Tips to Fix Common WordPress Issues
WordPress content management system is a platform used by businesses worldwide. It is simple to use, making it the ideal pick for both beginners and advanced users.
It is, nevertheless, fairly common to run across WordPress issues that may cause the website to crash.
The good news is that there are thousands, if not millions, of WordPress users who have had similar problems, solved them, and revealed how to overcome them.
So, we have compiled the most common WordPress issues and their fixes in place.
Table of Contents
- How to Fix Common WordPress Issues
- WordPress’s Issue of White Screen of Death
- Error 404 Page Not Found
- WordPress 403 Forbidden Error
- WordPress Failing in Auto-Update
- Internal Server Issue With WordPress Site
- Difficulty Building a Database Connection
- Login Redirect Loop
- Wrapping Up
How to Fix Common WordPress Issues
WordPress’s Issue of White Screen of Death
The result of this issue is a blank white screen with no automated message. Because there is no error code or suggestion to determine where anything has gone wrong, it is extremely confusing.
It’s a bug caused by a PHP memory restriction or a server setup issue. Furthermore, the white screen sometimes can only be viewed on certain website areas.
However, there’s no need to be concerned or believe that your website is no longer active. Below listed a few options that are helpful in resolving this issue.
- Plugin Compatibility Issue: Disable and then enable the plugins to find the cause of the error.
- Theme Issue: If you’ve recently enabled a new theme or built a new WordPress website, there’s a good possibility of a problem with the theme. In case of such an issue, sign in to the dashboard and enable the default WordPress theme. If you are unable to enter the admin area, you can access the website using FTP. You can also view in the/wp-content/themes/folder. Then, rename the active and default theme’s folder.
- Raise Memory Limit: Many servers or hosting providers limit the amount of memory available to their users, resulting in a white screen of death error. However, every problem comes with a solution. You may do this by editing the wp-config.php file. Simply put: ‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’
Error 404 Page Not Found
Do you know what a 404 error is? It’s something that website users view when they try to find something on your website and can not be found. The reason can be the website’s permalink issues. The .htaccess file, for example, could have been deleted, or the rewrite rules could have gone wrong.
As a result, the permalink settings must be configured. Simply go to the dashboard, click Settings>Permalinks, and save the modifications to resolve the problem.
All of your website’s rewrite rules will be removed, and the permalink settings will be updated as a result. Update the .htaccess file if this doesn’t work.
WordPress 403 Forbidden Error
When a server refuses to allow access to a specific web page, the 403 forbidden error code is commonly displayed. Only the error message “403 Forbidden – You do not have permission to access” will appear. Additionally, when using an ErrorDocument to handle the request, a 403 prohibited error may be encountered. There could be several reasons for this, but the most common causes are wrong file permissions and poor plugin compatibility.
Troubleshooting WordPress plugins is one of the most typical solutions to this problem. It can be accomplished by simply disabling any plugins you may have installed, including the security ones. After that, gradually re-enable the plugins until the error reappears.
WordPress Failing in Auto-Update
The WordPress auto-update functionality is frequently faulty, resulting in the following problems:
- A warning regarding a failed update.
- There is no information on the blank white screen.
- Error message from PHP
It could be due to a problem with the main WordPress files, wrong file permissions, or troubles with the internet connection. As a result, manually upgrading the WordPress site is required to resolve these issues. You can also try again by restoring a previous or functional website backup.
Internal Server Issue With WordPress Site
The WordPress internal server error is one of the most common and confusing WordPress issues. This error message appears when anything goes wrong, but the server is unsure of the source of the problem. The worst thing is that the notice gives no hints regarding the problem, making it impossible to figure out where to look for a solution.
Hence, before attempting to fix this problem, make sure the .htaccess file isn’t corrupted. This may be done by utilizing FTP to access your site. Also, you can look for the .htaccess file, which is located in the same directory as directories such as wp-content.
Difficulty Building a Database Connection
This issue suggests that your website can not connect to your database. It can happen when you have entered or modified the database details incorrectly, such as:
- Username for the database
- Database password
- Database host
Alternatively, your database can be down or corrupted. To resolve this issue, check to see if the same error is occurring on both the front and back ends of your website.
However, if you see a different issue on your website’s wp-admin page. It’s also essential to repair the database as well. How?
Repairing your database is a simple process. The next step is to:
define (‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true)
Save your modifications, re-upload the file to the server, then go to the page below:
https://www.yoursite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php
Login Redirect Loop
When you try to access the WordPress dashboard, you may notice that the login screen keeps reloading and redirecting. It is known as a WordPress login redirect loop, and it can be annoying.
Clearing the cookies in your web browser is the simplest approach to resolving this issue. It is because WordPress uses cookies to authenticate login information.
To clear Chrome’s browser cookies
- Go to Chrome’s settings and select Advanced>Clear Browsing Data
- Clear your browser’s data, cookies, and cache, and make sure cookies are enabled in your browser
- After that, restart your browser and visit the WordPress login page again to try logging in
Wrapping Up
You should be able to troubleshoot WordPress on your own after reading this list of the most frequent WordPress issues. To avoid or reduce such troubles, make sure WordPress is up to date, and that your website is always backed up. Additionally, select themes that are built using solid coding principles.
Do let us know your feedback in the comments section below.
Thanks for Reading!!
Author Bio:
Emma Watson is a dedicated WordPress developer & technical blogger. Currently, she is associated with WordSuccor Ltd that offers WordPress development services all around the world. She loves to share her knowledge regarding WordPress with others. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.