Troubleshooting WordPress Website Errors: Top Checklist, Symptoms & Solutions

WordPress, undeniably, is one of the best CMS available, thanks to its flexibility and ease of use. However, even the best of us have a chink in the armor. With WordPress websites, there are errors like “White Screen of Death” and so many 400s and 500s errors.

Fortunately, troubleshooting WordPress websites is a systematic approach that can help resolve these issues quite efficiently.

Through this blog, I’ll explain how the WordPress experts troubleshoot the issues and come up with the appropriate solutions. Let’s begin.

Common WordPress Issues (& Their Symptoms & Causes)

WordPress, while incredibly user-friendly, can occasionally throw curveballs. Here are some of the most common WordPress issues, their symptoms, potential causes, and effective solutions:

The White Screen of Death (WSoD)

• Symptom: A blank white screen instead of your website’s content.
• Possible Causes:
  • Plugin Conflicts: Incompatible or poorly coded plugins can clash, causing the WSoD.
  • Theme Issues: A faulty or outdated theme can lead to this error.
  • PHP Errors: Incorrect PHP configurations or syntax errors can trigger the WSoD.
  • Insufficient Memory Limit: If your server’s memory limit is too low, it can cause WordPress to crash.
• Solutions:
  • Deactivate Plugins: Temporarily deactivate all plugins to identify the culprit. Reactivate them one by one to pinpoint the problematic plugin.
  • Switch to a Default Theme: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three to rule out theme-related issues.
  • Increase PHP Memory Limit: Consult your WordPress hosting provider to increase the PHP memory limit allocated to your WordPress site.
  • Check PHP Error Logs: Look for error messages in your server’s PHP error logs to identify specific issues.

404 Not Found Errors

• Symptom: A “404 Not Found” error message when trying to access a specific page or post.
• Possible Causes:
  • Broken Links: Incorrect or outdated links can lead to 404 errors.
  • Removed Content: If you’ve deleted a page or post, links to it will result in 404 errors.
  • Incorrect URL Structure: Changes in permalink structure can cause 404 errors for old URLs.
• Solutions:
  • Use a Redirection Plugin: Use a plugin like Redirection to create 301 redirects from broken URLs to working ones.
  • Check Your .htaccess File: Ensure there are no errors in your .htaccess file that might be causing 404 errors.
  • Update Permalinks: If you’ve changed your permalink structure, consider using a plugin like Yoast SEO to automatically redirect old URLs to new ones.

500 Internal Server Error

• Symptom: A generic “500 Internal Server Error” message.
• Possible Causes:
  • Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Similar to the WSoD, plugin or theme conflicts can trigger this error.
  • PHP Errors: Syntax errors or insufficient memory can cause this error.
  • Server Configuration Issues: Incorrect server settings or permissions can lead to 500 errors.
• Solutions:
  • Deactivate Plugins: Temporarily deactivate all plugins to identify the culprit.
  • Switch to a Default Theme: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme to rule out theme-related issues.
  • Check PHP Error Logs: Look for specific error messages to diagnose the problem.
  • Contact Your Hosting Provider: If the issue persists, contact your hosting provider for assistance.

Slow Loading Times

• Symptom: Your website takes a long time to load.
• Possible Causes:
  • Large Image Files: Unoptimized images can significantly slow down your website.
  • Too Many Plugins: Excessive plugins can increase loading times.
  • Inefficient Hosting: A slow or overloaded server can impact performance.
  • Poorly Coded Themes or Plugins: Inefficient code can hinder website speed.
• Solutions:
  • Optimize Images: Compress images without compromising quality to reduce file size.
  • Minimize Plugins: Deactivate unnecessary plugins to improve performance.
  • Upgrade Your Hosting Plan: Consider a faster hosting plan with more resources.
  • Use a Caching Plugin: A caching plugin like WP Super Cache can significantly speed up your website.
  • Minify CSS and JavaScript: Combine and minify CSS and JavaScript files to reduce the number of HTTP requests.

These are some of the more commonly faced issues. If you need help with taking care of these, hire professional WordPress developers. But if it’s something else, you’ll need to follow a few troubleshooting steps.

Complete Checklist for Troubleshooting WordPress Websites

Let’s look at how you can effectively troubleshoot the WordPress websites and fix the common errors.

Research the Error Message and Meaning

Before diving into solutions, understanding the root cause is crucial. Use search engines to find specific error messages and their common solutions. Many common WordPress issues have well-documented fixes.

Create a Complete Backup of Your WordPress Website

Always prioritize data protection. Create a full backup of your WordPress website, including the database, themes, and plugins. This backup will serve as a safety net, allowing you to restore your site if any unforeseen issues arise during the troubleshooting process.

Check for Updates

Outdated software can introduce vulnerabilities and compatibility problems. Keep WordPress up-to-date (that means the core, themes, and plugins). Regular updates often include security patches, bug fixes, and performance enhancements.

Clear Browser Cache

Sometimes, your web browser stores a cache of website data, including images, stylesheets, and scripts, to improve loading times. However, sometimes this cached data can become outdated or corrupted, leading to unexpected behavior or preventing updates from taking effect.

