How to Fix Common WordPress ERRORS Quickly

How to Fix Common WordPress ERRORS Quickly

Running a WordPress site can feel like a breeze—until you encounter an error. Whether it’s the dreaded white screen of death, a broken plugin, or an internal server error, WordPress issues can disrupt your website and impact your business.

The good news? Most WordPress errors are common, and you can fix them quickly with the right steps. In this guide, we’ll cover the most frequent WordPress errors, their causes, and practical solutions so you can get your site back online without panic.

---

1. The White Screen of Death (WSOD)

What Is It?

The White Screen of Death occurs when your website shows a completely blank page. No error message, just white space.

Why It Happens:

• A theme or plugin conflict
• Exhausted PHP memory limit
• Corrupt core files

How to Fix It:

• Disable Plugins: Use FTP or your hosting file manager to rename the plugins folder. This will deactivate all plugins. If your site works after that, reactivate them one by one to find the culprit.
• Switch Themes: Temporarily change to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
• Increase PHP Memory: Edit wp-config.php and add: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

---

2. Internal Server Error (500 Error)

What Is It?

This generic error means something is wrong on the server but doesn’t specify the cause.

Why It Happens:

• Corrupted .htaccess file
• Plugin or theme conflicts
• PHP memory limits

How to Fix It:

• Regenerate .htaccess File:
  • Access your root directory via FTP.
  • Rename the existing .htaccess file to .htaccess_old.
  • Log in to WordPress → Settings → Permalinks → Save.
• Increase PHP Memory Limit as shown above.
• Deactivate Plugins and Themes to identify the issue.

---

3. Error Establishing a Database Connection

What Is It?

Your website cannot connect to the database, so it can’t load any content.

Why It Happens:

• Incorrect database credentials
• Corrupt database
• Overloaded server

How to Fix It:

• Check Database Credentials: Open wp-config.php and verify:

define('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name'); define('DB_USER', 'your_database_user'); define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_database_password'); define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

• Repair Database: Add this line in wp-config.php:

define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);
Then visit: yoursite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php

---

4. 404 Page Not Found Error

What Is It?

Your posts or pages return a 404 error even though they exist.

Why It Happens:

• Incorrect permalink settings
• Corrupt .htaccess file

How to Fix It:

• Go to Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes.
• If that doesn’t work, regenerate your .htaccess file as explained earlier.

---

5. Memory Exhausted Error

What Is It?

You see an error like Allowed memory size exhausted when running a script.

Why It Happens:

• A plugin or theme is consuming too much memory.

How to Fix It:

• Increase memory limit by adding this to wp-config.php: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

---

6. WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

What Is It?

After updating WordPress or plugins, you see “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance” and it won’t go away.

Why It Happens:

• WordPress failed to remove the .maintenance file.

How to Fix It:

• Access your root directory and delete the .maintenance file.

---

7. Upload: Exceeds Maximum File Size Error

What Is It?

You can’t upload a file because it exceeds the allowed size.

Why It Happens:

• Server upload size limit is too low.

How to Fix It:

• Add this to php.ini or create one:

upload_max_filesize = 64M post_max_size = 64M max_execution_time = 300

---

8. Syntax Error After Editing Code

What Is It?

Your site breaks after adding custom code.

Why It Happens:

• A missing semicolon or bracket in your code.

How to Fix It:

• Access the file via FTP and correct the syntax.
• If you can’t find the error, remove the code you added.

---

9. Connection Timed Out Error

What Is It?

Your site takes too long to respond and then fails to load.

Why It Happens:

• Server overload
• Heavy themes or plugins

How to Fix It:

• Deactivate resource-heavy plugins.
• Increase PHP memory limit.
• Upgrade your hosting plan.

---

10. Too Many Redirects Error

What Is It?

Your site keeps redirecting between two URLs and never loads.

Why It Happens:

• Misconfigured URL settings in WordPress.

How to Fix It:

• Check WordPress Address and Site Address in Settings → General.
• Clear your browser cookies and cache.

---

Pro Tips to Prevent Future Errors

• Update WordPress, plugins, and themes regularly.
• Use a staging site before making major changes.
• Back up your site frequently using plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy.
• Choose reliable hosting for better performance and fewer errors.

---

Conclusion

WordPress errors can be frustrating, but they’re almost always fixable. By following the steps above, you can resolve issues quickly and keep your site running smoothly. With a little troubleshooting knowledge, you’ll save time, avoid panic, and maintain a professional online presence.