25 Common WordPress Errors and How to Troubleshoot Them

In the dynamic realm of website management, WordPress stands as a formidable giant, empowering millions of users to create and customize their digital presence effortlessly. However, even the most robust platforms are not immune to occasional hiccups. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a perplexing error message on your WordPress site, you’re not alone.

In our interconnected world, where a seamless online experience is non-negotiable, encountering errors can be both frustrating and time-consuming. Fear not, though, for this blog post is your ultimate guide to navigating through the labyrinth of 25 common WordPress errors. Whether you’re a seasoned WordPress aficionado or a newcomer to the platform, understanding and addressing these issues is crucial to maintaining a smoothly functioning website.

From the notorious “White Screen of Death” to perplexing database connection problems, we’ll delve into the intricacies of each error, providing insightful explanations and step-by-step troubleshooting strategies. By the end of this journey, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to tackle these challenges head-on, ensuring your WordPress site remains a beacon of reliability and user satisfaction.

Join us as we unravel the mysteries behind these 25 common WordPress errors, empowering you to transform setbacks into opportunities for growth and mastery. Let’s embark on this enlightening exploration together, demystifying the digital landscape one error at a time.

• White Screen of Death (WSOD)

Cause: It usually occurs due to PHP errors or memory limit issues.

Fix: Increase PHP memory limit, disable faulty plugins or themes, and check for syntax errors in custom code.

• Error Establishing a Database Connection

Cause: WordPress can’t connect to the database.

Fix: Check database credentials in wp-config.php, and ensure the database server is running.

• 403 Forbidden Error

Cause: Insufficient permissions to access a file or directory.

Fix: Check file permissions, and update .htaccess.

• 404 Page Not Found Error

Cause: The requested page or resource doesn’t exist.

Fix: Check permalink settings, update .htaccess, and make sure the page exists.

• 500 Internal Server Error

Cause: It’s a generic server error without specific information.

Fix: Check .htaccess file, increase the PHP memory limit, and review server logs.

• 502 Bad Gateway Error

Cause: Issues with the server or a gateway.

Fix: In such a case, you can contact your web hosting provider and ask the support team to monitor the server logs.

• 503 Service Unavailable Error

Cause: The server is temporarily unable to handle the request.

Fix: Check server status, and contact the hosting provider.

• Mixed Content Error

Cause: Loading insecure content (HTTP) on a secure page (HTTPS).

Fix: Update URLs to use HTTPS, and use a plugin to fix mixed content.

• Scheduled Posts Not Publishing

Cause: Incorrect server time or issues with cron jobs.

Fix: Ensure server time is correct, set up a cron job to trigger wp-cron.php.

• Parse Error / Syntax Error

Cause: It occurs when your website’s code has an issue, usually when you’ve added a code snippet with some incorrect syntax known as functions.php file. A message occurs on the screen while loading the page showing the issue and location of it.

Fix: Access the particular file using SFTP, Review the Code, Check Punctuation, Use an IDE or Text Editor Enable Error Reporting, etc.

• Error Loading Media: File Not Found

Cause: Incorrect file path or permissions for media files.

Fix: Re-upload the media files, correct file paths, and check file permissions.

• Syntax Error

Cause: Incorrect code syntax.

Fix: Review and correct the code causing the syntax error.

• Memory Exhausted Error

Cause: WordPress or a plugin exhausts the PHP memory limit.

Fix: Increase the PHP memory limit in wp-config.php or contact your hosting provider.

• Connection Timed Out Error

Cause: There are “n” numbers of reasons. A common reason is when your site doesn’t have the resources required for the functioning. Another issue is due to a lot of strain on the server.

Fix: You can upgrade your plan if such an error occurs.

• Secure Connection Error

Cause: A safe connection error can take place when your server isn’t configured correctly or the server has got a DDoS attack and isn’t able to connect to WordPress.org.This creates issues in updating the website’s core files.

Fix: You can either contact your web hosting provider or point your server toward WordPress.org through Secure Shell Protocol (SSH).

• Too Many Redirects Error

Cause: Misconfigured redirects in .htaccess or plugin settings.

Fix: Check and correct redirects in .htaccess or plugin settings.

• Error: Maximum Execution Time Exceeded

Cause: A script takes longer to execute than the server allows.

Fix: Increase the max_execution_time in php.ini or .htaccess.

• The Site is Experiencing Technical Difficulties

Cause: An issue with a plugin or theme.

Fix: Disable plugins or themes by renaming their folders in wp-content.

• You’re not able to upload Images

Cause: There might be various reasons for not uploading the images. Such as images can break on your WordPress installation. They may showcase incorrectly after you upload them, or there must be an uploading error for all images. The main purpose of the issue is “incorrect file permissions” or due to hacking of the website.

Fix: Access the website using SFTP and browse the upload folder > wp-content directory. If it doesn’t work then right-click on it and click on File Permission> Set Numeric value to 744. Click on OK to apply new permissions. For multiple images, the same process is applied to files only.

• Missed Scheduled Post Error

Cause: The ability to schedule posts ahead of time is a handy feature in WordPress. You can schedule your post in advance and publish the automatically at a selected time. Sometimes system fails and an error of Missed schedule occurs next to a post. This is known as a cron job and the appropriate cron job doesn’t trigger when your post is scheduled. Hence, this leads to failing in publishing and remaining in your admin dashboard until you make it live manually.

Fix: To avoid such an issue opt for the WordPress plugin “Scheduled Post Trigger”.

• Locked Out of WordPress Admin

Cause: Forgotten or incorrect login credentials.

Fix: Reset your password through the “Lost your password?” link on the login page.

• Error: cURL Error 28 – Connection Timed Out

Cause: Server unable to communicate with other servers.

Fix: Check server connectivity, and disable firewall or security plugins temporarily.

• Error: Maximum Upload Size Exceeded

Cause: Attempting to upload a file larger than the server allows.

Fix: Increase upload_max_filesize and post_max_size in php.ini or contact your hosting provider.

• WordPress Failed to Auto_Update

Cause: It’s compulsory to update your WordPress site all the time. In managing WordPress hosting, you don’t need to update it manually as it does automatically for you. Sometimes things may go wrong and updates may fail.

Fix: You can manually install the latest version of WordPress using SFTP. Or else contact your web hosting provider.

• Your connection is not private

Cause: If your website comes across this issue then you can blame to SSL Certificate. SSL is a Secure Sockets Layer. There are various reasons for not working of SSL.

Fix: Look for the expiry date of the SSL Certificate, confirm whether a certificate was issued properly or not, Access the SSL server test for your website, and contact your web hosting provider for assistance.