12 Most Common WordPress Errors and How to Fix Them

Introduction

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, earning its reputation as the world’s most popular content management system. Its flexibility, extensive plugin ecosystem, and user-friendly interface make it accessible to beginners while providing powerful tools for experienced developers.

However, even the most reliable platforms occasionally experience issues. As a WordPress user, encountering errors is virtually inevitable at some point in your website journey. These technical hiccups can range from minor inconveniences to complete site failures that prevent access to your WordPress dashboard or public-facing pages.

The good news? Most WordPress errors follow predictable patterns with established solutions. Understanding these common issues—and knowing how to resolve them—can dramatically reduce downtime and frustration. In many cases, you can fix these problems yourself without requiring expensive emergency developer assistance.

This comprehensive guide examines the 12 most frequently encountered WordPress errors, explaining what causes each issue and providing clear, step-by-step solutions to restore your site’s functionality. Whether you’re a WordPress beginner or an experienced site administrator, this troubleshooting resource will help you diagnose problems quickly and implement the appropriate fixes to get your website back online.

1. The White Screen of Death (WSOD)

The notorious “White Screen of Death” is perhaps the most alarming WordPress error—your site suddenly displays a completely blank white page with no error message or explanation.

What Causes This Error

The WSOD typically results from:

• PHP memory limit exhaustion: Your site has reached its allocated memory limit
• Plugin conflicts: Two or more plugins with incompatible code
• Theme function errors: Coding issues in your active theme’s functions.php file
• PHP version incompatibility: Outdated code that doesn’t work with your PHP version
• Corrupted WordPress core files: Essential system files that have been damaged

How to Fix It

Since you can’t access your dashboard, you’ll need to troubleshoot using FTP or your hosting file manager:

Method 1: Increase PHP Memory Limit

1. Connect to your site via FTP or hosting file manager
2. Locate and edit your wp-config.php file in the root directory
3. Add this line before “That’s all, stop editing!”:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

4. Save the file and refresh your site

Method 2: Deactivate All Plugins

1. Connect via FTP or file manager
2. Navigate to wp-content/plugins
3. Rename the entire “plugins” folder to “plugins_old”
4. Refresh your site – if it works, the issue is plugin-related
5. Rename “plugins_old” back to “plugins”
6. Inside the plugins folder, rename each plugin folder individually and refresh your site after each one to identify the problematic plugin

Method 3: Switch to Default Theme

1. Connect via FTP or file manager
2. Navigate to wp-content/themes
3. Create a new file called “theme_test.php” in the themes directory
4. Add this code:

<?php
/*
Plugin Name: Theme Test
*/
update_option('template', 'twentytwentythree');
update_option('stylesheet', 'twentytwentythree');
?>

5. Go to yourdomain.com/wp-content/themes/theme_test.php in your browser
6. This activates the default WordPress theme, bypassing your potentially problematic theme

Method 4: Enable WordPress Debug Mode

1. Edit wp-config.php via FTP or file manager
2. Add these lines before “That’s all, stop editing!”:

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

3. Check the wp-content folder for a debug.log file that shows specific errors

Prevention Tips

• Always keep themes, plugins, and WordPress core updated
• Test plugins on staging sites before installing on production
• Choose reputable plugins with good update histories
• Regularly back up your website to enable quick recovery

2. The Error Establishing Database Connection

This error occurs when WordPress cannot connect to its database, resulting in a plain page with only the message “Error establishing a database connection.”

What Causes This Error

Common causes include:

• Incorrect database credentials: Mismatched database name, username, or password
• Corrupted database: Tables damaged due to server issues or plugin errors
• Database server downtime: MySQL/MariaDB server is down or overloaded
• Hosting issues: Server resources exhausted or hosting maintenance
• Malware infection: Malicious code altering database settings

How to Fix It

Method 1: Verify Database Credentials

1. Access your wp-config.php file via FTP or file manager
2. Check these lines for accuracy:

define('DB_NAME', 'database_name_here');
define('DB_USER', 'username_here');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'password_here');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

