5 Common WordPress Errors and How to Fix Them

If you’ve ever managed a WordPress website, you’ve likely encountered a moment of panic when your site suddenly goes down. Whether it’s a blank screen, a cryptic error message, or an unresponsive admin dashboard, these issues can be stressful. But don’t worry—most common WordPress errors have straightforward fixes. This guide will walk you through the most frequent problems and provide simple, step-by-step solutions to get your site back online quickly.

5 Common WordPress Errors

The White Screen of Death (WSOD)

What It Is: This is one of the most feared WordPress errors. It’s when your site shows a completely blank, white screen with no error message. It’s typically caused by a PHP error or a memory limit issue, often triggered by a recent plugin or theme update.

How to Fix It:

1. Disable Plugins: Since plugin conflicts are the most common cause, the first step is to deactivate them. If you can’t access your admin dashboard, you’ll need to use an FTP client or your hosting’s File Manager.
   • Connect to your site via FTP.
   • Navigate to the wp-content folder.
   • Find the plugins folder and rename it to something like plugins_old.
   • Check your site. If the white screen is gone, a plugin was the culprit. Rename the folder back to plugins, then log into your dashboard and reactivate each plugin one by one until you find the one causing the issue.
2. Switch to a Default Theme: If disabling plugins doesn’t work, the problem might be your theme.
   • Using FTP, navigate to wp-content/themes.
   • Find your current theme folder and rename it. This will force WordPress to use a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
   • Check your site. If it’s fixed, your theme is the problem. You can now contact the theme developer for help or switch to a new theme.

Internal Server Error (500 Error)

What It Is: This is a generic server-side error, which means something is wrong on the server but it can’t tell you exactly what. The most common causes are a corrupted .htaccess file or an exhausted PHP memory limit.

How to Fix It:

1. Rename .htaccess: The .htaccess file is a crucial server configuration file. A misplaced character can cause a 500 error.
   • Connect to your site via FTP and look in your root directory (the same folder as wp-admin and wp-content).
   • Find the .htaccess file. Rename it to something like .htaccess_old.
   • Refresh your site. If it loads, the file was the problem. Now, go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and click Save Changes to generate a new, clean .htaccess file.
2. Increase PHP Memory Limit: If the .htaccess fix doesn’t work, your site may be exceeding its memory limit.
   • Connect via FTP and open your wp-config.php file (also in the root directory).
   • Add the following line of code just before the line that says /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */: define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );
   • Save the file and re-upload it. This often resolves memory-related issues.

Error Establishing a Database Connection

What It Is: This error means WordPress can’t connect to its database. Without the database, the site has no content, so it can’t function. This is most often caused by incorrect database credentials.

How to Fix It:

1. Check wp-config.php File: Your database connection details are stored in this file. Even a single incorrect character will break the connection.
   • Connect via FTP and open wp-config.php.
   • Look for the following lines: define( 'DB_NAME', 'database_name_here' ); define( 'DB_USER', 'username_here' ); define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'password_here' ); define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );
   • Compare the DB_NAME, DB_USER, and DB_PASSWORD values with the actual credentials in your hosting account’s database section (usually via cPanel or a similar control panel). Correct any discrepancies.
2. Check Your Database Host: While localhost is standard, some hosts use a different host value. Double-check this with your hosting provider.
3. Contact Your Host: If your credentials are correct, the database server itself might be down due to a traffic spike or server issue. Contact your hosting provider’s support team to confirm the server status.

Connection Timed Out

What It Is: This error occurs when your server is overloaded and can’t complete the request in time. This is often caused by a resource-intensive plugin, a theme function, or insufficient PHP memory.

How to Fix It:

• Increase PHP Memory Limit and Execution Time: This is the most effective fix.
  • Edit your wp-config.php file (as in the 500 error fix) and increase the memory limit.
  • If that doesn’t work, try adding this line to the same file: set_time_limit(300); This will increase the maximum execution time for scripts.
• Disable Plugins: If the problem persists, follow the steps for disabling plugins in the “White Screen of Death” section to find and deactivate the plugin that is causing the timeout.

Syntax Error

What It Is: This error appears with a clear message: “Parse error: syntax error, unexpected…” It happens when you’ve made a mistake in your website’s code, such as a missing semicolon or bracket.

How to Fix It:

• The error message will tell you exactly which file and line number the problem is on.
• Connect via FTP and navigate to the file mentioned in the error.
• Find the specific line of code, fix the syntax mistake, save the file, and re-upload it to the server.

Pro Tip: Always make a backup of your site before making any of these changes. A current backup is the most important tool you have for fixing any error.

Recommended Steps: What to Do to Avoid Common Errors

While knowing how to fix errors is crucial, being proactive is the key to preventing them in the first place. Follow these steps to keep your WordPress site running smoothly.

• Regular Backups: This is your ultimate safety net. Use a reliable backup plugin or your host’s backup service to create automatic, regular backups of your site’s files and database.
• Use Reputable Plugins & Themes: Only download plugins and themes from trusted sources like the official WordPress.org repository or well-known developers. Avoid using nulled or pirated versions, as they often contain malicious code.
• Test Updates on a Staging Site: Before you update your plugins, themes, or WordPress core on your live site, test them on a staging (testing) environment first. Many hosts offer a one-click staging solution.
• Monitor Your Site’s Performance: Use a monitoring service to get alerted the moment your site goes down. Proactive monitoring can help you catch issues before they affect your visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FTP?

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a way to access your website’s files and folders directly from your computer. You’ll need an FTP client (like FileZilla) and your host’s FTP credentials to use it.

Why is my site still broken after trying these steps?

If your site remains down, the issue may be more complex. Restore your site from a recent backup, then contact your hosting provider’s support team for further assistance.

How do I back up my WordPress site?

You can use a WordPress backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or Duplicator. Many hosting providers also offer one-click backup solutions in their control panel.