Most Common WordPress Issues and Their Solutions

Indeed WordPress is easier to use than other CMSs, some errors can frighten you. The good thing is the WordPress errors you are seeing are most likely reported and resolved by someone before you.

AEserver’s support team is on standby to help with your issues and keep your site running. Besides, this article will cover the eight most common WordPress errors and how to fix them.

Backup First Before Fixing Any Issue

We suggest you have a complete backup of your site first before fixing any issues. You can manually create a WordPress backup or use a plugin to do the task. And if you are on our managed WordPress hosting, your site will be automatically updated.

Most Common WordPress Errors and Their Solution

Here is our handy guide to solving 8 of the most common WordPress errors.

WordPress Parse or Syntax Error

A WordPress parse error usually occurs when there is a mistake in the code that prevents the server from adequately executing it. Upon reload, your site typically displays an error message that indicates the issue.

Solution

To solve the WordPress parse or Syntax error, you must identify and correct the problem with the code in functions.php. This may involve checking the syntax and structure of the code, ensuring that all required libraries and dependencies are installed and properly configured, and debugging any identified errors.

After making changes, save and upload the file to the server before refreshing the page to see if the issue has been resolved.

Internal Server Error

An Internal Server Error is one of the most frustrating errors in WordPress. This error occurs when the server cannot complete the request due to an issue on the server side.

Solution

To resolve the Internal Server Error in WordPress, there are a few steps you can take:

Check your .htaccess file: Your .htaccess file is a configuration file that controls how your server handles requests. A corrupted .htaccess file can cause an Internal Server Error. To check if this is the issue, rename your .htaccess file to something else, such as .htaccess_old, and refresh your site.

Deactivate all plugins:

Conflicting plugins can also cause an Internal Server Error. To check if this is the issue, deactivate all of your plugins and refresh your site. If the error disappears, you can activate your plugins individually to determine which one is causing the issue.

Increase PHP memory limit:

If the error persists, you may need to increase the memory limit on your server. This can be done by editing your wp-config.php file and adding the following code:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

You can adjust the memory limit value to match your server’s specifications.

Seek assistance:

If none of these steps resolves the issue, you may need assistance from a developer or your WordPress host to help identify and resolve the underlying problem.

Error Establishing a Database Connection

This error occurs when WordPress cannot connect to the database where your site’s content is stored. If this error occurs, the website will not load, and you will not be able to access any part of the website, including the front end and admin pages.

Solution

Here is what you can do to solve this issue

Incorrect database credentials:

Check that the database name, username, and password in the wp-config.php file are correct.

Wrong hosting information:

If your database credentials are correct, then there is a possibility that your hosting information is incorrect. Confirm that your hosting provider’s database host information, such as localhost or a specific IP address, is correct.

Server down:

If neither the credentials nor the hosting information is incorrect, the server may be down or experiencing issues. Contact your hosting provider for assistance in resolving the issue.

WordPress White Screen of Death

The “WordPress White Screen of Death” is an error where the website screen becomes entirely white and unresponsive, preventing users from accessing the site’s content. This can happen to the entire site or specific pages, such as the admin page.

Solution

To troubleshoot and fix the issue, there are several steps you can take:

Increase PHP memory limit:

Memory issues commonly cause this problem. Therefore the first step is to expand the PHP memory limit in your wp-config.php file.

Disable plugins:

If the error occurs after installing or updating a plugin, try disabling all plugins and see if the issue is resolved. If so, you can re-enable them individually until you find the culprit.

Switch to a default theme:

If the error occurs after installing or updating a theme, try switching to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One to see if the issue is resolved.

Check for WordPress core file issues:

If none of the above solutions works, there may be an issue with your WordPress core files. You can reinstall WordPress or restore a backup of your site to fix any corrupted files.

WordPress Sidebar Below Content

This common issue describes when your site’s sidebar moves below the content. It can disrupt the layout of the website and make it appear unprofessional. It can also affect the user experience and make it difficult for
visitors to navigate the site.

Solution

Here are the solutions to fix the WordPress sidebar below content error:

HTML coding error:

Check your HTML coding for errors that might have caused the sidebar to move below the content. Ensure your HTML tags are properly closed, with no overlapping elements.

Incorrect theme settings:

Sometimes, theme settings can be the reason for the sidebar below content error. Go to Appearance > Customize > Layout in the WordPress dashboard and check the settings for your theme. Ensure the option to display the sidebar next to the content is selected.

Plugin conflict:

A plugin conflict can also cause the sidebar to move below the content. Deactivate all the plugins and check if the sidebar has returned to its original position. If it has, reactivate each plugin individually to determine which is causing the issue.

CSS error:

A CSS error can also cause the sidebar to move below the content. Check your CSS files for errors, and ensure no conflicting CSS rules.

Mobile responsiveness:

If your website is not mobile responsive, the sidebar can move below the content on mobile devices. Ensure your theme is mobile responsive, and check the mobile view of your website.

Website Connection Timed Out

Websites on shared hosting mostly face this issue. However, there are multiple reasons like high traffic, plugins conflict, server configuration or firewalls.

Solution

Switching to a dedicated server should solve all the mentioned issues, but if you want to stay on shared hosting, the following solutions should solve this error.

Contact your hosting provider: If the problem is due to server overload or configuration, your hosting provider can optimize your server or move your website to a better plan.

Check for the plugin and theme conflicts: Deactivate all plugins and switch to a default theme to check if the error persists. If not, reactivate plugins one by one to find the conflicting plugin.

Increase the timeout limit: You can increase the timeout limit in your website’s .htaccess file or by contacting your hosting provider.

Disable security software: Disable the firewall or security software temporarily to check if they are causing the error.

WordPress Maintenance Mode Stuck

When you are updating your site, a screen will show visitors that the site will be back soon.
That’s all fine until you face a problem while updating, and it gets cancelled, or time out, the maintenance mode is stuck.

Even worse, when it gets stuck, you are locked out of the admin area.

Solution

If you encounter this issue, don’t panic. You can fix the problem by taking the following steps:

Clear your browser cache: In some cases, the maintenance mode screen can be cached in your browser, so clearing your browser cache might be enough to fix the issue. If the problem persists, try accessing your website from a different browser or device.

Delete the .maintenance file: When WordPress enters maintenance mode, it creates a file named “.maintenance” in the root directory of your WordPress installation. If this file is still present after the update, it could be causing the issue. You can delete this file via FTP or your hosting control panel.

Manually update WordPress: If none of the above steps works, you may need to update WordPress manually. You can download the latest version of WordPress from the official website and replace the files on your server via FTP.

404 Errors and Missing Images on WordPress

404 errors can be caused by various factors, such as a broken link, a deleted post or page, or a change in the site’s URL structure. However, it occurs on a single page; the rest of the site is fine.

Solution

To fix this error, you can try the following steps:

Check the Permalink Structure: Navigate to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and ensure your Permalink structure is set correctly. If it’s not, update it and save the changes.

Check for Broken Links: Use a broken link checker plugin to find any broken links on your site and fix them. Broken links can cause 404 errors.

Check for Missing Images: If missing images cause the 404 error, ensure the images are still in the correct location on your server. You can also re-upload the images.

Check for Deleted Posts or Pages: If the 404 error is caused by a deleted post or page, you can try restoring it from a backup or recreating it.

Say Goodbye to WordPress Errors

Now you have learned about the most common WordPress errors and how to solve them. The issues we have covered above are among the most common ones you can encounter, so this list should have you well-prepared for common scenarios that show up.

And since you can avoid many of these issues by using WordPress hosting, why not see AEserver’s WordPress hosting based in UAE for the best hosting solution for your site.