3. Compare with your actual database credentials (from hosting control panel)
4. Correct any discrepancies and save the file

Method 2: Repair Database

1. Add this line to wp-config.php before “That’s all, stop editing!”:

define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);

2. Visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php
3. Click “Repair Database” or “Repair and Optimize Database”
4. Wait for the process to complete
5. Remove the line you added to wp-config.php for security

Method 3: Contact Your Host

If the previous methods don’t work:

1. Check your hosting status page for outages
2. Contact your hosting support to verify:

• Database server status
• Account resource limits
• Whether there’s ongoing maintenance
• If your site has been flagged for malware

Method 4: Restore from Backup

If all else fails and you have a recent backup:

1. Restore your database from the latest backup
2. Consider importing to a new database if the existing one is corrupted
3. Update wp-config.php with the new database details if needed

Prevention Tips

• Use a reliable WordPress backup solution
• Monitor database size and optimize regularly
• Use security plugins to prevent malware infections
• Choose quality hosting with good database management

3. Internal Server Error (500)

The 500 Internal Server Error is a generic server response indicating something went wrong, but without specifying the exact problem.

What Causes This Error

Common causes include:

• Exhausted PHP memory limit: Similar to WSOD but returns a server error
• Corrupted .htaccess file: Server configuration file with syntax errors
• Plugin or theme conflicts: Code that crashes the server
• PHP timeout issues: Scripts taking too long to execute
• Server configuration problems: Issues with server software or settings

How to Fix It

Method 1: Check and Reset .htaccess File

1. Connect to your site via FTP or file manager
2. Locate the .htaccess file in your root directory
3. Download a backup copy to your computer
4. Rename the server’s .htaccess file to .htaccess_old
5. Create a new .htaccess file with these basic rules:

# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>
# END WordPress

6. Save and upload the file
7. If your site works, the old .htaccess was corrupted

Method 2: Increase Memory and Execution Time

1. Create or edit a php.ini file in your root directory:

memory_limit = 256M
max_execution_time = 300
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_input_vars = 3000

2. Save and upload the file
3. Also add this to your wp-config.php:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

Method 3: Disable All Plugins

1. Connect via FTP or file manager
2. Rename the wp-content/plugins folder to plugins_old
3. If your site works, rename plugins_old back to plugins
4. Test plugins individually by renaming each subfolder and checking your site

Method 4: Enable Error Reporting

1. Create a test.php file in your root directory with:

<?php
ini_set('display_errors', 1);
error_reporting(E_ALL);
// Include WordPress core
require('./wp-blog-header.php');
?>

2. Visit yourdomain.com/test.php to see specific error messages
3. Delete this file when finished troubleshooting

Prevention Tips

• Be cautious with .htaccess modifications
• Keep plugins updated and remove unused ones
• Choose quality hosting with adequate resources
• Implement a staging environment for testing changes

4. Parse or Syntax Error

Syntax errors appear with messages like “Parse error: syntax error, unexpected…” and usually include line numbers and file references.

What Causes This Error

These errors occur when PHP code cannot be interpreted due to:

• Missing semicolons or brackets: Incomplete code statements
• Unexpected character use: Special characters breaking code execution
• PHP version incompatibility: Using newer PHP features on older PHP versions
• Copy/paste errors: Special invisible characters or formatting from word processors
• Manual code edits: Typos or mistakes when editing theme or plugin files

How to Fix It

Method 1: Fix the Specific File

1. Note the file path and line number from the error message
2. Connect via FTP or file manager
3. Download the problematic file
4. Open in a code editor (not Word or text editors)
5. Go to the specified line and look for:

• Missing semicolons (;)
• Unclosed brackets (, {, or [)
• Unclosed quotes (‘ or “)
• PHP tags without closing counterparts

1. Fix the issue and upload the corrected file

Method 2: If You Can’t Access the Site

If the error prevents site access:

1. Connect via FTP or file manager
2. Navigate to the file mentioned in the error (often in wp-content/themes/your-theme or wp-content/plugins/plugin-name)
3. Download a backup of the file
4. Either restore from a known good backup or fix the syntax error
5. If unsure about the fix, rename the problematic file to disable it

