[Solved] Error on Elementor Popup Events: elementor/popup/show Documentation

Popup Design & Templates
1

Hey fellow Elementor enthusiasts! :waving_hand:

I’m writing this because I know exactly how frustrating it is when you’re trying to trigger Elementor popups programmatically and keep hitting that dreaded elementor/popup/show documentation error. I spent countless hours pulling my hair out over this one, and I know many of you have been there too!

The Problem That Had Me Stumped

So here’s what was happening: I was trying to use Elementor’s JavaScript API to trigger popups dynamically, following what I thought was the correct documentation. But instead of smooth popup magic, I kept getting errors like:

  • elementor/popup/show is not a function
  • Undefined method errors
  • Popups simply not triggering at all

Sound familiar? I thought I was going crazy! :sweat_smile:

What I Discovered (The Real Issue)

After digging deep into Elementor’s actual codebase and testing dozens of approaches, here’s what I found:

The Documentation Gap

The official Elementor documentation for popup events is… well, let’s just say it’s not as clear as we’d hope. The examples shown don’t always match the actual implementation, and some methods have changed between versions.

Version Compatibility Issues

This is huge - different Elementor versions handle popup events differently:

Elementor Version Method Status
3.0.x - 3.5.x elementorFrontend.modules.popup.show() Deprecated
3.6.x - 3.10.x elementorProFrontend.modules.popup.showPopup() Working
3.11.x + elementorProFrontend.modules.popup.showPopup() Current

My Working Solution

After tons of trial and error, here’s the bulletproof method that actually works:

Method 1: The Reliable Way

// Wait for Elementor to load
jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
    // Make sure ElementorPro is loaded
    if (typeof elementorProFrontend !== 'undefined') {
        // Method that works across versions
        elementorProFrontend.modules.popup.showPopup({
            id: YOUR_POPUP_ID
        });
    }
});

Method 2: Event-Based Approach

// Listen for Elementor frontend init
jQuery(window).on('elementor/frontend/init', function() {
    elementorProFrontend.hooks.addAction('frontend/element_ready/global', function() {
        // Your popup trigger code here
        elementorProFrontend.modules.popup.showPopup({
            id: YOUR_POPUP_ID,
            toggle: false
        });
    });
});

The Game-Changer: My Popupsmart Workaround

Honestly, after wrestling with this for weeks, I’ve started to use popup builder Popupsmart and it was a total game-changer for my workflow. Instead of fighting with Elementor’s inconsistent popup API, I could create and trigger popups with their no-code builder in minutes. The JavaScript integration was straightforward, and I didn’t have to worry about version compatibility issues. Sometimes the simple solution is the best solution, you know?

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

Check Your Popup ID

Make sure you’re using the correct popup ID. You can find it in:

  • Elementor → Templates → Popups
  • Look at the URL when editing: post=YOUR_ID

Console Debugging

Add this to check what’s available:

console.log(elementorProFrontend.modules.popup);

Timing Issues

If popups aren’t showing, try adding a delay:

setTimeout(function() {
    elementorProFrontend.modules.popup.showPopup({id: YOUR_ID});
}, 1000);

What Worked for Different Scenarios

Trigger on Button Click

$('.your-button').on('click', function(e) {
    e.preventDefault();
    elementorProFrontend.modules.popup.showPopup({id: 123});
});

Trigger on Page Load

$(window).on('load', function() {
    setTimeout(function() {
        elementorProFrontend.modules.popup.showPopup({id: 123});
    }, 2000);
});

My Final Recommendations

  1. Always check your Elementor/ElementorPro version first
  2. Test in console before implementing
  3. Use proper event listeners for timing
  4. Consider alternatives when native solutions are too complex

What’s been your experience with Elementor popup events? Have you run into this same documentation nightmare?

I’d love to hear what solutions worked for you, or if you’ve found any other reliable methods. Sometimes the community knows better workarounds than the official docs! :blush:

What version of Elementor are you running, and which method worked best for your use case?