Troubleshooting common WordPress errors

Troubleshooting common WordPress errors is a vital skill for website management. WordPress errors can arise due to various reasons, including plugin conflicts, theme issues, server misconfigurations, or corrupted files. Here’s a detailed overview of common WordPress errors and how to troubleshoot them:

✅ 1. Error Establishing a Database Connection

Cause:

• Incorrect database credentials (username, password, or database name)
• Corrupted database
• Database server is down

Solution:

Check wp-config.php:

• Verify the database name, username, password, and host by accessing the wp-config.php file:

define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘database_name’); define(‘DB_USER’, ‘database_user’); define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘database_password’); define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’);

Repair Database:

• Add this line to the wp-config.php file:

define(‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true);

• Visit: yoursite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php
• Run a database repair and remove the line afterward.

Check Server Status:

• Contact your host to ensure the database server is running.

✅ 2. White Screen of Death (WSOD)

Cause:

• Plugin or theme conflicts
• PHP memory limit exhaustion
• Corrupted WordPress files

Solution:

Disable Plugins and Themes:

• Access your site via FTP or File Manager.
• Rename the wp-content/plugins folder to plugins-disabled to deactivate all plugins.
• If it resolves the issue, rename it back and deactivate plugins one by one.

Increase PHP Memory Limit:

• Add the following to wp-config.php:

       define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);

Enable Debugging:

• Enable WordPress debugging by adding this to wp-config.php:

define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true); define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true); define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false);

• Check the debug log in /wp-content/debug.log for detailed error information.

✅ 3. 500 Internal Server Error

Cause:

• Corrupted .htaccess file

• Plugin or theme conflict
• PHP memory limit exceeded

Solution:

Check .htaccess File:

• Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_backup.
• Generate a new one by accessing your WordPress Dashboard:
• Go to Settings → Permalinks → Click Save Changes.

Increase PHP Memory Limit:

• Similar to the previous solution, increase the memory limit.

Deactivate Plugins and Themes:

• Follow the steps mentioned under the WSOD section.

✅ 4. 404 Error for Posts and Pages

Cause:

• Corrupted permalink structure
• Missing .htaccess file

Solution:

Reset Permalinks:

• Go to Settings → Permalinks → Select your preferred structure → Save Changes.

Create .htaccess Manually:

• If .htaccess is missing, create one with this content:

# 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

✅ 5. WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

Cause:

• Interrupted update process
• Corrupted .maintenance file

Solution:

Delete the .maintenance File:

• Access your site via FTP or File Manager.
• Delete the .maintenance file from the root directory.

Clear Cache:

• Clear your browser cache and any server-side cache.

✅ 6. Connection Timed Out

Cause:

• Limited server resources
• Heavy plugins or scripts
• Inadequate PHP memory limit

Solution:

Increase PHP Memory Limit:

• Use the same steps as mentioned above to increase memory.

Deactivate Heavy Plugins:

• Disable resource-intensive plugins like security, analytics, or backup plugins.

Upgrade Hosting Plan:

• If the issue persists, consider upgrading to a VPS or dedicated server.

✅ 7. Error 403 Forbidden

Cause:

• Incorrect file permissions
• Corrupted .htaccess
• Security plugins blocking access

Solution:

Check File Permissions:

• Set directories to 755 and files to 644 using an FTP client.

Reset .htaccess:

• Rename or delete .htaccess and regenerate it as described earlier.

Disable Security Plugins:

• Temporarily disable plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri to check for conflicts.

✅ 8. WordPress Not Sending Emails

Cause:

• Server misconfigurations
• Incorrect SMTP settings

Solution:

Install SMTP Plugin:

• Use a plugin like WP Mail SMTP to configure mail settings.

Check Email Logs:

• Enable email logging to monitor failed emails.

Use Third-Party SMTP Services:

• Configure SMTP using reliable services like SendGrid, SMTP.com, or Mailgun.

✅ 9. Images Not Uploading or Displaying

Cause:

• Incorrect file permissions

• Memory limit issues
• Corrupted media files

Solution:

Check Permissions:

• Ensure /wp-content/uploads/ folder has 755 permissions.

Increase Memory Limit:

• Apply the memory limit solution using wp-config.php.

Regenerate Thumbnails:

• Use a plugin like Regenerate Thumbnails to fix broken images.

✅ 10. Stuck in WordPress Login Redirect Loop

Cause:

• Incorrect WordPress URL settings
• Plugin conflicts

Solution:

Check URL Settings:

• Update site URL via wp-config.php:

define(‘WP_HOME’,’https://yourdomain.com’); define(‘WP_SITEURL’,’https://yourdomain.com’);

Clear Cache and Cookies:

• Clear browser cache and cookies.

Disable Plugins:

• Rename the plugins folder to deactivate plugins and resolve conflicts.

By understanding these common WordPress errors and applying these troubleshooting steps, you can ensure your website remains functional and accessible. For advanced or persistent issues, consider contacting your web host or hiring a developer for additional support.

Check our most affordable and reliable cloud host from the below link.

• Web Hosting
• WordPress Hosting
• WooCommerce Hosting
• Domain Registration

Check Our Website For More Details www.hostentitle.com . For any queries feel free to contact us . Email : sales@hostentitle.com , support@hostentitle.com , affiliate@hostentitle.com .