How to Fix Common WordPress Errors (Step-by-Step Guide)

Hey there! If you’ve spent any time working with WordPress, you know it can be both powerful and, at times, frustrating. But don’t worry, you’re not alone! Whether you’re building your personal blog, an e-commerce site, or a business portfolio, running into errors is pretty common.

I’ve been there myself—facing that dreaded “White Screen of Death” or encountering confusing plugin conflicts. But the good news is, most of these issues are fixable, and often much easier than you might think. Ready to dive in and take control of those annoying WordPress errors?

In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the most common WordPress errors and show you how to fix them step by step. By the end, you’ll be equipped to solve issues like a pro. So grab your laptop, and let’s get started!

What You’ll Learn:

• The most common WordPress errors and what causes them.
• Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions to fix them.
• How to avoid these errors in the future.

Why Does WordPress Have Errors?

Before we dive into the fixes, you might be wondering—why do these errors even happen?

WordPress is a dynamic platform that runs on a combination of PHP code, plugins, themes, and databases. When any one of these components runs into trouble, an error can pop up. Common culprits include:

• Plugin conflicts – Sometimes, one plugin doesn’t play nicely with another.
• Outdated software – Running old versions of WordPress, themes, or plugins can cause compatibility issues.
• Hosting problems – Shared hosting environments can be tricky when resources are limited.
• Coding mistakes – If you or a developer made an error while customizing the site, it might lead to problems.

Now that we know why errors happen, let’s get into how to fix them!

1. The White Screen of Death (WSOD) – How to Fix It

What is the White Screen of Death?

If your site suddenly shows a blank screen with no error message, it’s called the White Screen of Death (WSOD). It’s like your website decided to take a nap without telling you.

How to Fix It:

1. Disable Plugins:

• Log in to your site via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or use your hosting’s file manager.
• Navigate to wp-content/plugins.
• Rename the plugins folder to something like plugins_old. This will deactivate all plugins.
• If this fixes the issue, you can then reactivate your plugins one by one to find the culprit.

1. Switch to a Default Theme:

• Sometimes, your theme might be causing the issue. To check this, go to your WordPress dashboard, and in the Appearance section, switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One.

1. Increase PHP Memory Limit:

• A lack of memory can cause this error. You can increase the PHP memory limit by adding this line to your wp-config.php file:
  php define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

1. Enable Debugging:

• To get more information about the error, you can enable WordPress debugging. Add the following to your wp-config.php file:
  php define('WP_DEBUG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

2. Internal Server Error (500) – How to Fix It

What is the Internal Server Error?

A 500 Internal Server Error is a server-side issue that prevents your website from loading. It could be caused by a plugin conflict, an issue with your .htaccess file, or problems with your server.

How to Fix It:

1. Check Your .htaccess File:

• The .htaccess file controls many of your site’s settings. If it’s corrupted, it can cause a 500 error.
• Access your site’s root directory via FTP and rename the .htaccess file to .htaccess_old.
• Try reloading your site. If it works, go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and click Save Changes to regenerate the .htaccess file.

1. Deactivate Plugins:

• As with the WSOD, plugin conflicts can also cause a 500 error. Try deactivating all plugins via FTP as explained earlier. If the error goes away, reactivate your plugins one by one to pinpoint the problem.

1. Increase PHP Version:

• If your server is running an outdated version of PHP, it might cause conflicts. Go to your hosting control panel and update to a newer PHP version (preferably 7.4 or higher).

3. Error Establishing a Database Connection – How to Fix It

What is this error?

This error occurs when WordPress can’t connect to your database. It could be caused by incorrect credentials or an issue with the server.

How to Fix It:

1. Check Database Credentials:

• Open your wp-config.php file.
• Ensure the database name, username, password, and host are all correct. They should look something like this:
  php define('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name'); define('DB_USER', 'your_database_username'); define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_database_password'); define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

1. Repair the Database:

• Add the following line to your wp-config.php file to enable WordPress database repair:
  php define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);
• Then, navigate to http://yoursite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php to repair the database.

1. Check Your Hosting Server:

• Sometimes, the issue is with the hosting server itself. If none of the above solutions work, it’s worth contacting your hosting provider to check if there’s an issue on their end.

4. 403 Forbidden Error – How to Fix It

What is the 403 Forbidden Error?

This error occurs when you don’t have permission to access a page or resource. It can be caused by issues with your server settings or the .htaccess file.

How to Fix It:

1. Check the .htaccess File:

• As mentioned before, a corrupted .htaccess file can cause a 403 error. Try renaming it and regenerating it through the WordPress dashboard.

1. File Permissions:

• Incorrect file permissions can also cause this error. Ensure that your WordPress files have the correct permissions:
  • Files should be set to 644.
  • Folders should be set to 755.

1. Deactivate Security Plugins:

• Security plugins like Wordfence can sometimes block access to parts of your site. Try disabling them temporarily to see if it resolves the issue.

5. Connection Timed Out – How to Fix It

What is the Connection Timed Out Error?

This happens when your server takes too long to respond. It could be a server overload or a poorly optimized site causing the delay.

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How to Fix It:

1. Increase PHP Limits:

• As with the WSOD, increasing the PHP memory limit can help. Add the following to your wp-config.php file:
  php define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

1. Deactivate Plugins:

• Some plugins, especially resource-heavy ones, can cause this issue. Try disabling them to see if performance improves.

1. Upgrade Hosting:

• If your site has outgrown your hosting environment, consider upgrading to a better plan or switching to a more powerful host.

FAQ:

Conclusion: Get Your WordPress Site Running Like a Pro

By now, you’ve learned how to troubleshoot and fix some of the most common WordPress errors. It’s not about avoiding problems completely—it’s about knowing how to handle them when they pop up! Whether you’re dealing with a white screen, an internal server error, or a database connection issue, you now have the knowledge to fix things quickly.

I personally faced many of these errors early on in my WordPress journey, and trust me—there’s nothing more satisfying than solving them and getting your site back on track.

Want to know a secret? Backup your site regularly—this way, you’re always prepared if something goes wrong.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve faced any of these errors, and how you handled them!