Method 3: For Theme Function Errors

If the error is in functions.php:

1. Download your theme’s functions.php file
2. Create a new functions.php with just:

<?php
// Basic functions file
?>

3. Upload this minimal file to restore dashboard access
4. Gradually re-add your original code sections to identify the problematic part

Method 4: For Plugin Errors

If you know which plugin is causing the issue:

1. Navigate to wp-content/plugins/
2. Rename the problematic plugin’s folder to deactivate it
3. Access your dashboard and properly deactivate or update the plugin
4. Contact the plugin developer with the specific error details

Prevention Tips

• Always use proper code editors for editing PHP files
• Take backups before making any code changes
• Use a staging environment to test code modifications
• Keep PHP versions compatible with your themes and plugins

5. 404 Page Not Found Errors

404 errors occur when WordPress can’t find the requested page or post, even though you know it exists in your database.

What Causes This Error

Common causes include:

• Permalink structure issues: Broken or recently changed permalink settings
• Corrupted .htaccess file: Improper rewrite rules
• Missing or renamed pages: Content that’s been moved or deleted
• Server configuration problems: Incorrect directory permissions or mod_rewrite issues
• Caching conflicts: Cached versions of your site with outdated URL structures

How to Fix It

Method 1: Reset Permalinks

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
2. Go to Settings → Permalinks
3. Without changing anything, click “Save Changes”
4. This regenerates your .htaccess file and refreshes permalink rules

Method 2: Check .htaccess File

1. Connect via FTP or file manager
2. Locate .htaccess in your root directory
3. Download a backup copy
4. Check for proper WordPress rewrite rules (as shown in the 500 error section)
5. If missing or incorrect, create a new .htaccess with those rules

Method 3: Verify mod_rewrite

1. Create a file called info.php in your root directory with:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

2. Visit yourdomain.com/info.php
3. Search for “mod_rewrite” to verify it’s enabled
4. Delete info.php after checking for security reasons
5. If mod_rewrite is disabled, ask your host to enable it

Method 4: Check File Permissions

1. Connect via FTP or file manager
2. Set these permissions:

• Directories: 755
• Files: 644
• wp-config.php: 600

1. Ensure the web server user has read access to all files

Prevention Tips

• Use a staging site to test permalink changes
• Be cautious when modifying .htaccess
• Keep records of significant URL structure changes
• Implement proper redirects when changing URLs

6. Mixed Content Error

Mixed content warnings appear in browsers when secure HTTPS pages include non-secure HTTP resources, often preventing elements from loading properly.

What Causes This Error

This typically happens when:

• Site migration from HTTP to HTTPS: Hardcoded HTTP URLs remain in content
• External resources using HTTP: Images, scripts, or videos from non-HTTPS sources
• Theme files with absolute HTTP URLs: Hardcoded resource paths in theme files
• Database entries containing HTTP URLs: Old content with non-secure URLs
• Plugin settings using HTTP: Configuration pointing to insecure resources

How to Fix It

Method 1: Use a Plugin Solution

1. Install and activate “Really Simple SSL” or “Better Search Replace”
2. For Really Simple SSL:

• Go to Settings → SSL
• Enable “Mixed Content Fixer”
• Save changes

1. For Better Search Replace:

• Go to Tools → Better Search Replace
• Search for “http://yourdomain.com” (your old HTTP URL)
• Replace with “https://yourdomain.com” (your HTTPS URL)
• Select all database tables
• Check “Run as dry run” first to test
• Run the search/replace

Method 2: Manually Fix Theme Files

1. Connect via FTP or file manager
2. Download your theme files
3. Search for instances of “http://” in:

• header.php
• footer.php
• functions.php
• style.css

1. Replace with “https://” or protocol-relative URLs (“//example.com/resource”)
2. Upload the modified files

Method 3: Use Chrome DevTools to Identify Issues

1. Open your site in Chrome
2. Right-click and select “Inspect” or press F12
3. Go to the “Console” tab
4. Look for mixed content warnings that identify specific resources
5. Fix each identified resource

Method 4: Update .htaccess for Force HTTPS

1. Add these rules to your .htaccess file:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
</IfModule>

2. Save the file

Prevention Tips

• Use relative URLs where possible (“/wp-content/uploads/” instead of “http://site.com/wp-content/uploads/”)
• Choose themes and plugins that properly handle HTTPS
• Regularly audit your site for insecure content
• Use protocol-relative URLs (“//”) for external resources when possible

7. WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

Occasionally, WordPress gets stuck showing “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute” even after updates are complete.

