update the page.
The transcript appears in a collapsible
View Full Transcript section below the player.
The transcript is not showing
Check that:
- You are using the Single Episode Embed block
- Display Transcript is turned on
- The selected episode has a transcript in Transistor.fm
- The transcript is available through Transistor.fm for that episode
If the transcript was just added, refresh the editor and update the page again.
Podcast links issues
How do I display podcast subscribe/listen links?
Use the
TransistorWP Podcast Links block.
- Add the block to a page or post.
- Select your show.
- Save or update the page.
- View the page on the front end.
The block displays links from your Transistor.fm distribution settings.
Why are no podcast links showing?
The Podcast Links block only displays links that exist for the selected show in Transistor.fm.
Check that:
- Your TransistorWP license is active
- Your API key is saved
- The correct show is selected
- Distribution links have been added in Transistor.fm
If you just added distribution links in Transistor.fm, refresh the WordPress editor and try again.
Why is one podcast app missing?
That app probably does not have a saved distribution link in Transistor.fm for the selected show.
Add the link in Transistor.fm first, then refresh the WordPress editor and preview the page again.
WordPress editor and theme questions
Does TransistorWP work with the Classic Editor?
TransistorWP adds Gutenberg blocks.
If you are using the Classic Editor, you will need to edit the page with the WordPress block editor in order to insert and configure TransistorWP blocks.
Does TransistorWP work with block themes and full site editing?
TransistorWP blocks are WordPress blocks, so they are designed for the block editor.
If your block theme lets you insert normal blocks into templates, pages, or posts, you should be able to use TransistorWP blocks there too.
As with any block-based setup, it is worth previewing the page on the front end to confirm the player and links look good in your theme.
Can I use TransistorWP with more than one podcast?
Yes. TransistorWP supports accounts with multiple Transistor.fm shows.
You can set a default show in
TransistorWP > Settings, and you can choose a different show inside each block when needed.
Can I add multiple TransistorWP blocks to the same page?
Yes.
For example, you could add:
- A Latest Episode Embed block near the top of a podcast page
- A Multi Episode Embed block lower on the page
- A Podcast Links block below the player
Just make sure each block is configured for the correct show.
Local and staging sites
Can I use TransistorWP on a staging site?
That depends on your license and activation limits.
If the license will not activate on a staging or local site, check your TransistorWP account or contact support.
I moved my site and the license stopped working
Go to
TransistorWP > License and check the license status.
If needed, deactivate the old site from your account and activate the new site. If you are not sure which activation to remove, contact support before making changes.
Getting support
If you are still stuck, gather a few details before
reaching out:
- Your WordPress version
- Your TransistorWP version
- Whether the issue is in the editor, on the front end, or both
- Which block you are using
- Which show and episode you are trying to display
- Any error messages you see
The more specific the details are, the easier it is to find the problem quickly.
