10 Common WordPress Issues and How to Fix Them

WordPress powers millions of websites worldwide. However, every owner eventually faces technical glitches. These problems can hurt your traffic and revenue.

Do not panic when your site breaks. Most issues have simple solutions. This guide helps you identify and fix the top ten WordPress errors today.

1. The White Screen of Death (WSoD)

You see a plain white screen instead of your website. This error usually stems from a plugin or theme conflict. It often occurs after an update.

How to fix it:

• Access your site via FTP or File Manager.
• Rename the plugins folder to plugins_old.
• Check if your site loads now.
• Rename the folder back and reactivate plugins one by one.

2. Internal Server Error (500)

The “500 Internal Server Error” is quite vague. It means something went wrong, but the server cannot specify why.

How to fix it:

• Check your .htaccess file for corruption.
• Rename it to .htaccess_old to test.
• Increase your PHP memory limit in the wp-config.php file.

3. Error Establishing a Database Connection

Your site cannot talk to its database. This often happens if you changed your database credentials.

How to fix it:

• Open your wp-config.php file.
• Verify the database name, username, and password.
• Ensure your database server is currently running.

4. WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

Sometimes a WordPress update fails or stops mid-process. Your site then gets stuck on a maintenance message.

How to fix it:

• Log into your site via FTP.
• Look for a file named .maintenance in the root folder.
• Delete this file to restore access immediately.

5. Connection Timed Out

This error occurs when your server struggles to load a heavy website. It happens most on shared hosting plans.

How to fix it:

• Deactivate all resource-heavy plugins.
• Switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
• Increase your PHP execution time via your host.

6. Sidebar Below Content

Does your sidebar appear at the bottom of the page? You likely have a HTML or CSS coding error.

How to fix it:

• Search for unclosed <div> tags in your recent posts.
• Check your CSS for width issues.
• Ensure your content area is not too wide for the layout.

7. Broken Images

Images might fail to load after you move your site. This often relates to incorrect file permissions or file paths.

How to fix it:

• Check your “Uploads” folder permissions.
• Ensure the folder set is 755.
• Use a plugin to update old URLs in your database.

8. WordPress Login Issues

You enter the right password, but the page just refreshes. This usually involves a cookie or cache problem.

How to fix it:

• Clear your browser cookies and cache.
• Deactivate your security plugins via FTP.
• Ensure your site URL matches in the database.

9. Syntax Errors

A syntax error happens when you add code incorrectly. Even a tiny comma can break your entire site.

How to fix it:

• Identify the file mentioned in the error message.
• Use FTP to download that specific file.
• Fix the code or revert to the original version.

10. Memory Limit Errors

You might see an error about “exhausted memory size.” Your server restricts the RAM your scripts can use.

How to fix it:

• Edit your wp-config.php file.
• Add the line: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');.
• Contact your host if the error persists.

Get Professional Help Today

Solving technical errors takes time and patience. You deserve a website that runs smoothly 24/7. Focus on your business while experts handle the code.

If you cannot fix these issues alone, we can help. Get a free quote from our repair team right now. We fix WordPress errors fast so you can grow your brand.