Fix WordPress Issues:10 Common Problems and How to Solve

WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. It’s flexible, beginner-friendly, and packed with features. But like any platform, it’s not immune to problems. Whether you’re running a blog, portfolio, or eCommerce store, chances are you’ll face technical hiccups at some point.

This guide covers 10 of the most common WordPress issues — and more importantly, how to fix WordPress issues quickly without needing to hire a developer. Let’s dive into the first five.

Disclaimer: there may be several affiliate links in the article, I will earn a small amount of commissions from that.

Issue #1: White Screen of Death

The “White Screen of Death” (WSOD) shows a completely blank white page when you visit your site — no error message, no dashboard access. It usually happens because of PHP errors or memory limit exhaustion.

Step 1: Disable Plugins via FTP

Use an FTP client or your hosting file manager.
Navigate to /wp-content/ and rename the plugins folder to plugins-disabled.
Reload your site. If it works, one of your plugins is the cause.

Step 2: Increase PHP Memory Limit

Open wp-config.php and add this line:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

Step 3: Enable Debugging

In wp-config.php, add or update
define('WP_DEBUG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
Check the debug log in /wp-content/debug.log for specific error details.

Issue #2: Error Establishing a Database Connection

This error appears when WordPress can’t connect to your database. Usually, it’s caused by incorrect credentials or a problem with the database server.

Step 1: Check wp-config.php
Make sure your database name, username, password, and host are correct:

define('DB_NAME', 'your_db_name');
define('DB_USER', 'your_db_user');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

Step 2: Repair the Database
Add this line to wp-config.php:

define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);

Then visit:
yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php
Run the repair process and remove the line afterward.

Step 3: Contact Your Host
If the above steps don’t work, your database server may be down. Contact your hosting support for help.

Issue #3: WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

After a failed or interrupted update, your site might get stuck in maintenance mode. Visitors will see a message like:
“Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.”

How to Fix:

Step 1: Delete the .maintenance File

Connect to your site via FTP or File Manager.
Locate the .maintenance file in the root directory.
Delete it.

Step 2: Clear Cache
Clear your browser cache and any caching plugins to make sure the update isn’t being held in memory.

Step 3: Complete the Update Manually (if needed)
If the update failed halfway, you may need to reinstall WordPress core or the plugin/theme that caused the issue.

Issue #4: 404 Errors on Posts or Pages

You try to visit a post or page, and instead get a 404 error. Your homepage may work, but individual links are broken. This is usually a permalink issue.

How to Fix:

Step 1: Reset Permalinks

Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard.
Without changing anything, click Save Changes to refresh permalink structure.

Step 2: Check .htaccess File

Access your root directory and open the .htaccess file.
Ensure it contains the default WordPress rewrite 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

Step 3: Disable Conflicting Plugins
If the issue persists, disable recent plugins that may be affecting URLs or rewrite rules.

Issue #5: Internal Server Error (500 Error)

A 500 Internal Server Error is one of the most frustrating issues because it’s a general error that doesn’t tell you exactly what’s wrong. It often results from corrupted files, plugin conflicts, or memory exhaustion.

How to Fix:

Step 1: Check .htaccess File

Rename your .htaccess file to .htaccess_old.
Try reloading the site. If it works, go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save to regenerate the file.

Step 2: Increase PHP Memory Limit
Add this to your wp-config.php:

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

Step 3: Deactivate Plugins and Switch Theme
Temporarily disable all plugins and switch to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four). If the error disappears, reactivate them one by one to find the culprit.

Issue #6: Broken Theme or Styles Not Loading

Your website loads, but styles, fonts, or layout elements are broken. It may look like plain text, without colors or formatting. This usually points to missing CSS files, incorrect URLs, or caching issues.

How to Fix:

Step 1: Clear Cache

Clear both your browser cache and any WordPress caching plugins (like W3 Total Cache or LiteSpeed).

Step 2: Check Theme Files

Go to Appearance > Themes. Switch to a default theme and see if the issue resolves.
If using a child theme, make sure style.css and functions.php are properly configured.

Step 3: Inspect Console Errors
Open your browser’s developer tools (F12), go to the Console tab, and look for 404 errors or blocked resources related to CSS or JS files.

Issue #7: Unable to Upload Images or Media

You get an error like “HTTP error” when trying to upload media to your WordPress library. This is often due to incorrect file permissions, plugin conflicts, or server settings.

