How to Fix Common WordPress Errors

WordPress is an incredibly powerful platform, but let’s be real—the occasional error can be frustrating. Whether your site suddenly crashes, a plugin stops working, or you’re locked out of your admin dashboard, these issues can disrupt your business. If you rely on your website to attract leads and convert customers, keeping it running smoothly is essential. That’s where Website Maintenance & Support UAE comes in—consistent maintenance helps you prevent and fix common WordPress errors quickly.

1. White Screen of Death (WSOD)

Nothing is more terrifying than loading your website and seeing... nothing. The White Screen of Death makes your site completely inaccessible, often without an error message.

Causes:

• Plugin or theme conflict
• Exhausted memory limit
• Corrupt core files

How to Fix It:

• Disable plugins: Rename the “plugins” folder via FTP to temporarily deactivate all plugins.
• Switch to a default theme: Rename your active theme folder to force WordPress to use the default theme.
• Increase PHP memory limit: Edit the wp-config.php file and add: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

2. Internal Server Error (500 Error)

This generic error doesn’t provide much information, but it often stems from a broken .htaccess file, a plugin conflict, or PHP memory exhaustion.

How to Fix It:

• Regenerate .htaccess: Access your site via FTP, rename the .htaccess file, and refresh your page. Then, go to Settings > Permalinks in WordPress and save changes to create a new file.
• Deactivate plugins: Rename the “plugins” folder to isolate the problem.
• Increase memory limit: Modify wp-config.php with define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

3. Error Establishing Database Connection

This means WordPress is unable to communicate with your database. It’s commonly caused by incorrect database credentials, a corrupted database, or a server issue.

How to Fix It:

• Check database credentials: Open wp-config.php and verify your database name, username, and password.
• Repair the database: Add define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true); to wp-config.php and visit yoursite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php.
• Restart MySQL: If you have access to your hosting panel, restarting MySQL services can help.

4. WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

If an update gets interrupted, WordPress can get stuck in maintenance mode, leaving your site inaccessible.

How to Fix It:

• Delete the .maintenance file: Use FTP to locate and remove the .maintenance file in your root directory.
• Clear cache: If the problem persists, clear your browser and WordPress cache.

5. 404 Error on Posts and Pages

When your homepage works but individual pages show a 404 error, it usually means there’s an issue with permalinks.

How to Fix It:

• Resave permalinks: Go to Settings > Permalinks in WordPress and click "Save Changes."
• Manually update .htaccess: If resaving doesn’t help, manually update your .htaccess file with the default WordPress rewrite rules.

6. WordPress Not Sending Emails

If your website’s contact forms or notifications aren’t reaching your inbox, WordPress email settings or your hosting provider might be blocking emails.

How to Fix It:

• Use an SMTP Plugin: Install a plugin like WP Mail SMTP to configure email sending properly.
• Check spam folders: Your emails might be getting flagged as spam.
• Contact your web host: Some hosting providers disable PHP mail functions by default.

7. Locked Out of WordPress Admin

Whether you’ve forgotten your password or a plugin conflict is blocking access, getting locked out of your dashboard is annoying.

How to Fix It:

• Reset your password: Use the “Lost your password?” option on the login screen.
• Disable plugins: Via FTP, rename the "plugins" folder to disable all plugins.
• Manually create a new admin user: Use PHPMyAdmin to add a new admin user directly in the database.

8. Briefly Unavailable for Scheduled Maintenance Error

This error happens when a WordPress update is interrupted.

How to Fix It:

• Delete the .maintenance file: Locate it in your root directory and remove it via FTP.
• Manually update WordPress: If updates failed, update WordPress manually by downloading fresh files.

9. WordPress Memory Exhausted Error

If you see an error saying “Allowed memory size exhausted,” it means that your website is running out of available PHP memory.

How to Fix It:

• Increase memory limit: Add define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); to wp-config.php.
• Check with your host: Some hosting providers set limits that can’t be changed manually.

10. Common Plugin and Theme Conflicts

Sometimes, a plugin or theme update can break your site.

How to Fix It:

• Deactivate all plugins: Rename the “plugins” folder in FTP and activate them one by one.
• Switch to a default theme: Rename your theme folder to activate the default WordPress theme.

Conclusion

WordPress errors can be frustrating, but they’re rarely unsolvable. Whether it's the White Screen of Death, a database connection issue, or plugin conflicts, identifying the root cause is key to fixing it. Regular maintenance is also crucial to preventing these errors from occurring in the first place. If you want to ensure your WordPress website stays secure and runs smoothly, consider professional Website Maintenance & Support UAE. A well-maintained site keeps your business online and growing without technical headaches.