Common WordPress Issues and Fixes
While WordPress is a great option for businesses that want to have a website that can expand with their requirements, there are numerous things that can go wrong.
A website can start to slow down after installing a plugin, it can break after an update in a theme or after a change in code, or it can be hard to work with because of changes made over the years.
The majority of WordPress problems aren’t random. Typically they occur due to plugins conflict, outdated software, wrong settings, limits of the host, or changes that were not tested.
Those problems are only to be solved by making changes that are not random. It’s finding the root cause, testing thoroughly, and applying the proper solution.
1. Plugin Conflicts After Updates
Plugins can be extremely beneficial in WordPress without a doubt; but at the same time, they are also one of the most common causes for WordPress issues.
A plugin update could cause problems with:
- Another plugin
- Your active theme
- Your WordPress version
- Your hosting environment
For instance, if there is some modification to the scripts for a form plugin, it could stop working when there is another plugin updating the same scripts.
How to fix it:
First check what has changed between the time of occurrence of the problem and before there was one.
Ask:
- Does a plugin have an updated version?
- Have they installed a new plug-in?
- Is the WordPress core updated?
Make a backup first and then disable one plugin at a time to discover the conflict.
In a live site, it’s preferable to do this on the staging site rather than turning off some essential features for users.
When a plugin is found to be problematic, see if you can get an updated version, get in touch with the plugin developer, or even replace the plugin.
2. WordPress Critical Errors and White Screen Problems
If WordPress has a critical error or blank white screen, it is likely that a fatal PHP error occurred and WordPress was not able to load the page further.
Common causes include:
- Plugin conflicts
- Theme code problems
- Incorrect PHP versions
- Memory limitations
- Custom code errors
One of the most everyday instances is a web page that looks fine until a developer inserts a small piece of code. WordPress can fail to load correctly if you don’t have one of the characters.
How to fix it:
You first need to discover what was different before you see the error.
WordPress might be able to detect the plugin or theme that is causing the problem if it is in recovery mode.
If you are not able to connect to wp-admin:
- Ensure that the suspected plugin is disabled in your hosting file manager or FTP access.Make sure to disable the suspected plugin in the hosting file manager or FTP access.
- If the theme is causing the problem, use a default WordPress theme.
- Check error logs at your host’s site
- Make sure that WordPress debugging is enabled to find out where the error came from.
Don’t make more than one change at a time, since it is more difficult to pinpoint the final cause.
3. Theme Problems and Broken Website Layouts
Occasionally website appearance or function can be disrupted by theme updates or customizations.
You may notice:
- Missing sections
- Incorrect spacing
- Broken menus
- Mobile layout issues
- Missing custom features
This usually occurs when custom themes are updated and the customizations get overwritten or custom code is incompatible with the new theme version.
How to fix it:
Backup a theme and test the update on a staging site before updating a theme.
Review:
- Custom templates
- Child theme files
- CSS changes
- Custom functions
- Page builder elements
A Website Development Process that is well planned would have some test updates prior to making them live.
4. WordPress Website Speed Problems
One of the most common website problems is a slow website, which can be caused by various factors that can cause website performance to deteriorate over time.
Common causes include:
- Large image files
- Too many plugins
- Poor hosting resources
- Heavy themes
- Excessive scripts
- Unoptimized databases
A web site can be fast at the beginning, but get slower when more content, plugins and features are added to it.
How to fix it:
To begin with, you should determine the reason why the website is slow.
Review:
- Powered sections (such as the Dirt Track and the Teslotronics).
- Compact form elements.
- Unnecessary plugins
- Third-party scripts
- Hosting performance
- Database size
Never install more than one of the optimisation plugins without using the right one. These can sometimes cause further conflict.
5. Database Connection Errors
The “Error Establishing a Database Connection” message occurs when WordPress is not able to connect to the database.
This error can prevent users from accessing the website at all, as WordPress stores all content, settings and user information in the database.
