Here are the top errors or problems that people run into with WordPress, plus how to fix them. These WordPress issues can happen to anyone’s website if it’s running on WordPress.
It’s popular, and thankfully, it’s not too hard to fix. Let’s get into it!
Top 20 WordPress Issues in 2023
- White screen of death
- Error establishing a database connection
- 404 Page Not Found error
- Internal server error
- WordPress admin login issues
- Site not displaying properly on mobile devices
- Broken links or missing images
- Plugin conflicts or errors
- Theme compatibility issues
- WordPress site speed issues
- WordPress update issues
- XML-RPC attacks
- Malware infections
- HTTP error when uploading media files
- Login page refreshes and redirects issues
- Email delivery issues
- Page speed optimization issues
- Incompatibility with certain web hosting providers
- Permalink issues
- Customization errors.
Broken and Inefficient Sites Cost You
The cost of a broken website can be substantial and can impact your business in many ways. A poorly functioning website can lead to a loss of traffic, potential customers, and revenue. It can also harm your brand reputation and credibility, which can be difficult to repair.
- According to a study from Google, if a website takes longer than three seconds to load, 53% of visitors will abandon the site.
- A survey by Kissmetrics found that 79% of online shoppers who experience issues with website performance say they are less likely to return to the site.
- The same survey by Kissmetrics also found that a one-second delay in website load time can result in a 7% reduction in conversions.
If your website is experiencing downtime or has technical issues, it can result in your site getting removed from Google or alerting your visitors that it’s dangerous.
Visitors encountering broken links or pages that don’t load properly will likely leave your site and seek out a competitor. This can lead to a significant loss in potential customers and sales.
So, how do you fix them?
We’ve rounded up recommended fixes for the top WordPress issues or problems below.
Field Guide: How to Fix Top WordPress Problems
| WordPress Issue | How to Fix |
|---|---|
| White screen of death | 1. Disable all plugins and re-enable them one by one to determine which plugin is causing the issue. 2. Switch to a default theme to determine if the theme is causing the issue. 3. Increase the memory limit in wp-config.php by adding define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); |
| Error establishing a database connection | 1. Check the database login credentials in wp-config.php. 2. Repair the database using phpMyAdmin. 3. Contact your web host if the issue persists. |
| 404 Page Not Found error | 1. Check the permalink settings in WordPress. 2. Re-save your permalink settings. 3. Check for broken links on your site. |
| Internal server error | 1. Increase the PHP memory limit by adding php_value memory_limit 256M to your .htaccess file. 2. Rename the .htaccess file to see if it’s causing the issue. 3. Contact your web host if the issue persists. |
| WordPress admin login issues | 1. Reset your password via the login page. 2. Deactivate all plugins and switch to a default theme. 3. Repair the database using phpMyAdmin. |
| Site not displaying properly on mobile devices | 1. Use a mobile-friendly theme. 2. Use responsive design. 3. Remove unnecessary plugins or video embeds. 4. Optimize images and videos for mobile devices. |
| Broken links or missing images | 1. Use a broken link checker plugin. 2. Manually check all links on your site. 3. Re-upload any missing images or media files. |
| Plugin conflicts or errors | 1. Deactivate all plugins and re-enable them one by one. 2. Update all plugins to their latest version. 3. Contact the plugin developer for support. |
| Theme compatibility issues | 1. Switch to a default WordPress theme. 2. Update your theme to the latest version. 3. Contact the theme developer for support. |
| WordPress site speed issues | 1. Use a caching plugin like WP Comet Cache, WP Rocket, or W3 Total Cache 2. Optimize images and videos. 3. Set up DNS proxy configuration like Cloudflare. 4. Use a content delivery network (CDN). |
| WordPress update issues | 1. Back up your site before updating. 2. Deactivate all plugins before updating. 3. Update WordPress manually if automatic updates fail. |
| XML-RPC attacks | 1. Use a security plugin to block XML-RPC requests 2. Disable XML-RPC in your site’s code. 3. Use a web application firewall (WAF) to block XML-RPC attacks. |
| Malware infections | 1. Use a malware scanner plugin to scan your site. 2. Remove any suspicious, non-standard files from WordPress directories. 3. Harden your site’s security to prevent future infections. |
