WordPress powers over 40% of the web, making it one of the most popular content management systems. However, despite its user-friendly interface, WordPress users can encounter various errors. This guide highlights common WordPress errors and their solutions.
- Internal Server Error (500)
The Internal Server Error occurs when the server cannot identify the problem. It’s one of the most generic errors on WordPress. It could be due to server misconfiguration, PHP version compatibility, or .htaccess issues.
Solutions:
- Check Error Logs: Look into your server’s log for specific error messages.
- .htaccess: Similar to the 404 fix, try resetting your permalink settings or editing the .htaccess file directly.
- Increase PHP memory limit: Edit the wp-config.php file and add the following line: define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);.
- Plugin/Theme Conflict: Use the same plugin deactivation strategy as WSOD to find the source.
- 404 Error – Page Not Found
This error appears when users try to access a specific page or post, but the server can’t find it. It is mainly caused by incorrect permalinks settings or recent changes to your .htaccess file.
Solution:
- Regenerate permalinks: Navigate to Settings > Permalinks in the WordPress dashboard and click “Save Changes” without altering anything.
- Check .htaccess file: Ensure the .htaccess file exists and contains the correct WordPress rewrite rules. You can try replacing it with default WordPress .htaccess rules:
# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ – [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>
# END WordPress
- White Screen of Death (WSOD)
The White Screen of Death shows a blank page with no error message, making troubleshooting difficult. The error is caused by PHP memory limits, plugin or theme conflicts, or corrupted files.
Solutions:
- Increase PHP Memory Limit: To increase memory allocation, edit your wp-config.php file on your C-panel by adding define (‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’).
- Deactivate Plugins and themes: Temporarily disable all plugins via FTP by renaming the plugins folder to something like plugins-old. If the site loads, reactivate plugins one by one to identify the plugin causing the error. If a theme is causing issues, switch to a default theme like Twenty Nineteen by renaming your current theme folder.
- Enable debugging mode: Add the following lines to the wp-config.php file:
“define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false);”
Check the debug log in the wp-content folder for error details.
- Error Establishing Database Connection
This error means WordPress cannot connect to the database because of incorrect credentials, a corrupted database, or server issues.
Solutions:
- Verify database credentials: Check the wp-config.php file for the correct database name, username, password, and host:
“define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘your_database_name’);
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘your_database_user’);
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘your_database_password’);
define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’);”
- Check server status: Contact your hosting provider to ensure the database server is operational.
- Repair Database: Add define(‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true); to your wp-config.php file, visit yoursite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php to attempt repairs.
- Syntax or Parse Error
This error occurs when there’s a typo or incorrect code in your WordPress files. It is caused by mistakes in PHP code, often introduced by plugin or theme updates or manual code edits.
Solutions:
- Code Review: If you’ve recently edited any files, review them for syntax errors. Common issues include missing semicolons or mismatched brackets.
- Revert Changes: If the error started after a recent change, revert those changes. Use version control if available or backups.
- Update or Rollback: If a plugin or theme update caused the issue, try updating to the latest version or rollback to the previous version.
- Image Upload Issues
WordPress may fail to upload images, showing an error like “Unable to create directory,” “HTTP error,” or “Invalid file type.” Server configuration, PHP settings, or plugin conflicts cause this error.
Solutions:
- Increase Upload Limits: Modify php.ini or .htaccess to increase file size limits, e.g., php_value upload_max_filesize 64M in .htaccess.
- Check File Permissions: Ensure your wp-content/uploads directory has the correct permissions (usually 755 or 755).
- Plugin Interference: Deactivate plugins one by one to find if any interfere with uploads.
- Check upload path: Go to Settings > Media and ensure the upload path is correct. Typically, it should be /wp-content/uploads.
- Stuck in Maintenance Mode
WordPress can get stuck in maintenance mode after a failed or incomplete update.
Solution:
- Use an FTP client or File Manager to delete the .maintenance file from your WordPress root directory.
- Clear your browser cache and refresh the site.
- WordPress Login Page Redirect Loop
The login page reloads or redirects without granting access.
Solution:
- Clear browser cookies and cache: This often resolves the issue.
- Deactivate plugins: Rename the plugins folder via FTP to see if a plugin is causing the issue.
- Check the site URL: Verify the site URL and home values in the wp_options table using phpMyAdmin.
- Exceeded Maximum Upload File Size
This error occurs when trying to upload files larger than the limit set by your hosting provider.
Solution:
- Edit the php.ini file: Increase the upload_max_filesize and post_max_size values. For example:
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
- Modify .htaccess: Add the following lines:
php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
php_value post_max_size 64M
- Contact your host: Ask your hosting provider to increase the upload limit.
Encountering errors on WordPress can be frustrating, but most issues are manageable with the right approach. Understanding these common errors and their solutions can keep your site running smoothly and minimize downtime.