Top 30 Most Common WordPress Errors (And How to Fix Them)

WordPress is a popular platform for building websites, known for its flexibility and extensive ecosystem of plugins and themes. However, like any complex system, it can encounter various errors that disrupt workflows and may even take your site offline.

This guide will explore 30 common WordPress errors in detail, explaining their causes and providing practical solutions to help you resolve them effectively.

1. White Screen of Death (WSoD)

Understanding the WSoD

The White Screen of Death is often caused by PHP errors or memory limit exhaustion. It results in a blank white screen with no error messages, making it particularly frustrating.

Solutions

• Increase Memory Limit: Add define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '128M'); to wp-config.php file.
• Disable Plugins: Create a folder name “Deactivate plugins” and move them one by one to check.
• Switch Themes: Revert to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
• Check Database: It may connect to wrong database.

2. Internal Server Error

Causes of Internal Server Errors

This error can be triggered by corrupted .htaccess files, plugin issues, or PHP memory limits.

Solutions

• Temporary server overloads: Wait for 5mins and check again. Suggest upgrade your web server.
• .htaccess Check: Rename the .htaccess file and go to Settings > Permalinks and click ‘Save Changes.’
• Increase PHP Memory Limit: Add define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '128M'); to wp-config.php file.
• Faulty plugins or themes: Deactivate plugins and switch themes as necessary.

3. Error Establishing a Database Connection

Diagnosing Database Connection Issues

This error typically arises from incorrect database credentials or a downed database server.

Solutions

• Temporary server overloads: Wait for 5mins and check again. Suggest upgrade your web server.
• Verify wp-config.php Credentials: Check wp-config.php for correct database name, username, password, and host.
• Repair Database: Use define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true); in wp-config.php to repair the database via http://yoursite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php.

4. 404 Page Not Found Error

Why 404 Errors Happen

This usually occurs when URLs are incorrect or permalinks are broken.

Solutions

• Re-save Permalinks: Go to Settings > Permalinks and click ‘Save Changes.’
• Check .htaccess: Ensure it includes the default WordPress rewrite rules.
• Setup Redirect: Rediect the traffic to relative page.

5. Connection Timed Out

Causes of Connection Timeouts

This is common on shared hosting environments with limited resources.

Solutions

• Increase PHP Memory Limit: As previously described.
• Optimize Resource Usage: Deactivate heavy plugins and optimize images.

6. Maintenance Mode Error

Stuck in Maintenance Mode?

This happens when WordPress updates are interrupted, leaving a .maintenance file in your root directory.

Solutions

• Delete .maintenance File: Access your site via FTP and remove the .maintenance file.

7. Syntax Errors

Identifying Syntax Errors

Syntax errors occur when code is entered incorrectly, often after editing theme or plugin files.

Solutions

• Correct Code Syntax: Use an FTP client to access and fix the file where the error occurred.
• Use Debugging Tools: Enable debugging in wp-config.php with define('WP_DEBUG', true);.

8. Images Not Uploading

Causes for Image Upload Issues

This can be due to incorrect file permissions or memory limits.

Solutions

• File Permissions: Change permissions on the uploads directory to 755 or 775.
• Increase Memory Limit: As described in the WSoD section.

9. Locked Out of Admin Area

Locked Out? Here’s Why

This can be due to login attempts or incorrect URL settings.

Solutions

Check URL Settings: Ensure WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) are correct in the database.

Password Reset: Use the ‘Lost your password?’ link or reset via phpMyAdmin.

10. Failed Auto-Update

Why Auto-Updates Fail

Auto-updates can fail due to server timeout or permission issues.

Solutions

Check Permissions: Ensure all WordPress files have proper permissions set (generally 644 for files and 755 for directories).

Manual Update: Download the latest version of WordPress and upload it via FTP.

11. Email Sending Issues

Understanding Email Sending Problems

WordPress can sometimes fail to send emails due to server configuration issues or incorrect email settings.

Solutions

• SMTP Configuration: Use a plugin like WP Mail SMTP to configure your site to send emails via SMTP rather than PHP mail, which is less reliable.
• Check Hosting Provider: Ensure that your hosting provider allows email sending from your server.

12. SSL Certificate Issues

Why SSL Certificate Issues Occur

SSL issues generally arise when a site doesn’t have a valid SSL certificate or is incorrectly configured, leading to “Not Secure” warnings in browsers.

Solutions

• Install SSL Certificate: Obtain and install a valid SSL certificate through your hosting provider.
• Mixed Content Fix: Use a plugin like Really Simple SSL to ensure all content is served over HTTPS.

13. Plugin Conflicts

Diagnosing Plugin Conflicts

Plugins can conflict with each other or with your theme, causing site malfunctions.

Solutions

• Systematic Deactivation: Deactivate all plugins and reactivate them one by one to identify the conflicting plugin.
• Compatibility Check: Ensure plugins are compatible with your current WordPress version.

14. Theme Conflicts

Understanding Theme Conflicts

Similar to plugins, themes can cause conflicts if they are outdated or poorly coded.

Solutions

• Switch Themes: Temporarily switch to a default theme to see if the issue is resolved.
• Update and Support: Always use updated themes and seek support from theme developers if needed.

15. Broken Links

Causes and Effects of Broken Links

Broken links can harm user experience and SEO performance.

Solutions

• Use a Link Checker Plugin: Plugins like Broken Link Checker can automatically scan and fix broken links.
• Manual Audit: Regularly review and update your site’s links.

16. Slow Loading Speeds

Factors Affecting Site Speed

Slow loading speeds can result from large images, excessive plugins, or insufficient server resources.

