Picture this: you pour your heart and soul into your WordPress site, only to be met by a glaring white screen or a cryptic error message. Frustrating, right? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This guide empowers you with simple solutions to troubleshoot common WordPress issues.
WordPress powers over 30 million active websites because it’s powerful and versatile. However, this popularity can lead to common WordPress problems. With a little direction and preventative care, these headaches are easily avoidable and reversible.
Contents
- How to Troubleshoot Common WordPress Issues: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Troubleshooting 404 Errors and Permalink Problems
- The Dreaded White Screen of Death (WSOD)
- Database Connection Errors: Reconnecting Your Site’s Heart
- Internal Server Error (500 Error): Digging Deeper
- Media Upload Issues: Fixing Broken Images and Failed Uploads
- My Site Got Hacked, I Lost Access to the Admin Dashboard: Fixing It
- FAQs about How to Troubleshoot Common WordPress Issues
- Conclusion
How to Troubleshoot Common WordPress Issues: A Step-by-Step Guide
Before we begin, having a recent backup is crucial. Use a plugin like Duplicator or create one manually.
Backups protect your website from data loss during troubleshooting.
Troubleshooting 404 Errors and Permalink Problems
Sometimes a page vanishes, leaving you with a 404 error. This usually signals permalink problems. Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard.
Click “Save Changes” even without altering anything. This often regenerates things and fixes 404 errors. If errors persist, a corrupt .htaccess file might be the culprit. Rename it via SFTP (FileZilla is a free option).
Then revisit your Permalinks settings and hit “Save Changes” again to generate a fresh .htaccess file. The WordPress Codex offers more detailed information. Widespread 404s could be server-related, so contact your hosting provider if the issue continues.
The Dreaded White Screen of Death (WSOD)
The WSOD is the bane of WordPress users because it’s vague. No errors, just a blank screen. There is no single cause or solution for a WSOD, so instead follow these steps:
- Deactivate Plugins: A rogue plugin is often the problem. Deactivate them all via FTP or your dashboard if possible. If your site revives, reactivate one at a time until the WSOD returns.
- Theme Troubles: Switch to a default WordPress theme to rule out theme conflicts. The default theme is typically error-free, so you can verify whether a different active theme caused the WSOD. Twenty Twenty-Two is the current recommended theme by WordPress.
- Debugging Magic: Activate WordPress debug mode for helpful error messages. This shows PHP errors, notices and warnings that might offer clues on resolving a white screen error in WordPress.
- Cache Check: Clear your browser cache and WordPress cache (using a caching plugin if available). Old files can cause display problems including white screen. So making sure caches are flushed fixes some issues quickly.
- Memory Boost: Increasing PHP memory in your wp-config.php file can sometimes resolve a white screen. If your script overuses its assigned memory it might cause display issues.
Database Connection Errors: Reconnecting Your Site’s Heart
“Error Establishing a Database Connection” indicates a crucial problem. Your entire site relies on the database connection. Incorrect database information in your wp-config.php file (database name, username, password, host) usually causes these issues.
Double-check these entries in your hosting control panel (cPanel or Plesk). Also consider adjusting user permissions within CPanel or Plesk. If the problem involves database optimization tools, ensure they completed successfully. Persistent errors (check database and MySQL error references) may require your web host provider.
Internal Server Error (500 Error): Digging Deeper
Internal server errors (500 errors) indicate server-side problems. Like the WSOD, 500 errors often mask the true cause. The .htaccess file is frequently involved.
Rename the .htaccess file and generate a new one via Permalinks settings. If problems persist when troubleshooting 500 errors, contact your hosting provider for more assistance.
Media Upload Issues: Fixing Broken Images and Failed Uploads
WordPress media upload problems are common frustrations. Issues range from failed uploads to disappearing images. File permissions are often the cause. Incorrect file permissions prevent images and uploads from loading correctly.
Try reverting to default numeric values (644 for files, 755 for folders) via SSH or your host’s file manager. This usually solves most upload or display issues. If problems continue, explore your theme’s features or consult documentation. Or look up online if your CAPTCHA plugin is compatible with Kinsta.
My Site Got Hacked, I Lost Access to the Admin Dashboard: Fixing It
A website hack compromises your site and alters its appearance. To address malware, employ security scans from Sucuri SiteCheck or specialized WordPress security services like MalCare.
Security threats can cause unauthorized administrator dashboard and wp-admin redirects, including login problems and limited access to error logs. Your web host’s support team can assist with detailed troubleshooting. Once secure, restore from a clean backup. This ensures no trace of the hack remains and secures your site from future intrusions.
FAQs about How to Troubleshoot Common WordPress Issues
How do you troubleshoot common WordPress errors?
Troubleshooting WordPress errors involves a systematic approach. Begin by identifying the error. Back up your site to preserve its current state. Clear caches as this often resolves transient issues.
Next, deactivate plugins because a problematic plugin might cause the error. Switch to a default theme because some errors stem from theme incompatibilities. Finally, check file permissions and consider increasing memory limits in wp-config.php file.
How to fix responsive issues in WordPress?
Responsive issues, where your site looks different on various devices, usually stem from theme problems. If all seems well on one device and not others, it’s a theme issue, not an error message like file upload issue. Or an active theme can break responsive design during edits, which is another similar WordPress website issue.
First, confirm your theme is updated since outdated versions can introduce conflicts or missing features in newer themes. Then, try switching to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Two. Test with the W3C Markup Validation Service. If needed, adjust your CSS or div tags, especially margin styles because this is the source of some issues.
Why is my WordPress site messed up?
Several things can disrupt a WordPress site. Plugin conflicts, broken themes, corrupted databases, and incorrect file permissions all cause problems. If issues arise after updates, installations, or edits, look for syntax errors within any added code. Look closely at how newly added WordPress plugins, new or updated themes are working.
Since WordPress has a large install base, different issues can arise. It’s useful to learn about solving other similar user reported WordPress error messages, such as gateway timeouts. A good approach involves investigating different possible issues by systematically eliminating them by checking one at a time, beginning with clearing caches, recent plugin installations, edits involving changed file permissions, before escalating to support teams if nothing works.
How to solve critical error on WordPress?
Critical errors often appear after failed updates. Check error logs and try deactivating plugins or manually reinstalling the update. Critical errors can halt your entire site or just one WordPress plugin.
If the automatic update process breaks or generates error messages when updating and breaks after installing either new themes, plugin updates or updates involving changes to core WordPress functions and files. It is possible to edit the site using temporary access such as reverting to a default WordPress theme and doing necessary file and/or permissions edits via FTP client or Secure Shell to access web host servers before updating and installing newer version to prevent the same or new issues cropping up and having same problems on repeat.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting common WordPress issues involves investigation. Start with easy fixes like clearing caches, and progress to more complex solutions as needed. Even complex errors often have simple solutions once you know where to look and how to make the needed adjustments. Proper backups are your best friend when working on a live WordPress site to minimize the chance that making an incorrect change results in a permanent disruption.
