Frequently Asked Questions
Is OneMeta free?
Yes, completely. OneMeta is open-source and licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later. There are no premium tiers, no license keys, and no paid features. Everything is included at no cost.
What are the minimum requirements?
WordPress 6.8 or higher and PHP 8.2 or higher. See the full Requirements page.
Do I need to include the onemeta_ prefix in my field key?
No. The prefix is added automatically by all helper functions. If your field key is hero_title, use:
onemeta_get_meta( get_the_ID(), 'hero_title' );Not onemeta_hero_title.
Can I use OneMeta without the plugin installed on a site?
Yes. Use the Export as PHP feature to export your field group as a PHP file. Load that file from your theme or plugin and the meta boxes will appear without OneMeta installed.
What does the Toggle field return?
It returns "1" when on and "" (empty string) when off — not a boolean. Always use strict comparison:
if ( $value === '1' ) { ... }What do Image and File fields return?
Both return an integer — the WordPress attachment ID. Use wp_get_attachment_image() or wp_get_attachment_url() to work with it.
What does a Checkbox field return?
An array of selected values. Always check is_array() before looping.
Can I assign a field group to multiple post types?
Currently each field group is assigned to one post type or user meta. To show the same fields on multiple post types, create a separate field group for each with identical field configurations, or use the PHP export to register the same config under multiple post types programmatically.
Can I use conditional logic inside a Repeater?
Yes. Conditional logic is fully supported inside Repeater sub-fields.
Where can I report bugs or request features?
Open an issue on GitHub or post in the WordPress.org support forum for the plugin.
Can I install OneMeta via the WordPress admin without uploading a ZIP?
Yes. Go to Plugins → Add New, search for OneMeta, and click Install Now. It is available directly in the WordPress plugin directory.
Troubleshooting
My field group is not showing on the post edit screen
- Check that the field group Status is set to Active in the dashboard
- Confirm the field group Post Type matches the post type you are editing
- Make sure the field group has at least one field added
My field values are returning empty
- Check you are not including the
onemeta_prefix in your field key - Confirm you are calling
onemeta_get_meta()inside The Loop or passing the correct post ID - Check the field was saved — open the post and verify the field has a value entered
The Export PHP button does nothing
- Check your browser console for JavaScript errors
- Ensure you have at least one field added to the field group before exporting
- Try refreshing the page and exporting again
The builder is not saving
- Check for a WordPress nonce error — try logging out and back in
- Ensure your field group key uses only lowercase letters and underscores (no spaces or special characters)
- Confirm all required fields (key, title, at least one field with key and label) are filled in
I see a database error on activation
OneMeta creates a custom table on activation. If you see a database error:
- Confirm your database user has
CREATE TABLEpermission - Check that
$wpdb->prefixis correctly set in your WordPress config - Deactivate and reactivate the plugin — WordPress will attempt to create the table again
REST API returns 401 or 403
All OneMeta REST endpoints require the manage_options capability (Administrator role). If you are testing with a non-admin user, switch to an Administrator account.
If you are using X-WP-Nonce authentication, ensure the nonce was generated with wp_create_nonce( 'wp_rest' ) and has not expired (nonces expire after 24 hours by default).