Possible causes include:
- Incorrect database credentials
- Database server issues
- Corrupted database tables
- Hosting problems
How to fix it:
Determine if there are database issues with your host company.
If that doesn’t work, check your database login information in your wp-config.php file.
WordPress offers database repair when tables are corrupted, however, it backs up the database before making changes to it.
6. Unable to Access WordPress Admin
If you lose access to wp-admin, you will not be able to manage the website.
Common causes include:
- Incorrect login details
- Security plugin restrictions
- Redirect problems
- Plugin conflicts
- Website errors
How to fix it:
There are some straightforward checks to begin with:
- Clear Browser Cookies and Cache
- Verify that the logon URL is correct.
- If you have any security plugins installed, see if they’re blocking access.
If it is a plugin that is causing the problem, deactivate that plugin via FTP or the host file manager.
When the site is not working, check error logs for errors.
7. Broken Forms, Buttons, or Website Functionality
Occasionally, the site looks normal, yet its key features cease to function.
Examples include:
- Contact forms not sending emails
- Search not working
- Buttons not responding
- Popups failing
Typically these types of problems are due to JavaScript conflicts, plug-in problems, or changes in your code.
How to fix it:
Enable recently updated plugins and test the affected feature.
Verify for JavaScript errors in the browser developer’s tools.
Verify that email setup, integrations and third-party services are functioning properly.
8. WordPress Updates Causing Problems
Ensuring that WordPress is always kept updated is crucial, but updates can cause compatibility problems.
Issues might arise after the update:
- WordPress core
- Plugins
- Themes
- PHP versions
How to fix it:
Do not put all the changes on a production site right away.
Instead:
- Create a backup.
- Make sure to test updates on staging.
- Check important pages and functionality.
- Update when you’ve checked all of the things work.
A Better WordPress Troubleshooting Process
To resolve WordPress issues, take a systematic approach:
- Create a backup.
- Determine the onset of the problem.
- Review recent changes.
- Check error messages and logs.
- Test out one possible cause at a time.
- Check the fix on cross-device.
Troubleshooting is not just to fix the error. It’s about avoiding the same issues from happening again.
Preventing Future WordPress Issues
The regular maintenance decreases the chances of unexpected problems.
A trustworthy maintenance process has the following modules:
- Updating WordPress safely
- Monitoring website performance
- Removing unused plugins
- Maintaining backups
- Checking security issues
- Testing important functionality
With WordPress Maintenance Services, you can find problems before users, visitors, and conversions notice them, and this will not impact your business.
Keep Your WordPress Website Reliable
When the issue is correctly identified, most WordPress issues can be solved. The key is to be careful not to change anything at random and to use a systematic troubleshooting method.
Whether it’s plugins, themes, performance or website functionality, you are better off getting the correct diagnosis and avoiding any future issues.
If you are experiencing technical problems with your website, WP Minds can assist you in troubleshooting, maintaining, and optimizing it for the future.
Need help fixing WordPress issues?
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Schedule a website technical review with WP Minds to detect website issues, boost site speed and ensure that your WordPress website operates effectively.
What are the most common WordPress issues?
Plugin conflicts, critical errors, broken themes, slow performance, database connection errors, failed updates and problems accessing the wp-admin are common WordPress problems.
How do I fix a critical error in WordPress?
Review recent edits, such as recent plugin updates, theme changes, or custom code edits. If possible, use recovery mode, deactivate the problematic plugin or theme and check the error logs.
How can I find which plugin is causing a WordPress problem?
Turn off each plugin and test the site after removing each. Check recently installed or updated plugins first, since they may be the cause of the problem. If you have a staging site, it is recommended to test on the staging site before affecting visitors.
What should I do if my WordPress website shows a blank or white screen?
Look at the latest changes first. Deactivate suspicious plugins, change the theme, check PHP errors and turn on WordPress debugging to determine the cause of the problem.
How do I troubleshoot WordPress if I can't access wp-admin?
Investigate login problems, security limits, and new changes to plugins. If required, turn off plugins via FTP or file manager on your host, and check server logs for errors.
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