How to Fix:

Step 1: Check Folder Permissions
Using FTP, ensure that the /wp-content/uploads/ folder has permissions set to 755 and files to 644.

Step 2: Increase PHP Limits
Modify php.ini or ask your host to increase:

upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300

Step 3: Disable Image Optimization Plugins
Temporarily deactivate any image-related plugins like Smush or ShortPixel. Re-try the upload.

If the method above is still not working, it’s also important to choose the right theme from the start.

Why Beaver Builder Theme is a Smart Choice

If you’re building a site and want something fast, flexible, and reliable, the Beaver Builder Theme is worth serious consideration. It’s built with clean, lightweight code that doesn’t slow down your site, and it works well with the Beaver Builder page builder for a seamless editing experience.

Key Benefits:

Prioritizes speed and mobile responsiveness
Fully customizable without needing to touch code
Trusted by freelancers, agencies, and business owners alike

Switching to a better-coded theme like Beaver Builder can eliminate a surprising number of hidden issues — including problems with image uploads below — and give you a smoother building experience overall.

Try Now:

WordPress Page Builder Plugin | Beaver Builder
Easily build beautiful, responsive WordPress pages in minutes. Beaver Builder is a drag and drop WordPress Page…www.wpbeaverbuilder.com

Issue #7: Unable to Upload Images or Media

You try to upload an image to your WordPress media library and get an “HTTP error” or nothing happens at all. This issue often stems from incorrect file permissions, server limitations, plugin conflicts, or even a bloated or incompatible theme.

How to Fix:

Step 1: Check Folder Permissions
Use FTP or your hosting file manager to ensure your /wp-content/uploads/ folder has the correct permissions:

Folders: 755
Files: 644

Step 2: Increase PHP Limits
Sometimes your server can’t handle larger file uploads. Modify your php.ini or ask your host to increase these values:

upload_max_filesize = 64M  
post_max_size = 64M  
max_execution_time = 300

Step 3: Disable Image Plugins Temporarily
Image optimization or CDN plugins like Smush, ShortPixel, or Jetpack may interfere with uploads. Try disabling them and upload again.

Issue #8: WordPress Not Sending Emails

Your site fails to send notifications — contact form messages, order confirmations, or password reset emails don’t go out. This usually means your hosting provider has blocked PHP mail or emails are flagged as spam.

How to Fix:

Step 1: Use SMTP Plugin
Install a plugin like WP Mail SMTP. Configure it to use your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) via SMTP.

Step 2: Use a Transactional Email Service
Set up services like SendGrid, Mailgun, or Amazon SES for more reliable delivery.

Step 3: Test Email Functionality
WP Mail SMTP has a built-in test email tool — use it to confirm your settings are working.

Issue #9: Plugin Conflicts

You install or update a plugin, and your site crashes or behaves erratically. This is a classic plugin conflict scenario, especially common with overlapping functionalities.

How to Fix:

Step 1: Deactivate All Plugins
Via dashboard or FTP (rename plugins folder). Reactivate plugins one by one to identify the conflict.

Step 2: Use the Health Check Plugin
Install Health Check & Troubleshooting, which lets you test in troubleshooting mode without affecting the live site.

Step 3: Check Compatibility
Look for plugin updates, and confirm that the plugin is compatible with your current version of WordPress and PHP.

Issue #10: Slow Website Performance

A slow WordPress site can hurt user experience and SEO. Causes include unoptimized images, too many plugins, bloated themes, or low-quality hosting.

How to Fix:

Step 1: Use a Caching Plugin
Install a plugin like WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache to speed up page loading.

Step 2: Optimize Images
Compress images using tools like ShortPixel or TinyPNG before uploading.

Step 3: Upgrade Hosting and Use CDN
If you’re on shared hosting, consider switching to managed WordPress hosting. Use a CDN like Cloudflare to deliver assets faster globally.

Conclusion

WordPress is a powerful and flexible platform, but like any system, it can run into problems.

The good news is that most WordPress problems have clear, actionable fixes. With a little troubleshooting and the right tools, you can resolve issues quickly and keep your site running smoothly. Simple steps like resetting permalinks, increasing memory limits, or switching to a better theme or builder — such as the Beaver Builder Theme — can make a big difference in site stability and user experience.

Try Now:

WordPress Page Builder Plugin | Beaver Builder
Easily build beautiful, responsive WordPress pages in minutes. Beaver Builder is a drag and drop WordPress Page…www.wpbeaverbuilder.com

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