Quick Fixes for WordPress Errors: The Complete Troubleshooting Guide

By WP Curve
July 18, 2025

Quick Fixes for WordPress Errors: The Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Why You’re Here

If your WordPress website suddenly shows a blank screen, a “database connection error,” or other unexpected failures—don’t panic. These are common WordPress issues that can often be resolved in minutes, without a developer.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to identify and fix the most frequent WordPress problems with simple, proven steps.

🔧 1. White Screen of Death (WSoD)

Symptoms: A blank white screen when accessing your site or admin panel.

Common Causes:

Faulty plugins or themes
PHP memory limit reached

How to Fix It:

Use FTP to access /wp-content/plugins and rename plugin folders to disable them.
Switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
Increase memory in wp-config.php:
```
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
```
Enable debug mode to identify the error:
```
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
```

🔒 2. 500 Internal Server Error

Symptoms: A generic 500 error message without details.

Possible Causes:

Corrupted .htaccess file
Incompatible themes or plugins
Low PHP memory

Fix It Step-by-Step:

Rename or delete the .htaccess file via FTP.
Go to Settings → Permalinks in WordPress and click “Save Changes” to regenerate it.
Deactivate plugins/themes one by one to identify the culprit.
Review server logs via your hosting panel for more insight.

🔗 3. Error Establishing a Database Connection

Symptoms: WordPress can’t connect to the database.

Likely Causes:

Incorrect credentials in wp-config.php
Wrong database host
MySQL server down or overloaded

Quick Solution:

Check the following lines in your config file:
```
DB_NAME
DB_USER
DB_PASSWORD
DB_HOST
```
Confirm correct host (often “localhost”).
If needed, restart MySQL or free up server resources.

4. 404 Errors After Changing Permalinks

Symptoms: Page or post URLs lead to “Page Not Found”.

Causes:

Outdated permalink settings or .htaccess file

Solution:

Navigate to Settings → Permalinks, click “Save Changes” (even without edits).
Delete and regenerate the .htaccess file if necessary.

5. Login Issues or Redirect Loops

Symptoms: Login form reloads, or endless redirect loops.

Typical Causes:

Browser cookies or cache
Mixed use of www/non-www URLs
Security plugin interference

Fix It:

Clear browser cache and cookies.
Use phpMyAdmin to check and correct siteurl and home in the wp_options table.
Disable plugins via FTP if login remains blocked.

6. Plugin and Theme Conflicts

Symptoms: Errors occur right after activating a plugin or theme.

What’s Behind It:

Outdated, poorly coded, or incompatible add-ons

Resolution:

Deactivate all plugins, then reactivate them one at a time.
Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme for testing.
Update or replace problematic plugins/themes.

🚀 7. Outdated PHP Version

Symptoms: Incompatibilities, error messages, slow performance.

Why It Happens:
WordPress and plugins need PHP 8.0+ to run properly.

What to Do:

Upgrade PHP from your hosting control panel.
Test your site after upgrading.
Switch hosting provider if PHP versions are limited.

🛠 8. Enable Debug Mode

When to Use: When the site is blank or returns vague errors.

How to Enable:
Add the following to wp-config.php:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);

Don’t Forget: Turn it off once you’re done troubleshooting:

define('WP_DEBUG', false);

🔐 9. SSL/HTTPS Issues and Mixed Content Warnings

Symptoms: Browser warnings like “Not secure” or broken padlocks.

Causes:

Missing or expired SSL certificate
Mixed HTTP and HTTPS content

Solution:

Enable SSL (Let’s Encrypt or similar) via your host.
Use Really Simple SSL plugin to force HTTPS redirects.
Use Better Search Replace to update all old HTTP URLs in your database.

🔄 10. Migration or Domain Change Errors

Symptoms: 404s, broken design, missing media.

What Went Wrong:

Hardcoded URLs, unupdated database entries, or permalinks not reset

Fix It:

Use tools like Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration
Resave permalinks
Check database values for siteurl and home
Update links, menus, widgets as needed

💻 11. WP‑CLI for Advanced Recovery

What It Is: Command-line tool for managing WordPress installations.

Powerful Commands:

wp plugin deactivate --all
wp theme list
wp db repair

Use define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true); in your config to enable database repair.

⏱️ 12. Failed Cron Jobs

Symptoms: Missed scheduled posts, broken plugin tasks.

Why It Happens:

Internal WordPress cron is disabled or misfiring

Fix It:

Set DISABLE_WP_CRON to false in wp-config.php
Set up a real system cron job for high-traffic sites

⚠️ 13. Automatic Updates Causing Conflicts

Pros: Better security
Cons: Potential plugin/theme incompatibility

Best Practices:

Allow only minor updates automatically
Run full backups before major version upgrades
Test in a staging environment

🛡️ 14. Security Plugin Lockouts

Problem: Security plugins block legitimate access or trigger false alarms.

How to Fix It:

Rename the security plugin folder via FTP to deactivate it
Review firewall/IP settings once you regain access
Avoid overly aggressive options like login obfuscation or IP bans unless truly necessary

✅ Final Tips to Keep WordPress Error-Free

Keep core, plugins, and themes updated
Backup regularly
Use a staging site for tests
Choose reliable, WordPress-optimized hosting
Monitor your PHP version and adjust when needed

With this guide, you’ll always be ready to handle the most common problems in minutes, calmly and expertly.

Quick Fixes for WordPress Errors: The Complete Troubleshooting Guide