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WordPress is a popular platform for building websites and blogs due to its flexibility and ease of use. However, like any software, it can sometimes present issues. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a beginner just starting out, encountering errors in WordPress can be frustrating. Fortunately, most errors can be fixed with a bit of troubleshooting. This guide will explore seven common WordPress errors and how to resolve them without diving into code.

. The White Screen of Death (WSOD)

One of the most dreaded WordPress errors is the White Screen of Death (WSOD). This issue causes your site to load a completely blank page, making it difficult to diagnose the problem.

Causes:

• Plugin or theme conflicts.
• Memory exhaustion.
• Corrupt files.

Solutions:

• Disable plugins: If you can access the WordPress dashboard, deactivate all plugins to see if one is causing the issue. You can do this by navigating to the “Plugins” section and selecting “Deactivate.” If your site comes back online, re-activate the plugins one by one to find the culprit.
• Switch to a default theme: Sometimes, a theme update or custom theme can cause the WSOD. Change to a default WordPress theme like “Twenty Twenty-One” to see if that fixes the issue.
• Increase memory limit: WordPress sometimes exhausts the allocated PHP memory, leading to the WSOD. Contact your hosting provider to increase your PHP memory limit, which might resolve the issue.

2. Internal Server Error (500 Error)

The Internal Server Error, also known as a 500 error, is a generic message that doesn’t give much information about what caused the problem. It’s one of the most common WordPress errors but can usually be resolved through some basic troubleshooting.

Causes:

• Corrupt .htaccess file.
• Plugin or theme conflict.
• Exhausted PHP memory limit.

Solutions:

• Check the .htaccess file: This file can sometimes become corrupted. You can regenerate it by going to your WordPress dashboard, navigating to “Settings” > “Permalinks,” and saving the settings without making any changes. This will refresh the file and may fix the error.
• Increase the memory limit: As mentioned earlier, memory limits can cause errors like the 500 Internal Server Error. Increasing the limit may resolve the issue.
• Disable plugins: Plugin conflicts can also trigger this error. Similar to the WSOD fix, deactivate all plugins and re-enable them one by one to identify the problematic one.

3. 404 Page Not Found Error

A 404 error occurs when you try to visit a specific page on your website, and it cannot be found. Often, this happens after making changes to your site’s permalink settings or moving files.

Causes:

• Broken links.
• Incorrect permalink settings.

Solutions:

• Resave permalinks: Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to “Settings” > “Permalinks,” and click “Save Changes” without adjusting anything. This can resolve 404 errors caused by incorrect settings.
• Check for broken links: Use a tool like Broken Link Checker to scan your site for any links that no longer work. If there are any, update or remove them.
• Restore missing content: In some cases, the error occurs because the page or post you’re trying to visit has been deleted. Check the WordPress trash to see if it can be restored.

4. Connection Timed Out Error

The Connection Timed Out error happens when your server is taking too long to respond. This is usually caused by your site exhausting its server resources.

Causes:

• Heavy resource usage.
• Limited server capacity.
• Plugin overload.

Solutions:

• Upgrade hosting plan: If your website has grown and attracts more traffic, your current hosting plan may no longer be sufficient. Upgrading to a plan that offers more server resources can resolve the issue.
• Disable plugins: Deactivating resource-heavy plugins can lighten the load on your server. Try deactivating any recently installed or updated plugins to see if this resolves the error.
• Optimize your site: Optimizing your website’s performance can help reduce server load. Implementing practices such as image optimization, caching, and reducing external requests can significantly improve your site’s speed.

5. Error Establishing a Database Connection

This error indicates that WordPress cannot connect to the database, which means your website won’t load at all.

Causes:

• Incorrect database credentials.
• Corrupt database.
• Server issues.

Solutions:

• Check database credentials: Incorrect database login information is the most common cause of this error. Double-check your WordPress configuration file to ensure the database name, username, password, and host are correct. You can verify these details by logging into your hosting account and checking the database settings.
• Restore a backup: If your database has become corrupt, you can restore a previous backup to resolve the issue.
• Contact hosting provider: If the issue persists, it could be due to a server-side problem. Contact your hosting provider for assistance in troubleshooting the database connection issue.

6. Maintenance Mode Stuck Error

When updating WordPress, plugins, or themes, your site temporarily goes into maintenance mode. However, if the update is interrupted or doesn’t complete correctly, WordPress may get stuck in this mode.

Causes:

• Interrupted update process.
• Failed plugin or theme update.

Solutions:

• Wait a few minutes: Sometimes, WordPress takes longer than expected to complete updates. Wait a few minutes to see if the site returns to normal after the update finishes.
• Remove the .maintenance file: If the site remains stuck in maintenance mode for an extended period, the .maintenance file needs to be deleted. This file can be found in the root directory of your WordPress site. Once deleted, your site should return to normal.

7. Sidebar Below Content Error

This visual error is where the sidebar appears below the content instead of next to it, which can mess up the layout of your site.

Causes:

• HTML or CSS issues.
• Theme problems.
• Plugin conflicts.

Solutions:

• Check theme settings: Some themes have customizable layout options that could cause the sidebar to display incorrectly. Review the theme’s documentation or support forum to identify if there is a setting that needs adjustment.
• Clear cache: If your site uses caching, try clearing it to see if the issue resolves itself. Sometimes cached data can cause layout issues, and refreshing it will restore the correct design.
• Disable conflicting plugins: Plugin conflicts can sometimes break your site’s layout. Try disabling your plugins to see if the sidebar returns to its correct position.

Conclusion

While WordPress errors can be frustrating, most can be fixed by following basic troubleshooting steps. Whether you’re dealing with the White Screen of Death, a 404 error, or database connection problems, these solutions will help get your site back on track without requiring advanced technical knowledge. Learn More