What Causes This Error

This happens when:

• Interrupted update process: Browser closed or connection lost during updates
• Plugin or theme update failure: Error during an automatic update
• Multiple simultaneous updates: Too many concurrent update processes
• Server timeout: Update taking longer than allowed execution time
• Insufficient permissions: Server can’t remove the maintenance file

How to Fix It

Method 1: Remove the Maintenance File

1. Connect to your site via FTP or file manager
2. Look for a file named “.maintenance” in your root directory
3. Delete this file
4. Refresh your website

Method 2: If Method 1 Doesn’t Work

1. Verify proper file permissions:

• Most directories should be 755
• Files should be 644

1. Ensure the web server has write permissions to the WordPress directory

Method 3: Check for Failed Updates

1. After removing the .maintenance file, log in to your WordPress dashboard
2. Go to Updates screen and check for any failed updates
3. Try updating again one at a time
4. If specific plugins consistently fail, consider replacing them

Method 4: If You Can’t Access Dashboard

1. Connect via FTP or file manager
2. Rename the /wp-content/plugins folder to plugins_old
3. Try accessing your site – if successful, the issue is plugin-related
4. Rename plugins_old back to plugins
5. Rename individual plugin folders to identify the problematic one

Prevention Tips

• Avoid closing your browser during WordPress updates
• Update plugins and themes individually rather than all at once
• Create a backup before running updates
• Use a staging environment for testing major updates

8. Fatal Error: Maximum Execution Time Exceeded

This error occurs when a PHP script runs longer than the server allows, displaying “Fatal error: Maximum execution time exceeded.”

What Causes This Error

Common causes include:

• Resource-intensive plugins: Plugins that perform heavy operations
• Large data imports or exports: Moving substantial amounts of content
• Media library processing: Handling large images or video files
• Complex database queries: Inefficient searches on large databases
• Server limitations: Restrictive default PHP settings

How to Fix It

Method 1: Increase PHP Execution Time

1. Create or edit a php.ini file in your root directory:

max_execution_time = 300

2. Save and upload the file
3. Alternatively, add this to .htaccess:

php_value max_execution_time 300

4. Or add to wp-config.php:

@ini_set('max_execution_time', 300);

Method 2: Work with Your Host

1. Contact your hosting provider and request:

• Increased PHP execution time limit
• Verification of other PHP limitations
• Temporary increases during resource-intensive operations

Method 3: Optimize the Problematic Process

1. Identify the specific operation causing timeouts
2. For imports/exports:

• Break large imports into smaller batches
• Use plugins designed for large data transfers

1. For media processing:

• Optimize images before uploading
• Use image optimization plugins

1. For database operations:

• Install a database optimization plugin
• Clean up unnecessary data

Method 4: Switch to a Better Hosting Environment

If problems persist:

1. Consider upgrading to a higher hosting tier
2. Look for hosts specializing in WordPress
3. Consider managed WordPress hosting with optimized configurations

Prevention Tips

• Optimize images before uploading
• Regularly clean and optimize your database
• Use efficient plugins designed for large sites
• Break large operations into smaller batches
• Choose hosting with appropriate resources for your site’s needs

9. Memory Exhaustion Error

This error appears as “Fatal error: Allowed memory size of X bytes exhausted” and occurs when a script needs more memory than allocated.

