🧩 Why This Message Appears

When you install the OTTO WordPress plugin, it automatically adds the OTTO JavaScript snippet to your site. If you previously added the snippet manually — for example, by pasting it into your theme files or a header/footer plugin — both versions run at the same time. Search Atlas detects this conflict and warns you to remove the duplicate so OTTO can work correctly.

✅ Before You Start

Confirm which method you want to use going forward. The OTTO WordPress plugin is the recommended approach because it manages the script automatically. You only need to remove any manually added copies of the script. Do not uninstall the plugin itself.

🔎 Step 1: Check Your Theme's Header and Footer Files

The most common place a manual script is added is directly inside a theme file.

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Go to Appearance → Theme File Editor (or Theme Editor).
3. In the file list on the right, open header.php.
4. Use your browser's find function (Ctrl + F or Cmd + F) and search for otto or searchatlas.
5. If you find a script tag containing the OTTO snippet, delete the entire script tag.
6. Click Update File to save.
7. Repeat this check for footer.php.

🔎 Step 2: Check Header/Footer Plugins

If you use a plugin to inject code site-wide, the duplicate script may be stored there.

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Installed Plugins.
2. Look for plugins such as Insert Headers and Footers, WPCode, Header Footer Code Manager, or any similar tool.
3. Open the plugin's settings and search each code snippet for the OTTO script tag.
4. Delete any snippet that contains the OTTO JavaScript and save your changes.

🔎 Step 3: Check Your Page Builder or Theme Options

Many themes and page builders include a custom code or scripts section.

1. Go to Appearance → Customize and look for a section called Additional CSS, Custom Code, or Scripts.
2. Search for any OTTO script tag and remove it, then publish your changes.
3. If you use a page builder such as Elementor, Divi, or Beaver Builder, open the builder's global settings or site settings and check for a header or footer scripts field. Remove the OTTO snippet if present and save.

🔎 Step 4: Check Individual Pages and Posts

The script may have been added to a specific page rather than site-wide.

1. In WordPress, go to Pages or Posts.
2. Open pages one at a time and switch to the Code Editor view (click the three-dot menu in the block editor, then select Code Editor).
3. Search the source for the OTTO script tag and delete it if found, then update the page.
4. Focus first on high-traffic pages and your homepage.

✔️ Step 5: Verify the Duplicate Has Been Removed

After removing the script from all locations above, confirm the conflict is resolved inside Search Atlas.

1. In the left sidebar, go to OTTO SEO → All Sites (SEO Automation).
2. Open the OTTO dashboard for your site.
3. Check whether the duplicate JavaScript warning has cleared. It may take a few minutes to update.
4. If the warning is still showing, right-click your website in a browser, select View Page Source, and search for otto. Count how many times the script tag appears. There should be exactly one instance, loaded by the plugin. If you still see two instances, return to the steps above and check any location you may have missed.

⚠️ Common Reasons the Script Is Hard to Find

• Child theme files: If you use a child theme, check both the child theme and the parent theme files.
• Caching plugins: A caching plugin may serve an old version of your page. Clear your site cache after making any changes.
• Multiple snippet plugins: You may have more than one code injection plugin installed. Check all of them.
• Deactivated plugins still storing code: Some plugins retain saved snippets even when deactivated. Reactivate them briefly to check and delete any stored OTTO code, then deactivate again.

💬 Still Need Help?

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.