Solutions

• Optimize Images: Use plugins like Smush or EWWW Image Optimizer.
• Caching Plugins: Implement caching with plugins like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache.
• Content Delivery Network (CDN): Consider using a CDN such as Cloudflare to improve load times globally.

17. Exceeded Bandwidth Limit

Understanding Bandwidth Limits

Bandwidth limits are set by hosting providers and can be exceeded by high traffic or large file downloads.

Solutions

• Upgrade Hosting Plan: Consider upgrading to a plan with higher bandwidth limits.
• Optimize Content Delivery: Use a CDN to distribute bandwidth usage.

18. RSS Feed Errors

Diagnosing RSS Feed Problems

RSS feed errors usually result from invalid XML syntax or improper formatting.

Solutions

• Validate RSS Feed: Use an RSS feed validator to check for errors.
• Check for Blank Spaces: Ensure there are no blank spaces before the <?php tag in your theme files.

19. Sidebar Below Content

Why Sidebars Sometimes Shift

This layout issue often results from unclosed HTML tags or CSS problems.

Solutions

• Inspect Code: Use browser developer tools to inspect for unclosed tags.
• Validate HTML/CSS: Use validation tools to ensure HTML and CSS are correct.

20. Missing Stylesheet Error

Causes of Missing Stylesheets

This error occurs when the theme’s stylesheet is missing or incorrectly uploaded.

Solutions

• Correct Uploads: Ensure you upload only the theme folder, not the entire download package.
• Check File Paths: Verify that the style.css file is in the right location within the theme folder.

21. Memory Exhausted Error

Understanding Exhausted Memory Issues

This happens when WordPress exceeds the allocated PHP memory limit.

Solutions

• Increase Memory Limit: As described previously, adjust the memory limit in wp-config.php.
• Optimize Plugins/Themes: Deactivate resource-heavy plugins and themes if possible.

22. Not Receiving Emails

Why Emails Might Not Arrive

Failures in email delivery can occur due to server issues or incorrect email settings.

Solutions

• SMTP Plugins: Use WP Mail SMTP or similar plugins to configure reliable email sending.
• Check Spam Filters: Ensure emails aren’t being filtered into spam folders.

23. HTTP Error When Uploading Images

Causes of HTTP Image Upload Errors

This error often arises when WordPress encounters issues with server resources or image size limitations during uploads.

Solutions

• Resize Images Before Uploading: Reduce image file size using tools like TinyPNG.
• Increase PHP Resources: Adjust server settings to allow larger uploads, either through php.ini or wp-config.php.

24. WordPress Not Sending Emails

Diagnosing Email Sending Failures

Emails may not send due to PHP mail issues or incorrect server configurations.

Solutions

• Switch to SMTP Email Sending: Configure WP Mail SMTP for more reliable email delivery.
• Verify Email Settings: Double-check email settings in your WordPress installation and hosting control panel.

25. Facebook Thumbnail Not Correct

Why Thumbnails May Be Incorrect

Facebook thumbnails can be wrong due to missing Open Graph tags in your site’s meta data.

Solutions

• Use SEO Plugins: Plugins like Yoast SEO can help manage Open Graph tags effectively.
• Facebook Debugger Tool: Use Facebook’s Sharing Debugger to scrape your site’s metadata and update thumbnail previews.

26. Parse Error

Understanding Parse Errors

Parse errors typically occur due to syntax mistakes in PHP files, often after manual code edits.

Solutions

• Review Recent Changes: Check recent code modifications for syntax errors, such as missing semicolons or braces.
• Utilize Debugging Tools: Enable debugging in wp-config.php to get detailed error messages.

27. Failed Theme Update

Diagnosing Failed Updates

Theme updates can fail due to server timeouts, file permission issues, or incomplete uploads.

Solutions

• Manual Theme Update: Download the latest theme version and update via FTP.
• Check Permissions and Timeout Settings: Ensure correct file permissions and adjust timeout settings if necessary.

28. Custom Post Type 404 Errors

Why Custom Post Types Get 404 Errors

These errors occur when WordPress rewrite rules are not configured correctly for custom post types.

Solutions

• Re-save Permalinks: Go to Settings > Permalinks and click ‘Save Changes’ to refresh rewrite rules.
• Check Custom Post Type Registration: Ensure custom post types are registered correctly in your theme or plugin code.

29. Screen Options/Help Dropdown Not Working

Causes of Non-functional Dropdowns

These dropdowns might not work due to JavaScript conflicts in the admin area.

Solutions

• Disable Problematic Plugins: Temporarily deactivate plugins that may be causing JavaScript conflicts.
• Inspect JavaScript Errors: Use browser developer tools to identify JavaScript errors on the page.

30. HTTP 500 Internal Server Error

Understanding HTTP 500 Errors

This generic error indicates a problem on the server that prevents it from displaying a webpage.

Solutions

• Check .htaccess File: Rename it temporarily to see if it resolves the issue; regenerate a new one via permalinks settings.
• Increase PHP Memory Limit: Adjust memory limits as mentioned before.
• Debugging Tools: Enable WP_DEBUG mode in wp-config.php to identify specific causes of the error.

Elevate Your WordPress Experience with Professional Support

Navigating WordPress errors can be daunting, but understanding their causes and solutions empowers you to keep your site running smoothly. For those who want peace of mind and prefer focusing on content creation rather than technical troubleshooting, consider enlisting professional WordPress maintenance and support services. Our expert team provides comprehensive maintenance and support, ensuring your WordPress site remains efficient, secure, and error-free, allowing you to concentrate on what truly matters—growing your online presence.

Photo by ALAN DE LA CRUZ on Unsplash