What Causes This Error

Common causes include:

• Default PHP memory limits: Standard limits too low for your operations
• Memory-intensive plugins: Plugins with inefficient code or large operations
• Large image processing: Working with high-resolution images
• Complex theme functions: Resource-heavy theme features
• Large post revisions: Accumulation of many post versions

How to Fix It

Method 1: Increase Memory Limit

1. Add this line to wp-config.php before “That’s all, stop editing!”:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
define('WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M'); // for admin area

2. Also create or edit php.ini in your root directory:

memory_limit = 256M

3. Alternative .htaccess method:

php_value memory_limit 256M

Method 2: Identify Resource-Heavy Plugins

1. Install a plugin performance profiler like Query Monitor
2. Analyze which plugins use the most resources
3. Temporarily deactivate suspected plugins one by one
4. Replace problematic plugins with lighter alternatives

Method 3: Optimize Your Database

1. Use a plugin like WP-Optimize or Advanced Database Cleaner
2. Remove unnecessary post revisions
3. Clean up transients and orphaned metadata
4. Optimize database tables

Method 4: Streamline Theme

1. Consider switching to a lightweight theme temporarily
2. Disable unused theme features
3. Reduce widget usage in sidebars and footers
4. Minimize custom CSS and JavaScript

Prevention Tips

• Choose efficient, well-coded plugins and themes
• Limit post revisions in wp-config.php with define('WP_POST_REVISIONS', 3);
• Regularly optimize your database
• Use image optimization plugins
• Monitor plugin resource usage with performance tools

10. WordPress Failed Auto-Update

WordPress may encounter issues during automatic updates, showing messages like “Update Failed” or “Installation Failed.”

What Causes This Error

Common causes include:

• Insufficient file permissions: WordPress can’t write to necessary files
• File ownership issues: WordPress files owned by different system users
• FTP credentials needed: Some server configurations require FTP details
• Plugin/theme compatibility: Existing code conflicts with the update
• Insufficient server resources: Memory or execution time limits reached

How to Fix It

Method 1: Update Manually

1. Download the latest WordPress from wordpress.org
2. Deactivate all plugins through your dashboard
3. Connect to your site via FTP or file manager
4. Backup wp-config.php and wp-content folder
5. Delete all WordPress files except wp-config.php and wp-content
6. Upload the new WordPress files
7. Visit your site to complete the database update if needed

Method 2: Fix File Permissions

1. Connect via FTP or file manager
2. Set these permissions:

• WordPress directories: 755
• WordPress files: 644
• wp-config.php: 600
• wp-content directory: 755

1. Try the update again

Method 3: Add FTP Credentials to wp-config.php

1. Add these lines to wp-config.php:

define('FS_METHOD', 'direct');

2. If ‘direct’ doesn’t work, try FTP:

define('FTP_HOST', 'ftp.example.com');
define('FTP_USER', 'username');
define('FTP_PASS', 'password');

Method 4: Increase Memory for Updates

1. Add this to wp-config.php:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

2. Also add:

define('WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M');

Prevention Tips

• Keep regular backups before updates
• Update through the dashboard during low-traffic periods
• Consider manual updates for major WordPress versions
• Use a staging environment to test updates before applying to live site
• Maintain proper file permissions and ownership

11. Unable to Upload Images to WordPress

This frustrating error prevents you from uploading media files to your WordPress site.

What Causes This Error

Common causes include:

• Insufficient permissions: WordPress can’t write to the uploads directory
• Memory limits: PHP memory limit too low for the image size
• Upload file size restrictions: Server limits on maximum file size
• Incorrect file paths: WordPress unable to locate the uploads directory
• Disk space issues: Server running out of storage space

How to Fix It

Method 1: Fix Directory Permissions

1. Connect via FTP or file manager
2. Navigate to wp-content
3. Make sure the uploads directory exists (create it if missing)
4. Set permissions:

• uploads directory: 755
• All subdirectories inside uploads: 755
• All files inside uploads: 644

Method 2: Increase Upload Limits

1. Create or edit php.ini in your root directory:

upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
memory_limit = 256M

2. Alternatively, add to .htaccess:

php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
php_value post_max_size 64M
php_value memory_limit 256M
php_value max_execution_time 300

