10 Most Common Issues (and fixes) with WordPress Websites
WordPress is a popular content management system used by millions of websites worldwide – including the white house’s website!
But like any other software, it can sometimes encounter issues that can affect the performance, security, and user experience of your website.
In this post, we’ll explore some common issues with WordPress websites and their fixes step-by-step.
1. Slow loading times
Slow loading times can frustrate users and negatively impact your website’s search engine ranking. To speed up your website, you can:
Use a caching plugin
Caching plugins can improve your website’s speed by storing frequently accessed data in the cache, reducing the server load and improving response times.
Optimize images
Large images can slow down your website. To optimize them, compress them using an image optimization plugin or service.
Minify CSS and JavaScript files
Minifying files removes unnecessary code, reducing the file size and improving page load times.
Free tools for improving slow loading times
Some popular solutions to consider to speed up your website.
Plugin – WP Fastest Cache
This plugin offers a simple and effective caching solution to speed up your website.
Plugin – Smush
Smush optimizes images on your website to reduce their file size, improving website speed.
Manual Fix – Use a CDN
Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) can improve website speed by storing content on servers closer to the user, reducing page load times.
2. 404 errors
404 errors occur when a page or resource is not found on your website. To fix 404 errors, you can:
Check that the page exists
Ensure that the URL is correct, and the page exists on your website.
Update permalinks
Updating permalinks can sometimes fix 404 errors. To do this, go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes.
Check for typos in the URL
Typos in the URL can cause 404 errors. Double-check the URL to ensure there are no typos.
Free tools for finding or fixing 404 errors
Some popular solutions to consider for 404 issues.
Plugin – Redirection
Redirection can help manage 404 errors by redirecting users to the correct page or resource.
Plugin – 404page
This plugin allows you to create a custom 404 page with helpful information and links to other pages on your website.
Manual Fix – Update Permalinks
Go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes. This can sometimes fix 404 errors caused by incorrect permalinks.
3. White screen of death
The white screen of death is a common issue that occurs when a WordPress website displays a blank white screen instead of the expected content. To fix this issue, you can:
Deactivate plugins
Deactivate all plugins and check if the website works. If it does, activate each plugin one by one to identify the problematic plugin.
Switch to a default theme
Switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One and check if the website works. If it does, the issue may be with the theme.
Check for PHP errors
Enable WP_DEBUG in your wp-config.php file to display PHP errors. This can help you identify the issue and fix it.
Free tools for finding or fixing white screen of death
Some popular solutions to consider for the infamous white screen of death.
Plugin – WP Rollback
WP Rollback allows you to roll back to a previous version of a plugin or theme that may be causing the white screen of death.
Manual Fix – Increase Memory Limit
Edit your wp-config.php file and add the following line: define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);. This can sometimes fix white screen of death caused by a memory limit issue.
Manual Fix – Disable Plugins and Themes
Deactivate all plugins and switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One. This can help identify the plugin or theme causing the issue.
4. Broken links
Broken links can negatively affect your website’s user experience and search engine ranking. To fix broken links, you can:
Use a plugin to check for broken links
There are many free plugins available that can scan your website for broken links and report them to you.
Fix or remove broken links
Once you’ve identified broken links, you can either fix them by updating the URL or remove them if they’re no longer necessary.
Free tools for finding or fixing broken links
Some popular solutions to consider for broken links.
Plugin – Broken Link Checker
This plugin scans your website for broken links and reports them to you.
Plugin – Link Checker
Link Checker is another plugin that checks for broken links and reports them to you.
Manual Fix – Use the Google Search Console
The Google Search Console can help identify broken links on your website.
5. Database connection errors
Database connection errors occur when WordPress is unable to connect to the database. To fix this issue, you can:
Check database credentials
Ensure that the database credentials in your wp-config.php file are correct.
Repair the database
You can repair your database by logging into your web hosting control panel and using the built-in repair database tool.
Restore from backup
If all else fails, you can restore your website from a backup.
Free tools for finding or fixing database issues
Some popular solutions to consider for database connection errors.
Plugin – WP-DBManager
WP-DBManager allows you to optimize, repair, and backup your database, fixing database connection errors.
Manual Fix – Check Database Credentials
Ensure that the database credentials in your wp-config.php file are correct.
Manual Fix – Repair the Database
You can repair your database by logging into your web hosting control panel and using the built-in repair database tool.
6. Hacked website
A hacked website can be a serious issue that can compromise your website’s security and user data. To fix a hacked website, you can:
Remove malware and viruses
Use a reputable malware and virus removal tool to remove all infections from your website.
