Common WordPress Problems and How To Fix Them

January 10, 2023

Reading Time: 4 minutes

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, making it the most popular content management system (CMS) worldwide. But even with its flexibility and ease of use, WordPress sites are prone to common errors that can disrupt functionality, affect user experience, and even hurt SEO rankings.

Whether you’re dealing with a white screen of death, internal server error, or 404 issues, knowing how to troubleshoot these problems is essential for keeping your website running smoothly.

In this guide, we’ll cover some of the most common WordPress problems, explain why they happen, and offer simple solutions to get your site back on track. Let’s dive in!

5 Common WordPress Problems & How to Fix Them

1. Syntax Error (Parse Error)

What’s the issue? A syntax error (also known as a parse error) typically occurs when there is a mistake in the PHP code—often after manually editing theme files, functions.php, or plugin code. This error prevents your site from loading properly.

How to fix it:

  • Use SFTP (FileZilla) or your hosting’s file manager to access the problematic file.
  • Locate the syntax error (usually indicated in the error message).
  • Correct the mistake—ensure brackets, semicolons, and quotations are properly closed.
  • Save and re-upload the file.

Prevention Tip: Always back up your site before editing code and use a staging environment to test changes before making them live.

2. White Screen of Death (WSOD)

What’s the issue? Your site loads as a blank white screen with no error messages, making it impossible to access the backend.

How to fix it:

  • Clear your browser cache and cookies.
  • Disable plugins by renaming the plugins folder via SFTP.
  • Switch to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four) via SFTP.
  • Increase your PHP memory limit (modify wp-config.php to define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');).

Prevention Tip: Regularly update plugins, themes, and WordPress core to prevent conflicts.

3. Internal Server Error (500 Error)

What’s the issue? An internal server error (500 error) can occur due to corrupt .htaccess files, plugin conflicts, or PHP memory limits.

How to fix it:

  • Rename the .htaccess file via SFTP to force WordPress to generate a new one.
  • Deactivate plugins to find the culprit.
  • Increase PHP memory limit in wp-config.php.
  • Reinstall WordPress core files by downloading a fresh copy and replacing only the wp-admin and wp-includes folders.

Prevention Tip: Perform regular site backups and keep software updated.

4. 404 Error (Page Not Found)

What’s the issue? Users see a 404 Not Found error when trying to visit a page that doesn’t exist due to incorrect permalinks or deleted content.

How to fix it:

  • Go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes (this refreshes the structure).
  • Use 301 redirects (via a plugin like Redirection) for moved or deleted pages.
  • Check for broken links using tools like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog.

Prevention Tip: Regularly audit links and update old URLs.

5. Connection Timed Out Error

What’s the issue? This error usually occurs when your website exceeds the server’s resource limits, common in shared hosting environments.

How to fix it:

  • Upgrade to a premium hosting plan for better performance.
  • Increase PHP memory limit.
  • Deactivate heavy plugins that consume excessive resources.

Prevention Tip: Use a lightweight theme and optimize images for faster loading.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. How do I prevent WordPress errors from happening?
    Keep WordPress, plugins, and themes updated, use reliable hosting, and regularly back up your site.
  2. How can I recover my WordPress site if I’m locked out?
    Use SFTP or your hosting panel to rename the plugins folder, forcing WordPress to disable all plugins.
  3. Why is my WordPress site so slow?
    Common causes include unoptimized images, too many plugins, and slow hosting. Use caching plugins and a CDN to speed things up.
  4. What should I do if my WordPress admin panel is not loading?
    Clear browser cache, deactivate plugins via SFTP, or increase PHP memory limits.
  5. How do I fix the “Too Many Redirects” error?
    Check your site URL settings in WordPress and clear browser cookies.
  6. Can a plugin cause my site to break?
    Yes! A faulty plugin update can crash your site. Disable plugins one by one to identify the issue.
  7. Why am I getting an “Allowed Memory Size Exhausted” error?
    Your PHP memory limit is too low. Increase it in wp-config.php by adding: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');.
  8. How do I fix WordPress email delivery issues?
    Use an SMTP plugin (like WP Mail SMTP) instead of PHP mail functions.
  9. What do I do if my site was hacked?
    Restore from a backup, change all passwords, and use a security plugin like SolidWP, Wordfence, or Sucuri.
  10. How can I improve WordPress security?
    Use two-factor authentication, keep themes and plugins updated, and enable a firewall.

Final Thoughts & Next Steps

WordPress is an incredibly powerful platform, but common errors can disrupt your website’s performance and functionality. By staying proactive—regularly updating your site, using proper security measures, and having a troubleshooting strategy in place—you can keep your website running smoothly and securely.

Need expert help? At Site Architects, we specialize in WordPress troubleshooting, maintenance, and optimization. If you’re facing persistent website issues, let’s get them fixed today!

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