Method 3: Check Disk Space

1. Log in to your hosting control panel
2. Check available disk space in your account
3. Clean up unnecessary files if space is low
4. Contact your host to increase space if needed

Method 4: Fix Image Directory in Settings

1. Log in to WordPress admin
2. Go to Settings → Media
3. Check “Store uploads in this folder” path
4. Make sure it’s set to /wp-content/uploads or appropriate directory
5. Save changes

Prevention Tips

• Optimize images before uploading
• Regularly clean your media library of unused files
• Monitor disk space usage
• Use image optimization plugins
• Maintain proper directory permissions

12. Login Page Redirect Loop

This frustrating error keeps redirecting you back to the login page even after entering correct credentials.

What Causes This Error

Common causes include:

• Cookie issues: WordPress cookies not being set or read correctly
• Incorrect site URL settings: Mismatched URLs in WordPress settings
• Plugin conflicts: Security plugins blocking login functionality
• Corrupted .htaccess file: Incorrect redirect rules
• Browser issues: Stored cookies or cache problems

How to Fix It

Method 1: Clear Browser Cookies and Cache

1. Open browser settings
2. Clear all cookies and cache specifically for your website
3. Close and reopen your browser
4. Try logging in again

Method 2: Check WordPress Address Settings

1. Connect to your database using phpMyAdmin (through hosting control panel)
2. Find the wp_options table (prefix may vary)
3. Check rows with option_name ‘siteurl’ and ‘home’
4. Ensure they match your actual site URL including http:// or https://
5. Fix if necessary and save changes

Method 3: Disable Plugins via FTP

1. Connect via FTP or file manager
2. Rename wp-content/plugins to plugins_old
3. Try logging in
4. If successful, rename plugins_old back to plugins
5. Rename individual plugin folders one by one to identify the problematic one

Method 4: Modify wp-config.php for Cookies

1. Add these lines to wp-config.php:

define('COOKIE_DOMAIN', 'www.yourdomain.com');
define('ADMIN_COOKIE_PATH', '/');
define('COOKIEPATH', '');
define('SITECOOKIEPATH', '');

2. Replace ‘www.yourdomain.com’ with your actual domain
3. Try logging in again

Prevention Tips

• Use only reputable security plugins
• Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated
• Be cautious when modifying .htaccess file
• Maintain correct site URL settings when migrating
• Use secure and updated browsers

Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques

When standard fixes don’t resolve your WordPress errors, these advanced approaches can help identify and solve complex issues.

Enabling WordPress Debug Mode

WordPress has built-in debugging tools to provide detailed error information:

1. Edit wp-config.php and add these lines before “That’s all, stop editing!”:

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

2. This creates a debug.log file in wp-content that records all PHP errors
3. Review this log to find specific error messages and problematic code
4. Once issues are resolved, disable debug mode by changing true to false

Creating a Staging Environment

Testing fixes on a live site can be risky. A staging environment provides a safe clone:

1. Many hosts offer one-click staging creation
2. Alternatively, use a plugin like WP Staging or Duplicator
3. Make your changes and test thoroughly on staging
4. Apply successful fixes to your live site when confirmed

Server Configuration Checks

Some issues originate in server settings rather than WordPress itself:

1. Create a file called phpinfo.php in your root directory with:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

2. Access this file through your browser (yourdomain.com/phpinfo.php)
3. Check critical settings:

• PHP version (should be 7.4+ for current WordPress)
• Memory limits
• Max upload size
• Post max size
• Max execution time
• Enabled PHP modules (especially GD, cURL, and MySQLi)

2. Delete this file after checking (for security)

Database Troubleshooting

For database-related issues:

1. Access phpMyAdmin through your hosting control panel
2. Select your WordPress database
3. Use the “Check” operation on tables showing errors
4. Use “Repair” on tables identified as corrupted
5. Consider exporting and reimporting the database if issues persist

Reinstalling WordPress Core Files

As a last resort for core file corruption:

