How to Fix Common WordPress Errors

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) on the internet, powering millions of websites worldwide. However, despite its user-friendly interface, WordPress websites can sometimes encounter errors that may cause downtime, slow performance, or other issues. Whether a beginner or an experienced WordPress user, understanding how to troubleshoot and fix common WordPress errors is essential for maintaining a smooth-running website.

In this guide, we’ll cover the most common WordPress errors, their causes, and, most importantly, how to fix them. From the White Screen of Death to plugin conflicts, we’ll dive into technical solutions and tools to help you keep your site secure, fast, and functional.

Related Reading: WordPress common errors and How to fix Them

WordPress Errors: A Comprehensive Troubleshooting Guide

1. The White Screen of Death (WSOD)

What It Is:

The White Screen of Death (WSOD) is one of the most dreaded errors in WordPress. When this occurs, your website displays a completely white page, leaving no indication of the problem.

Causes:

• Plugin or Theme Conflicts: A faulty or incompatible plugin or theme can cause your site to crash.
• PHP Memory Limit Exceeded: WordPress may exhaust the PHP memory limit if your site has heavy scripts or media files.
• Corrupted .htaccess File: A misconfigured .htaccess file could lead to a WSOD error.

How to Fix:

1. Increase PHP Memory Limit: Edit the wp-config.php file in the root directory and add the following line:
   define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');


   This increases the PHP memory limit, which can resolve memory-related issues.

2. Disable All Plugins: If you suspect a plugin conflict, disable all plugins by renaming the plugins folder via FTP or cPanel File Manager. Afterward, reactivate the plugins one by one to find the culprit.
3. Switch to Default Theme: If the problem persists, it could be related to your theme. Switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three to see if the error resolves. If so, your theme may need to be updated or replaced.
4. Check the Error Log: Enable debugging 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 file in the wp-content directory that can help identify the cause.

2. Internal Server Error (500 Error)

What It Is:

The 500 Internal Server Error is a generic error message indicating something went wrong with the server, but it doesn’t specify the exact issue.

Causes:

• Corrupt .htaccess File: A misconfigured or corrupt .htaccess file can lead to a 500 error.
• Plugin or Theme Conflicts: A plugin or theme conflict sometimes triggers this error.
• PHP Version Compatibility: Running an outdated version of PHP might lead to compatibility issues with plugins and themes.

How to Fix:

1. Rebuild .htaccess File: Access your website’s root directory via FTP or cPanel File Manager and rename the .htaccess file to .htaccess_old. Then, log in to your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings > Permalinks, and click Save Changes to regenerate a fresh .htaccess file.
2. Deactivate All Plugins: Like the WSOD, deactivate all plugins to check for conflicts. You can do this via the wp-content/plugins directory.
3. Check PHP Version: Ensure your hosting provider supports a modern PHP version (PHP 7.4 or higher). You can update the PHP version via cPanel or contact your hosting provider for assistance.
4. Review Error Logs: Enable debug mode and review the debug.log to identify the root cause of the error. Often, the log will reveal which plugin, theme, or script is causing the issue.

3. The “Error Establishing a Database Connection” Issue

What It Is:

This error occurs when WordPress is unable to connect to its database. You’ll typically see a message like “Error Establishing a Database Connection”.

Causes:

• Incorrect Database Credentials: The database name, username, password, or host might be incorrect in the wp-config.php file.
• Corrupted Database: A corrupt database table can cause connection issues.
• Server Problems: If your hosting server is experiencing issues, it could affect the database connection.

How to Fix:

1. Check wp-config.php File: Open the wp-config.php file and verify that the database credentials are correct. Ensure that the database name, username, password, and host match those provided by your hosting provider.
2. Repair Database: You can repair the database by adding the following line to the wp-config.php file:
   define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);


   Then, navigate to http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php to repair and optimize the database.

3. Contact Hosting Provider: If the database credentials are correct and the issue persists, there may be an issue with the hosting server. Contact your hosting provider to check for server-side issues.

4. WordPress Login Issues (Wrong Username or Password)

What It Is:

Forgetting your login credentials or being locked out of the WordPress dashboard can be a frustrating experience.

Causes:

• Incorrect Username or Password: The most common reason for login issues is entering incorrect credentials.
• Plugin Conflicts: Some security plugins can lock you out after multiple failed login attempts.
• Database Issues: Sometimes, login issues occur due to problems with the WordPress database.

How to Fix:

1. Reset Password: If you’ve forgotten your password, click the Lost your password? link on the login page to reset it via email.
2. Check User Table in Database: Using phpMyAdmin, access your WordPress database and check the wp_users table. You can manually reset your password here by selecting the user and updating the password field using the MD5 encryption.
3. Disable Security Plugins: If a security plugin is blocking your login attempts, disable it by renaming the plugin folder via FTP.

5. Issues with WordPress Updates

What It Is:

Sometimes, WordPress updates fail or cause problems. This could result in a stuck update, a broken theme, or no compatible plugins.

Causes:

• Compatibility with Plugin or Theme: Older plugins or themes may no longer be compatible with the latest WordPress version after an update.
• Server Timeouts: Sometimes, WordPress update processes can time out due to server performance or low PHP memory limits.
• File Permission Issues: Updates may fail if WordPress doesn’t have the correct file permissions.

How to Fix:

1. Manually Update WordPress: If your automatic update fails, you can update WordPress manually. Download the latest WordPress version from WordPress.org, and upload the updated files via FTP, except for the wp-content folder and wp-config.php file.
2. Increase PHP Limits: Add the following lines to the wp-config.php file to increase the PHP time limit:
   set_time_limit(300);
define('WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

3. Check File Permissions: Ensure the correct file permissions are set for your WordPress directories and files. Generally, directories should be set to 755, and files should be set to 644.

6. WordPress Memory Exhausted Errors

What It Is:

If you receive a memory exhausted error, your WordPress site exceeds the allocated PHP memory limit.

Causes:

• Large Plugins or Themes: Some resource-heavy plugins or themes can exhaust the memory.
• Poorly Optimized Content: Large images, videos, or scripts can cause memory issues.

How to Fix:

1. Increase PHP Memory Limit: As mentioned earlier, adding this line to wp-config.php can help resolve memory issues:
   define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

2. Optimize Media: Use image optimization plugins like Smush or ShortPixel to compress and reduce the size of media files.

Conclusion: Keep Your WordPress Site Running Smoothly

WordPress errors are inevitable, but knowing how to troubleshoot and fix them will save you time, money, and frustration. Following the solutions outlined in this guide ensures that your site stays secure, optimized, and functioning properly.

If you encounter more complex errors or don’t feel confident fixing the issues yourself, our team of WordPress experts can help. We specialize in troubleshooting, site optimization, plugin conflicts, security audits, and ongoing WordPress maintenance.

Contact Us for Professional WordPress Support.