| HTTP error when uploading media files | 1. Increase the PHP memory limit. 2. Enable SVGs within WordPress with the SafeSVG plugin. 2. Use an SFTP client to upload files manually. 3. Contact your web host for support. |
| Login page refreshes and redirects issues | 1. Clear your browser cache and cookies. 2. Disable all plugins and switch to a default theme. 3. Add the following code to your wp-config.php file: define('COOKIE_DOMAIN', $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST'] ); |
| Email delivery issues | 1. Check your email settings in WordPress. 2. Use a plugin to send emails via SMTP. 3. Contact your web host if the issue persists. |
| Page speed optimization issues | 1. Use a caching plugin. 2. Optimize images and videos. 3. Minify CSS and JavaScript files. |
| Incompatibility with certain web hosting providers | 1. Check your web host’s compatibility with WordPress and your plugins. 2. Contact your web host for support. 3. Consider switching to a more WordPress-friendly web host. |
| Permalink issues | 1. Check your permalink settings in WordPress. 2. Re-save your permalink settings. 3. Check for conflicting plugins or themes. |
| Customization errors | 1. Check your code for errors or typos. 2. Deactivate all plugins and switch to a default theme. 3. Use the WordPress debugging feature to find errors. |
Troubleshooting WordPress problems doesn’t have to be difficult. In general, we recommend most users try to solve the issue first with these quick troubleshooting strategies.
Common strategies for troubleshooting WordPress
- Check for updates: Ensure that WordPress, your theme, and all plugins are current. Many issues can be resolved by simply updating to the latest version.
- Disable plugins: If you suspect a plugin is causing the issue, try disabling all plugins and re-enabling them individually to identify the culprit.
- Switch to a default theme: If you suspect that your theme is causing the issue, try switching to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One to see if the issue persists.
- Check for conflicts: If you have recently installed a new plugin or made changes to your theme, try reverting those changes to see if the issue is resolved. You can also check for conflicts between plugins or between plugins and themes by deactivating them one by one.
- Check error logs: WordPress logs errors to a file called debug.log. You can enable debug mode in your wp-config.php file to see error messages, warnings, and notices that may help you identify the issue.
- Clear cache: Clear your browser cache, as well as any cache plugins you may be using, to ensure that you see your site’s latest version.
- Contact support: If you have tried all of the above strategies and are still experiencing issues, contact your web host or the plugin/theme developer for support. They may be able to provide further assistance or troubleshoot the issue on your behalf.
By following these strategies, you should be able to identify and resolve the most common WordPress issues.
DIY WordPress fixes not working?
As a WordPress expert, I know that managing your website can be daunting. Regular updates, security measures, and troubleshooting can quickly become overwhelming, so I highly recommend a WordPress maintenance service plan.
One of the biggest benefits of a maintenance service plan is the time it saves you. Instead of spending hours trying to fix issues on your own, you can simply rely on your maintenance provider to handle it for you. This allows you to focus on other important aspects of your business without compromising the functionality or quality of your website.
Another advantage of a maintenance service plan is its peace of mind. With regular security checks and updates, you can rest easy knowing that your website is safe and up-to-date. This helps protect your website from potential threats while ensuring that it runs smoothly and efficiently.
A WordPress maintenance service plan can also help improve your website’s performance. Optimizing your website for speed and search engine rankings can attract more visitors and increase engagement with your content. This can ultimately lead to higher conversions and a better return on your investment.
Lastly, a maintenance service plan can give you expert advice and support. If you have questions about your website or need help with a specific issue, your maintenance provider can offer guidance and assistance. This is especially beneficial if you’re new to WordPress or are not familiar with the technical aspects of website management.
Investing in a WordPress maintenance service plan is a smart decision for any website owner. It saves you time, provides peace of mind, improves website performance, and offers expert support.