Popup After PayPal Return

### 1. **Thank You Page Redirection**
Some WordPress plugins, especially e-commerce ones (like WooCommerce), might briefly show a loading or redirecting popup when returning from a payment gateway like PayPal. This is often done to handle session data, confirm the transaction, or redirect users to a "Thank You" page.

### **Solution**
– **Check Payment Gateway Settings**: In your WooCommerce or payment plugin settings, look for options related to "Thank You" pages or redirects. Make sure that it's set up correctly and does not have any unnecessary popups or loading screens.
– **Disable Loading Screen (if available)**: Some plugins allow disabling this behavior. Look for any "loading" or "waiting" screen options in the plugin settings.

### 2. **JavaScript Popups or Modals**
Your theme or another plugin might be using a JavaScript-based popup that gets triggered upon returning from PayPal. This could happen if there are event listeners on page load or URL changes.

### **Solution**
– **Inspect Network & Console Logs**: Open your browser's developer tools (`F12` or `Ctrl+Shift+I` on most browsers), go to the **Console** and **Network** tabs, and observe what happens when returning from PayPal. Look for any JavaScript errors or network requests that could be triggering the popup.
– **Disable Popup Plugins**: If you are using any popup or modal plugins (like Popup Maker, WPForms, etc.), try temporarily disabling them to see if the issue persists.

### 3. **Payment Success Notifications**
Some plugins might show a brief notification (like a "Payment Successful" popup) to inform users of the payment status. This popup might disappear quickly, especially if it’s designed to auto-hide after a second.

### **Solution**
– **Adjust Notification Settings**: If your payment or notification plugin supports customization, adjust the duration of the notification or disable it.

### 4. **Caching Issues**
Sometimes, cached scripts or stylesheets can cause unexpected behavior when users return from external sites like PayPal.

### **Solution**
– **Clear Cache**: Clear your WordPress cache if you’re using caching plugins (like WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, etc.).
– **Clear Browser Cache**: Ask users to clear their browser cache or test in incognito mode to ensure that old scripts are not interfering.

### 5. **Debugging Steps**
To narrow down the cause, you can try the following:
– **Switch to a Default Theme**: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three and see if the issue persists.
– **Disable All Plugins**: Disable all plugins except your payment gateway and gradually enable them one by one to identify any conflicts.

Let me know if you need further assistance with any of these steps!

### Step 1: **Check Browser Console for Errors**
1. **Open Browser Developer Tools**:
– Press `F12` or `Ctrl + Shift + I` (Windows) / `Cmd + Option + I` (Mac) to open the Developer Tools.
– Go to the **Console** tab.
2. **Perform the PayPal Payment Flow Again**:
– Complete a test transaction with PayPal and observe if any errors or warnings appear in the console when returning to your site.
3. **Check for Network Activity**:
– Go to the **Network** tab in Developer Tools and look for any failed requests or unusual behavior when you return from PayPal.

### Step 2: **Check PayPal Plugin Settings**
1. **Go to WordPress Admin Dashboard**.
2. **Navigate to the Payment Gateway Settings** (e.g., WooCommerce → Settings → Payments → PayPal).
3. Look for any options related to **redirection behavior** after a successful payment:
– **Auto Redirect Settings**: Ensure that there isn't a "loading screen" or "popup" option enabled.
– **Thank You Page**: Make sure it’s set up correctly and points to a valid URL.

### Step 3: **Check for Popup or Notification Plugins**
1. **Disable Popup Plugins**:
– If you are using any plugins that display popups (e.g., Popup Maker, OptinMonster), temporarily **disable them** and test the payment flow again.
2. **Check Theme Customizations**:
– If your theme has built-in popup features, check the theme settings under **Appearance → Customize** or the theme options panel.

### Step 4: **Review Theme and Plugin Conflicts**
1. **Switch to a Default Theme**:
– Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like **Twenty Twenty-Three**.
– Test the payment flow to see if the popup issue persists.
2. **Disable All Plugins Except PayPal**:
– Go to **Plugins → Installed Plugins**.
– **Deactivate all plugins** except for your PayPal/payment gateway plugin.
– Test the payment flow. If the issue is resolved, enable each plugin one by one and test again to identify the culprit.

### Step 5: **Check Page Cache and Browser Cache**
1. **Clear WordPress Cache**:
– If you're using a caching plugin (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache), clear the cache.
– Also, clear any server-side cache (like from a hosting control panel if available).
2. **Clear Browser Cache**:
– Ask users to clear their browser cache or test the payment flow in **Incognito Mode**.

### Step 6: **Look for Custom JavaScript**
1. **Check for Custom Scripts in the Theme**:
– Go to **Appearance → Theme File Editor** and review any custom JavaScript in files like `header.php`, `footer.php`, or `functions.php`.
2. **Check for Custom Code in the Payment Plugin**:
– If you've added any custom code related to the payment flow, comment it out temporarily.

### Step 7: **Check Logs for Errors**
1. **Enable WordPress Debugging**:
– Open your `wp-config.php` file and set the following:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);
     define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
     define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

– This will log any errors to the `wp-content/debug.log` file. Review this file for any clues.
2. **Check Hosting Logs**:
– If available, check your hosting provider’s logs (like Apache or Nginx error logs) for any server-side issues.

### Step 8: **Review WooCommerce Logs (if applicable)**
1. **Go to WooCommerce → Status → Logs**.
2. Select **PayPal logs** from the dropdown and click **View**.
3. Look for any errors or messages that might explain the popup.

By following these steps, you should be able to pinpoint what's causing the brief popup when returning from PayPal. Let me know if you find anything specific or need further assistance!