How to Fix Common Errors in WordPress Websites

WordPress is a powerful and popular platform for building websites, but like any software, it can encounter errors. These issues can range from minor annoyances to major roadblocks that affect the functionality of your site. Understanding how to troubleshoot and resolve common WordPress errors is crucial to ensuring your site runs smoothly and provides a good user experience.

In this article, we’ll cover the most common WordPress errors and how to fix them, so you can keep your website up and running efficiently.

1. White Screen of Death (WSOD)

Error Description: The White Screen of Death (WSOD) is one of the most frustrating WordPress issues. When you visit your website, the screen remains blank without any error message, making it hard to diagnose the problem.

How to Fix It:

• Deactivate Plugins and Themes: A faulty plugin or theme is often the culprit. Access your site via FTP or cPanel, navigate to the wp-content folder, and rename the plugins folder to something like plugins-old. Then check if the site loads. If it does, rename the folder back to plugins and reactivate each plugin one by one to find the problematic one. You can do the same for themes by renaming the themes folder and activating a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One.
• Increase PHP Memory Limit: Insufficient memory can cause the WSOD. Add the following line to your wp-config.php file to increase the PHP memory limit: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
• Check for Errors: Enable debugging in WordPress by adding the following code to your wp-config.php file: define('WP_DEBUG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false); This will create a debug log in the wp-content folder, where you can review the error.

2. Error Establishing Database Connection

Error Description: This error occurs when WordPress is unable to connect to the database, which is essential for running the site.

How to Fix It:

• Check Database Credentials: In your wp-config.php file, ensure the database name, username, password, and host are correct. If any of these are incorrect, WordPress can’t connect to the database.
• Repair the Database: WordPress has a built-in database repair tool. To activate it, add the following line to your wp-config.php file: define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true); Afterward, visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php to run the repair tool. Remember to remove this line from the wp-config.php file after repairs.
• Check Database Server: If your database credentials are correct but the problem persists, contact your hosting provider to check if the database server is down or experiencing issues.

3. 404 Not Found Error

Error Description: A 404 error means the page or post you are trying to access can’t be found. This can occur after updating your permalinks or if there is an issue with the .htaccess file.

How to Fix It:

• Update Permalinks: Go to your WordPress Dashboard and navigate to Settings > Permalinks. Click the Save Changes button without making any changes. This will refresh your permalink settings and can resolve many 404 errors.
• Reset .htaccess File: If updating permalinks doesn’t work, try resetting the .htaccess file. First, access your site’s root directory via FTP or cPanel, and rename the .htaccess file (e.g., .htaccess-old). Then, go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and click Save Changes to generate a new .htaccess file.

4. Internal Server Error (500 Error)

Error Description: The 500 Internal Server Error is a generic error message indicating that something has gone wrong on the server, but it doesn’t provide specific details.

How to Fix It:

• Deactivate Plugins: As with other errors, plugins may be the cause. Deactivate all plugins by renaming the plugins folder (as mentioned above), and then check if the error is resolved. Reactivate plugins one by one to identify the problematic plugin.
• Increase PHP Limits: Add or increase the PHP memory limit in your wp-config.php file: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
• Check File Permissions: Ensure your WordPress files and directories have the correct file permissions. WordPress files should generally have 644 permissions, and directories should have 755 permissions. You can adjust permissions via FTP or cPanel.
• Check .htaccess File: Rename your .htaccess file and regenerate it through Settings > Permalinks.

5. Connection Timed Out Error

Error Description: This error typically occurs when your server is taking too long to respond. It may happen if your site has too many requests or if there is a bottleneck in the server.

How to Fix It:

• Increase PHP Memory Limit: Add the following to your wp-config.php to increase the memory limit: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
• Deactivate Plugins and Themes: A slow or faulty plugin or theme can cause timeouts. Deactivate all plugins and switch to a default WordPress theme to check if that resolves the issue.
• Contact Hosting Provider: If the problem persists, contact your hosting provider. The issue might be due to the server resources being insufficient, and they may need to upgrade your hosting plan.

6. WordPress White Screen After Updating

Error Description: After updating WordPress, plugins, or themes, you may encounter a white screen, making your site inaccessible.

How to Fix It:

• Deactivate All Plugins: Use FTP to deactivate all plugins and see if the site loads. If it does, reactivate them one by one to pinpoint the plugin causing the issue.
• Switch to Default Theme: If the issue occurred after a theme update, switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One to check if the theme is causing the issue.
• Enable Debugging: Add the following code to your wp-config.php file to enable debugging and see what’s causing the problem: define('WP_DEBUG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

7. WordPress Not Sending Emails

Error Description: WordPress uses the PHP mail function to send emails, including notifications for new user registrations, password resets, and contact form submissions. If emails aren’t being sent, it could be due to misconfigurations or issues with the server.

How to Fix It:

• Check Spam Folder: First, check your spam folder to ensure the emails aren’t being incorrectly flagged as spam.
• Use SMTP Plugin: Install an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP to send emails through a reliable email provider (such as Gmail, SendGrid, or Mailgun). This bypasses the default PHP mail function and often resolves email issues.
• Check Hosting Provider: Contact your hosting provider to ensure they haven’t disabled PHP mail functionality or have any outgoing mail restrictions.

8. Theme or Plugin Conflict

Error Description: When two or more plugins or themes conflict with each other, it can cause a range of issues, from errors to unexpected behavior on the site.

How to Fix It:

• Deactivate All Plugins: Deactivate all your plugins and check if the error is resolved. Reactivate them one by one to identify the conflicting plugin.
• Switch to Default Theme: If the issue persists, switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One. If the error disappears, the issue is likely with your theme.

Conclusion

WordPress errors can be frustrating, but most issues can be resolved by following a systematic approach. Always back up your site before making any major changes, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your hosting provider or seek professional help if necessary.

By understanding these common errors and how to troubleshoot them, you’ll be able to maintain a smoother, more reliable WordPress website for yourself and your users.

FAQs

1. How do I prevent WordPress errors? Regularly update your WordPress core, themes, and plugins. Backup your site frequently and use a reliable hosting provider with good support.
2. What should I do if I can’t fix the error myself? If you’re unable to resolve an error on your own, consider reaching out to a WordPress professional or the support team for your theme or hosting provider for assistance.