1. Download a fresh copy of WordPress from wordpress.org
2. Back up wp-config.php and the wp-content folder
3. Delete all WordPress files except wp-config.php and wp-content
4. Upload the fresh WordPress files
5. Visit your site to complete any database updates

Preventative Maintenance Best Practices

The best way to handle WordPress errors is to prevent them from occurring. Implement these practices to maintain a healthy WordPress website:

Regular Backup Routine

Establish a comprehensive backup strategy:

• Schedule automatic backups of both files and database
• Store backups in multiple locations (not just on your server)
• Test backup restoration periodically to ensure they work
• Keep at least 30 days of rolling backups
• Create manual backups before major changes

Update Management Strategy

Develop a safe approach to updates:

• Check plugin and theme compatibility before updating WordPress core
• Update in this order: backup, plugins, themes, WordPress core
• Test updates on staging when possible
• Update during low-traffic periods
• Review your site after updates to catch any issues

Security Hardening

Implement these security measures:

• Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts
• Implement two-factor authentication
• Limit login attempts
• Keep plugins and themes updated
• Remove unused plugins and themes
• Use security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri
• Consider a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

Performance Optimization

Maintain good performance to prevent resource-related errors:

• Regularly clean and optimize your database
• Use caching plugins
• Optimize images before uploading
• Monitor plugin impact on loading times
• Choose quality hosting appropriate for your traffic
• Clean up post revisions and unused content

Regular Health Checks

Perform periodic maintenance:

• Use WordPress’s Site Health tool (Tools → Site Health)
• Check for broken links
• Review security logs for suspicious activity
• Monitor disk space usage
• Test forms and key functionality
• Review and update contact information

When to Seek Professional Help

While many WordPress issues can be solved independently, certain situations warrant professional assistance:

• Suspected hacking or malware: Security breach with unknown impact
• Data loss without backups: Critical content has disappeared
• Persistent errors after multiple fix attempts: Issues that resist standard solutions
• Database corruption: Advanced database problems beyond repair tools
• Custom code modifications: Errors in bespoke functionality
• Server configuration issues: Problems at the hosting level
• Time-sensitive emergency: Business-critical site downs requiring immediate resolution

Professional WordPress support is available through:

• Your hosting provider’s technical support
• WordPress maintenance services
• Freelance WordPress developers
• WordPress development agencies

According to specialists at CloudRank, it’s advisable to establish a relationship with a WordPress expert before emergencies occur, ensuring faster response when critical issues arise.

Conclusion

WordPress errors, while frustrating, are a normal part of managing a website. Understanding common issues—and knowing how to address them—empowers you to maintain your site’s health and quickly resolve problems when they occur.

The twelve errors we’ve covered represent the most frequently encountered WordPress problems. By familiarizing yourself with these issues and their solutions, you’ve gained valuable troubleshooting skills that will serve you well throughout your WordPress journey.

Remember that prevention is the best strategy. Regular backups, careful update practices, quality hosting, and ongoing maintenance significantly reduce the likelihood of encountering serious errors. When problems do occur, approach troubleshooting methodically—identify the specific symptoms, apply the appropriate solution, and verify the fix works completely.

With a combination of preventative measures and troubleshooting knowledge, you can maintain a reliable, secure WordPress website that provides a consistent experience for your visitors while minimizing maintenance stress for yourself.

FAQ: WordPress Error Troubleshooting

How do I troubleshoot WordPress errors if I can’t access the admin dashboard?

When you can’t access your WordPress admin area, use FTP or your hosting file manager to connect to your site. Common fixes include: renaming the plugins folder to deactivate all plugins, switching to a default theme by renaming your themes folder, checking file permissions (directories should be 755, files 644), increasing PHP memory limit in wp-config.php, and enabling WordPress debug mode to identify specific errors. Start with the least invasive approaches first, and always back up files before modifying them.

Which WordPress errors can I fix myself, and which require a developer?

You can typically handle these issues yourself: white screen of death (through plugin deactivation), 404 errors (by resetting permalinks), internal server errors (by checking .htaccess), maintenance mode loops (by deleting the .maintenance file), and basic database connection errors (by verifying credentials). Consider hiring a developer for: custom code errors, serious database corruption, complex security breaches, server configuration issues, or situations where you’ve tried multiple solutions without success. When business-critical functions are affected, professional help is often worth the investment.

