20 Most Common WordPress Errors and How to Fix Them

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WordPress is one of the most widely used content management systems (CMS) in the world, but like any software, it can sometimes run into issues. Whether you’re an experienced WordPress user or a beginner, encountering an error can be frustrating. The good news is that most WordPress errors are fixable with the right steps.

Below is a comprehensive list of 20 common WordPress errors you may face, along with practical solutions to fix them.

1. The White Screen of Death (WSOD)

Cause:

This issue occurs when WordPress crashes, leaving a blank page with no error message. It’s often caused by plugin or theme conflicts, or PHP errors.

Fix:

Disable Plugins: Access your site’s file system and rename the plugins folder in wp-content to plugins_old. If this resolves the issue, one of the plugins was causing the error. Rename the folder back and disable plugins one by one to find the culprit.
Switch Themes: Rename your active theme’s folder via FTP to disable it and revert to the default theme.
Increase PHP Memory Limit: Add the following line to your wp-config.php file:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

2. 404 Page Not Found Error

Cause:

This occurs when a page or post can’t be found, even though it exists.

Fix:

Re-save Permalink Settings: Go to Settings > Permalinks and click “Save Changes” to flush and regenerate permalinks.
Check .htaccess File: Ensure that the .htaccess file is correctly configured, especially for custom post types.

3. Internal Server Error (500 Error)

Cause:

The 500 error is a general issue caused by server misconfigurations, often related to plugins, themes, or a corrupted .htaccess file.

Fix:

Deactivate Plugins: As with WSOD, deactivate all plugins to see if it resolves the issue.
Check .htaccess File: Rename your .htaccess file to .htaccess_old and regenerate it by saving your permalinks again.
Increase PHP Memory: Edit wp-config.php and increase the memory limit.

4. Error Establishing a Database Connection

Cause:

This error occurs when WordPress cannot connect to the database, usually because of incorrect database credentials or a problem with the database server.

Fix:

Check wp-config.php: Ensure that the database name, username, password, and host are correct in the wp-config.php file.
Repair the Database: Add the following line to wp-config.php to enable automatic repair:

define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);

Then visit http://yoursite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php to repair the database.

5. White Text on a White Screen (No Error Message)

Cause:

Often caused by conflicts in WordPress plugins or themes, resulting in the site appearing blank without any errors.

Fix:

Enable Debugging: Open the wp-config.php file and set WP_DEBUG to true:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

This will display error messages on your site, allowing you to diagnose the issue.

6. Connection Timed Out Error

Cause:

This error often occurs when the server is taking too long to respond, due to issues with server resources or a heavy plugin.

Fix:

Increase PHP Limits: Edit wp-config.php to increase the memory_limit and max_execution_time settings.
Deactivated Heavy Plugins: Deactivate resource-heavy plugins, such as those for social sharing, before troubleshooting.

7. Error: Unable to Create Directory / Upload File Error

Cause:

This occurs when WordPress is unable to upload files due to incorrect file permissions or insufficient server disk space.

Fix:

Check File Permissions: Ensure that the wp-content/uploads directory has the correct permissions (typically 755 for directories and 644 for files).
Increase PHP Limits: Add the following lines to wp-config.php to increase file upload limits:

define('WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

8. The “Briefly Unavailable for Scheduled Maintenance” Error

Cause:

This occurs when WordPress updates are interrupted, leaving the site in maintenance mode.

Fix:

Delete the .maintenance File: Use FTP or File Manager to locate and delete the .maintenance file from the root directory of your WordPress installation.

9. Error 403: Forbidden

Cause:

A 403 error occurs when access to the page or resource is denied, usually due to incorrect file permissions or server misconfigurations.

Fix:

Check Permissions: Ensure that files and folders have the correct permissions (755 for folders and 644 for files).
Disable ModSecurity: If ModSecurity is enabled on your server, temporarily disable it to check if it’s causing the error.

10. The “White Screen” After Login

Cause:

This error usually happens when there is a plugin or theme conflict after logging into WordPress.