Update plugins and themes
Ensure that all plugins and themes on your website are up to date to prevent future security vulnerabilities.
Change all passwords
Change all passwords for your website, including the WordPress admin account, FTP, and database.
Free tools for fixing or preventing hacked websites
Some popular solutions to consider to help fix or prevent malicious content.
Plugin – Wordfence
Wordfence is a popular security plugin that offers malware scanning, firewall protection, and login security.
Plugin – Sucuri Security
Sucuri Security offers website security solutions, including malware scanning, website firewall, and website cleanup services.
Manual Fix – Remove Malware and Viruses
Use a reputable malware and virus removal tool to remove all infections from your website.
7. Plugin conflicts
Plugin conflicts occur when two or more plugins on your website have compatibility issues that cause errors or unexpected behavior.
Deactivate plugins to identify the conflicting plugin
Deactivate all plugins and reactivate them one by one until you find the plugin causing the issue.
Update plugins
Ensure that all plugins on your website are up to date. Outdated plugins can cause compatibility issues.
Use an alternative plugin
If you’re unable to resolve the issue, consider using an alternative plugin that provides similar functionality.
Free tools for finding or fixing plugin issues
Some popular solutions to consider for discovering plugin issues.
Plugin – Plugin Organizer
Plugin Organizer allows you to control the order and activation of plugins, preventing conflicts.
Plugin – Health Check & Troubleshooting
This plugin allows you to troubleshoot plugin conflicts by deactivating all plugins, except the one you’re testing.
Manual Fix – Update Plugins
Ensure that all plugins on your website are up to date to prevent conflicts.
8. Login problems
Login problems can occur if you’re unable to access the WordPress admin area. To fix login problems, you can:
Reset your password
Use the “Lost your password?” link on the login page to reset your password.
Check for email delivery issues
Ensure that emails from your WordPress website are not being marked as spam or blocked by your email provider.
Check for plugin conflicts
Deactivate all plugins and try to login again. If you’re able to login, reactivate each plugin one by one to identify the conflicting plugin.
Free tools for finding or fixing login issues
Some popular solutions to consider for issues with logging in.
Plugin – Login Lockdown
Login Lockdown limits the number of login attempts, preventing brute-force attacks.
Plugin – WPForms
WPForms allows you to create custom login forms, making it easier for users to log in.
Manual Fix – Reset Your Password
Use the “Lost your password?” link on the login page to reset your password.
9. Sidebar and widget issues
Sidebar and widget issues can occur when widgets are not displaying correctly on your website. To fix these issues, you can:
Check for conflicting plugins or themes
Some plugins or themes may conflict with your widgets. Try deactivating all plugins and switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Three to see if the issue is resolved.
Update the widget settings
Check the widget settings and ensure that they’re configured correctly.
Use custom CSS
If you’re familiar with CSS, you can use custom CSS to modify the widget’s appearance.
Free tools for finding or fixing sidebars and widgets
Some popular solutions to consider for fixing issues with sidebars or widgets.
Plugin – Widget Options
Widget Options allows you to control the visibility of widgets on your website, preventing conflicts and improving website performance.
Plugin – Custom Sidebars
Custom Sidebars allows you to create custom sidebars and widget areas, reducing conflicts and improving website customization.
Manual Fix – Use Custom CSS
If you’re familiar with CSS, you can use custom CSS to modify the widget’s appearance and fix widget issues.
10. Contact form errors
Contact form errors can prevent users from submitting contact forms on your website. To fix contact form errors, you can:
Check email delivery settings
Ensure that your email delivery settings are configured correctly in the contact form plugin settings.
Check for plugin conflicts
Deactivate all plugins and try submitting the form again. If the form works, reactivate each plugin one by one to identify the conflicting plugin.
Test form submissions
Test the form submissions to ensure that they’re being delivered to the correct email address and that the message content is correct.
Free tools for finding or fixing contact form issues
Some popular solutions to consider for contact form problems.
Plugin – Contact Form 7
Contact Form 7 is a popular plugin that allows you to create custom contact forms for your website.
Plugin – WPForms
WPForms is a drag-and-drop form builder plugin that allows you to create custom forms and surveys.
Manual Fix – Check Email Delivery Settings
Ensure that your email delivery settings are configured correctly in the contact form plugin settings.
Key Takeaways
In conclusion, these are some common issues that can arise with a WordPress website, along with their fixes.
By addressing these issues promptly, you can ensure that your website remains secure, user-friendly, and optimized for performance.
If you’re unable to fix an issue on your own, don’t hesitate to seek professional help from a WordPress developer.
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