Clearing your browser’s cache can help resolve these issues. Here’s how it goes:

Step 1: Go to the browser’s settings menu (usually found in the top-right corner).

Step 2: Look for options related to privacy, security, or history.

Step 3: Select the appropriate time range (e.g., “All time”). Check the boxes for “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files”.

Step 4: Click “Clear data” or a similar button.

Here’s a bonus; most popular browsers and their cache clearing methods:

• Google Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data.
• Mozilla Firefox: Go to Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data.
• Microsoft Edge: Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data.
• Safari: Go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data.

After clearing the cache, your WordPress website will show the latest content and functions correctly.

Clear Your WordPress Cache

WordPress caching plugins significantly improve website performance by storing static versions of web pages. However, sometimes the cached content can become outdated or corrupted, leading to issues like broken layouts, missing content, or incorrect information.

Some of these plugins can help manage cache settings and clear the cache. Or you can go about the manual method.

If you’re comfortable with accessing FTP clients, you can manually delete cache files from your server. However, this is not recommended for beginners as it can lead to unintended consequences if not done correctly.

Deactivate All Plugins (and Install Them One-by-one)

Plugins can significantly enhance your WordPress website’s functionality, but they can also sometimes cause conflicts or introduce bugs. To isolate a problematic plugin, you can deactivate all plugins and then reactivate them one by one.

Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.

Step 2: Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.

Step 3: Select all plugins using the checkbox at the top of the list.

Step 4: Click the ‘Deactivate’ button.

Step 5: Activate one plugin at a time. Test your website after each activation to identify any issues or conflicts.

If you encounter a problem after activating a plugin, deactivate it and move on to the next one.

Switch to a Default WordPress Theme

A poorly coded or incompatible theme can lead to a variety of problems, including layout issues, broken functionality, and security vulnerabilities. To isolate theme-related issues, you can temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.

Navigate to ‘Appearance’ > ‘Themes’ in the admin panel, locate the default theme, and click ‘Activate’.

Once the default theme is activated, test your website to see if the issue persists. If the problem is resolved, it’s likely related to your previous theme.

Refresh the Permalink Structure

Permalinks are the unique URLs of your WordPress pages and posts. If your permalink structure is incorrect or has been changed, it can lead to various issues, including 404 errors, broken links, and SEO problems.

Access the WordPress Settings and navigate to the ‘Permalinks’ section.

Then you can select a permalink structure that is SEO-friendly and easy to understand. After that, you can click ‘Save Changes’ to go ahead with these updates.

Please make sure you don’t change the permalink structures too frequently, or it may negatively impact your website’s search visibility.

Backup and Delete .htaccess File

The .htaccess file is a powerful configuration file that controls how your Apache web server behaves. While it’s essential for various functionalities, it can sometimes become corrupted or misconfigured, leading to WordPress errors, like 500 Internal Server Errors.

To resolve this, back up the .htaccess file and then delete it. This will force WordPress to regenerate a new .htaccess file with default settings.

You can take backup and delete this file by accessing the file manager via the FTP client or the hosting cPanel. Once you delete the .htaccess file, WordPress will automatically regenerate it with default settings.

But again, to ensure proper regeneration, you will need to go to the Permalink settings and ‘Save Changes’ without making any modifications.

Remember: Deleting the .htaccess file can sometimes lead to unexpected issues. Always create a backup before making any changes.

Fix WordPress Site URL

An incorrect WordPress Site URL can lead to broken links, image issues, and other problems. Ensure that the Site URL and WordPress Address settings in your General Settings are accurate. This will ensure that your website’s links and resources load correctly.

You can fix the site URL in two ways:

Method 1: Log into the WordPress admin dashboard and go to Settings > General. Then update the Site Address (URL) and WordPress Address (URL). Click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

Method 2: Use the FTP client or cPanel to access the wp-config.php file. Then add the following lines to the code in the file.

define('WP_HOME','https://yourdomain.com');
define('WP_SITEURL','https://yourdomain.com');

Replace https://yourdomain.com with your actual domain and save the wp-config.php file.

But again, make sure you take backup of the file before making these changes, so it’s easy to revert back if there is an issue.If you still encounter issues with your WordPress, you will need professional help. You can, of course, opt for our WordPress website maintenance package. We’ll make sure these issues don’t arrive and are promptly resolved without affecting your site performance.

FAQs on Troubleshooting WordPress Website

Let’s Conclude

WordPress, while incredibly user-friendly, can sometimes encounter issues that can disrupt your website’s functionality and user experience. By understanding common WordPress errors, their symptoms, and effective solutions, you can proactively address problems and maintain a healthy website.

Remember, a well-maintained WordPress site requires regular updates, backups, and security measures. By following the checklist, troubleshooting techniques, and best practices outlined in this guide, you can efficiently identify and resolve WordPress errors, ensuring a smooth and seamless user experience.

If you need help with fixing the issues on your site, get the services of our WordPress professionals today!