10 Common WordPress Errors (And How to Fix Them)

WordPress is one of the most popular website platforms due to its flexibility, ease of use, and wide range of plugins and themes. However, like any software, it’s not immune to issues. Whether you’re new to WordPress or a seasoned user, encountering errors can be frustrating.

In this article, we’ll walk you through 10 common WordPress errors and show you exactly how to fix them, ensuring that your website stays functional and hassle-free.

10 common WordPress errors

WordPress Errors

1. The White Screen of Death (WSOD)

What Is It?

The infamous White Screen of Death (WSOD) is exactly what it sounds like—when you visit your WordPress site, you’re greeted by a blank white screen. No error message, no hints, just a white screen.

Why Does It Happen?

  • Plugin or theme conflicts
  • Exhausted PHP memory limit

How to Fix It:

  1. Disable Plugins: Use FTP to navigate to the wp-content folder and rename the plugins folder to something like plugins_old. This disables all plugins. If the site loads, you know one of the plugins was the issue.
  2. Switch Themes: Rename your active theme folder via FTP to switch back to the default WordPress theme.
  3. Increase Memory Limit: Add this line to your wp-config.php file:

2. Internal Server Error (500 Error)

What Is It?

This generic error usually doesn’t provide any helpful information, making it a bit tricky to diagnose.

Why Does It Happen?

  • Corrupted .htaccess file
  • Exhausted PHP memory limit
  • Plugin or theme conflicts

How to Fix It:

  1. Check the .htaccess File: Rename .htaccess in the root directory to .htaccess_old and visit your site. If it works, go to Settings > Permalinks and save changes to regenerate the file.
  2. Increase PHP Memory Limit: Add the following code to your wp-config.php file:
  3. Deactivate Plugins: As with WSOD, disable plugins to check for conflicts.

3. Error Establishing Database Connection

What Is It?

This error occurs when WordPress cannot communicate with your database.

Why Does It Happen?

  • Incorrect database credentials in wp-config.php
  • Corrupted database

How to Fix It:

  1. Check Database Credentials: Open your wp-config.php file and ensure that the database name, username, password, and host are correct.
  2. Repair the Database: Add the following line to wp-config.php:

Visit yoursite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php to repair the database.

4. 404 Error on Posts

What Is It?

You try to visit a post on your WordPress site and encounter a “404 Page Not Found” error.

Why Does It Happen?

  • Broken permalinks

How to Fix It:

  1. Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Click “Save Changes” to reset your permalinks.

5. Memory Exhausted Error

What Is It?

Your website runs out of allocated memory, causing pages to fail to load or display errors.

Why Does It Happen?

  • Heavy plugins or themes
  • Low PHP memory limit

How to Fix It:

  1. Increase memory limit by adding this line to wp-config.php:

2. If the issue persists, deactivate any resource-heavy plugins and check if your theme is too demanding.

6. Connection Timed Out

What Is It?

Your site takes too long to load, leading to a “Connection Timed Out” error.

Why Does It Happen?

  • Overloaded server
  • Resource-heavy plugins

How to Fix It:

  1. Deactivate Plugins: Disable plugins to reduce resource usage.
  2. Upgrade Hosting: If your hosting server can’t handle the load, consider upgrading to a more powerful hosting plan (e.g., VPS or dedicated server).

7. WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

What Is It?

Your site gets stuck in maintenance mode, showing the “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance” message even after an update is complete.

Why Does It Happen?

  • Interrupted or incomplete updates

How to Fix It:

  1. Access your site via FTP.
  2. Delete the .maintenance file in the root directory to remove WordPress from maintenance mode.

8. Failed Auto-Update

What Is It?

WordPress tries to auto-update but fails, potentially leaving your site broken.

Why Does It Happen?

  • Server timeout during the update process
  • File permission issues

How to Fix It:

  1. Manually update WordPress by downloading the latest version and uploading the wp-admin and wp-includes folders via FTP.
  2. Ensure that file permissions are correctly set (755 for directories and 644 for files).

9. Locked Out of Admin (wp-admin)

What Is It?

You can’t access the WordPress admin dashboard, even though your credentials are correct.

Why Does It Happen?

  • Forgotten password
  • Plugin conflicts

How to Fix It:

  1. Reset Password via phpMyAdmin: Access your WordPress database in phpMyAdmin and locate the wp_users table. Edit your user and replace the password with a new one (use MD5 encryption).
  2. Deactivate Plugins via FTP: Rename the plugins folder to disable all plugins.

10. Images Not Uploading

What Is It?

When trying to upload images to WordPress, you get an error message or broken image placeholders.

Why Does It Happen?

  • Incorrect file permissions
  • PHP memory issues

How to Fix It:

  1. Set Correct File Permissions: Ensure your uploads folder is set to 755 for directories and 644 for files.
  2. Increase PHP Memory Limit: Follow the steps in the “Memory Exhausted Error” section to increase the PHP memory limit.

Conclusion

Encountering errors on your WordPress site can be stressful, but the good news is that most issues are easily fixable with a few simple steps. By understanding these common WordPress errors and how to resolve them, you can keep your website running smoothly.

If you’re still facing difficulties or need further help, don’t hesitate to contact your hosting provider or consult with a WordPress expert.