Fix:

Clear Browser Cache: Sometimes the browser cache can cause issues. Clear it and try logging in again.
Disable Plugins via FTP: If you can’t access the admin area, use FTP to rename the plugins folder and disable all plugins.

11. 404 Error on WordPress Admin Dashboard

Cause:

This issue can occur if there’s an issue with the wp-admin URL or the site is using a custom login page.

Fix:

Check URL Settings: Go to your WordPress settings and ensure that both Site Address (URL) and WordPress Address (URL) are correct.
Flush Rewrite Rules: Re-save your permalinks in the WordPress admin panel.

12. Lost Password Error

Cause:

WordPress sometimes fails to send a password reset email, especially if the email server is misconfigured.

Fix:

Check Email Server Settings: Ensure your WordPress email settings are configured correctly. You may also want to use a third-party email service like Mailgun or SMTP.
Reset Password via phpMyAdmin: If you’re locked out, you can reset the password directly in the WordPress database using phpMyAdmin.

13. The “500 Internal Server Error” After Installing a Plugin or Theme

Cause:

The installation or activation of a plugin or theme can conflict with other elements of the site, causing a 500 error.

Fix:

Disable Plugins: Disable all plugins and then reactivate them one by one to find the culprit.
Switch to Default Theme: Change to a default WordPress theme to see if the issue is theme-related.

14. Too Many Redirects

Cause:

A common issue, often due to incorrect settings in your site’s URL or HTTPS settings.

Fix:

Clear Browser Cookies: Clear your browser cache and cookies to remove any stored redirects.
Check .htaccess File: Ensure your .htaccess file doesn’t have multiple redirects configured.
Ensure Correct URL Settings: In Settings > General, make sure the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) are correct.

15. Database Connection Error After Migrating a Site

Cause:

Migration can lead to errors if the database credentials weren’t updated correctly.

Fix:

Update Database Credentials: Edit your wp-config.php file and ensure the database name, username, password, and host are correct.

16. Admin Dashboard is Blank

Cause:

A blank admin dashboard is often caused by a plugin or theme conflict, or a corrupt WordPress installation.

Fix:

Disable Plugins and Themes: As with the White Screen of Death, disable all plugins and switch to a default theme to narrow down the cause.
Reinstall WordPress: If the issue persists, consider reinstalling WordPress core files.

17. WordPress Dashboard is Slow

Cause:

This issue is typically caused by too many plugins, a resource-heavy theme, or poor server performance.

Fix:

Optimize Database: Use a plugin like WP-Optimize to clean up and optimize your database.
Use a Caching Plugin: Install and configure a caching plugin like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache.
Upgrade Hosting: If your hosting plan is not adequate for your site’s traffic, consider upgrading to a better plan.

18. The “Allowed Memory Size Exhausted” Error

Cause:

This happens when the PHP memory limit is reached, often due to poorly optimized plugins or themes.

Fix:

Increase PHP Memory Limit: Add the following to your wp-config.php file:

php

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
Optimize Plugins: Deactivate unnecessary plugins and optimize large ones.

19. Content Not Updating After Editing

Cause:

This can occur when caching plugins or browser cache prevent changes from appearing.

Fix:

Clear Cache: Clear your site’s cache via caching plugins and your browser’s cache.
Disable Caching Temporarily: Disable the caching plugin temporarily to check if it’s causing the issue.

20. 500 Error During WordPress Update

Cause:

A WordPress update might conflict with a plugin, theme, or server settings.

Fix:

Disable Plugins: Deactivate all plugins before updating WordPress.
Check Server Error Logs: Check your server logs to find out the root cause.

Conclusion

WordPress errors can be frustrating, but most of them have straightforward solutions. Whether you’re dealing with issues related to plugins, themes, or server configurations, understanding the common errors and knowing how to fix them can save you time and stress. For many problems, starting with plugin and theme troubleshooting, as well as checking server settings and error logs, will lead you to a solution.