Running a WordPress site is usually a smooth experience, but occasionally, you might run into an error that stops you in your tracks. These issues can feel overwhelming, especially if you aren’t a developer. The good news is that most common WordPress errors are easy to fix once you know what causes them.
Here is a guide to the most frequent issues and how you can get your site back online quickly.
1. The White Screen of Death (WSoD)
The “White Screen of Death” is exactly what it sounds like: your website turns into a plain white page with no error message. This usually happens because of a plugin conflict or a memory limit issue.
How to fix it:
- Deactivate Plugins: If you can still access your dashboard, go to the Plugins section and deactivate all of them. If the site comes back, reactivate them one by one to find the culprit.
- Increase Memory Limit: Sometimes WordPress runs out of “brain power” to run your site. You can increase this by editing your wp-config.php file and adding this line of code:define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);
2. Error Establishing a Database Connection
This error means your website is having trouble talking to its database. This is where all your posts, pages, and user info are stored. It usually happens if your login credentials have changed or if your hosting server is down.
How to fix it:
- Check wp-config.php: Make sure your database name, username, and password are correct in your configuration file.
- Contact Your Host: If the details are correct, your server might be overwhelmed. Reach out to your hosting provider to see if there is a server outage.
3. Internal Server Error (500 Error)
The “500 Internal Server Error” is a generic catch-all message. It basically means “something went wrong, but the server isn’t sure what.”
How to fix it:
- Check the .htaccess File: This is a hidden file in your site’s root folder. Rename it to something like
.htaccess_oldand refresh your site. If the site works, go to Settings then Permalinks in your dashboard and click “Save” to generate a fresh, clean .htaccess file. - Increase PHP Memory: Just like with the White Screen of Death, increasing your memory limit often solves this.
4. Stuck in Maintenance Mode
Sometimes when you update a plugin, WordPress puts your site into “Maintenance Mode.” If the update is interrupted, your site might get stuck there, showing a message that says “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.”
How to fix it:
- Delete the .maintenance File: Use an FTP program or your hosting file manager to look at your site’s root folder. Find the file named
.maintenanceand delete it. Your site will go back to normal instantly.
5. 404 Page Not Found
If your site is up but your individual posts or pages show a “404 Not Found” error, it is usually an issue with your permalinks.
How to fix it:
- Reset Permalinks: Go to your WordPress Dashboard, click on Settings, then Permalinks. You don’t need to change any settings. Just scroll to the bottom and click the Save Changes button. This forces WordPress to rewrite your link rules.
Tips to Prevent Future Errors
While you can’t prevent every error, you can make them less scary by following these three rules:
- Always Backup Your Site: Use a plugin like UpdraftPlus so you can restore your site if a fix goes wrong.
- Keep Everything Updated: Run updates for WordPress core, your themes, and your plugins regularly.
- Use Quality Plugins: Only install plugins from trusted developers or the official WordPress directory.
Fixing WordPress errors is mostly about staying calm and checking the most likely causes first. Most of the time, a simple plugin deactivation or a permalink refresh is all it takes to get things moving again.