How do I know which plugin is causing my WordPress site to crash?

To identify a problematic plugin: connect via FTP or file manager, rename the entire plugins folder to “plugins_old” (effectively deactivating all plugins), check if your site works now, then rename the folder back to “plugins” and systematically test each plugin by renaming individual plugin folders one at a time. After each change, refresh your site to see if the issue is resolved. Once you identify the problematic plugin, you can leave it deactivated, find an alternative, or contact the developer for support.

What should I do if WordPress updates fail?

If WordPress updates fail: first, increase memory limits by adding define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); to wp-config.php, verify correct file permissions (directories 755, files 644), check if your server needs FTP credentials by adding define('FS_METHOD', 'direct'); to wp-config.php, and ensure your hosting meets minimum requirements. If automatic updates continue to fail, perform a manual update by downloading WordPress from wordpress.org, backing up wp-config.php and wp-content, deleting all other WordPress files, and uploading the fresh files.

How can I fix the “Error Establishing a Database Connection” in WordPress?

To fix database connection errors: first verify your database credentials in wp-config.php match your actual database settings, check if your database server is running by contacting your host, try repairing your database by adding define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true); to wp-config.php and visiting yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php, and ensure your database user has sufficient permissions. If problems persist, your database may be corrupted from a failed plugin, theme update, or server issue, and restoring from a backup may be necessary.

What causes WordPress to get stuck in maintenance mode and how can I fix it?

WordPress creates a .maintenance file during updates and sometimes fails to remove it when updates are interrupted. To fix this: connect to your site via FTP or file manager, look for a file called .maintenance in your root WordPress directory, and delete this file. If this doesn’t work, check file permissions to ensure WordPress can write to its directories, and inspect the wp-content/upgrade folder for incomplete update files that should be removed. Always perform updates when you can monitor the entire process to avoid interruptions.

How do I troubleshoot image upload problems in WordPress?

For image upload issues: first check and increase upload limits by adding upload_max_filesize = 64M and post_max_size = 64M to a php.ini file in your root directory, verify proper permissions on the wp-content/uploads directory (should be 755), ensure your server has sufficient disk space, confirm your hosting plan doesn’t limit media uploads, and check that your image files aren’t corrupted. If one specific image consistently fails, try resizing it or converting it to a different format before uploading.

What should I do when my WordPress site is running extremely slowly?

For a slow WordPress site: start by installing a performance testing plugin like Query Monitor to identify bottlenecks, optimize your database with WP-Optimize or a similar plugin, implement a caching solution like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache, reduce image sizes and implement lazy loading, deactivate and replace resource-heavy plugins, consider a content delivery network (CDN), and evaluate if your hosting plan provides adequate resources for your traffic. Sometimes simply upgrading your hosting can resolve persistent performance issues more effectively than extensive optimization efforts.

How do I fix a WordPress login page that keeps refreshing without logging me in?

For login loop issues: clear your browser cookies and cache first, then verify site URL settings in your database (check wp_options table for ‘siteurl’ and ‘home’ values), ensure your wp-config.php has the correct domain for cookies with define('COOKIE_DOMAIN', 'www.yourdomain.com');, temporarily disable security plugins by renaming their folders via FTP, and check if your .htaccess file contains redirect loops. If using HTTPS, ensure all site URLs properly reflect this and that your SSL certificate is valid and properly installed.

What’s the safest way to edit WordPress files when troubleshooting errors?

Always follow these safe practices when editing WordPress files: create a complete backup before making any changes, use a proper code editor (not word processors) that maintains proper formatting, make one change at a time and test after each modification, keep track of what you’ve changed (take notes), maintain a staging environment for testing significant changes, never directly edit core WordPress files (use child themes and proper hooks instead), and always have a restoration plan if something goes wrong. When possible, use properly coded plugins rather than manual file edits to add functionality.