Newbie’s Information to Troubleshooting WordPress Errors (Step by Step)

  • January 14, 2023
  • elkenz
  • 15 min read

Are you encountering a standard WordPress error in your website?

Do you need to troubleshoot these WordPress errors by yourself? Most of those errors will be solved by following simple troubleshooting steps.

On this newbie’s information, we’ll present you methods to troubleshoot WordPress errors, step-by-step.

Beginner's guide to troubleshooting WordPress errors (step by step)

1. Analysis Your Error Message

Typically while you encounter an issue with WordPress, you’ll get an error message within the tab the place you’re making an attempt to entry your web site, such because the 404 error.

To be taught extra concerning the ‘web page can’t be discovered’ error within the following picture, please see our information on methods to repair WordPress posts returning 404 error.

A WordPress 404 error

Different instances, you might even see an error message inside your WordPress admin space, such because the HTTP error that may seem contained in the media library.

Each WordPress error is totally different. When you have an error message, then it is smart to search for directions on methods to repair this actual error, fairly than info on methods to troubleshoot WordPress errors generally.

Because you’re on the WPBeginner web site, you’re already in the best place to remedy all the most typical WordPress errors. To begin, you possibly can see our information on the most typical WordPress errors and methods to remedy them.

In case your error isn’t on this listing, then the subsequent step is to search for articles that point out the error you’re getting.

To do that, merely sort or paste your error message into the search bar on the prime of the web page. For instance, looking for ‘Error Establishing a Database Connection’ will deliver up an entire information to fixing the database connection error.

The WPBeginner homepage

WordPress additionally comes with a debugging system that may log any error messages proven in your website. You may then learn via the log to be taught extra concerning the issues you’re having in your WordPress web site.

For extra info, please see our information on methods to discover and entry WordPress error logs.

2. Create a Full Backup of Your WordPress Web site

The very first thing you need to do is create an entire backup of your WordPress website.

Backups permit you to restore your WordPress website simply when one thing goes improper. They’re your first and most essential protection in opposition to safety threats, hacking, and knowledge loss.

If you’re already utilizing a WordPress backup plugin, then just be sure you have a current backup saved someplace protected.

Since backups are so essential, we advocate creating a couple of copy of your WordPress backups and retailer it in cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Some WordPress backup plugins allow you to save your information to a number of areas. For instance, UpdraftPlus enables you to select between totally different on-line storage providers, as you possibly can see within the following picture.

A choice of backup storage locations in UpdraftPlus

If you’re not already utilizing a backup plugin, then you need to begin utilizing one now. That will help you get began, right here’s our skilled choose of one of the best WordPress backup plugins.

For those who don’t at the moment have entry to the admin space of your WordPress website, then don’t panic. You may nonetheless manually backup your database and information.

3. Clear Browser Cache

A number of instances, your browser might not understand {that a} WordPress web page or submit has modified and can load an outdated web page from the browser cache. This implies you will notice an older model of your web page or submit.

For those who’re seeing outdated content material, then it’s possible you’ll simply must clear your browser cache. This course of will differ relying in your internet browser. For extra particulars, please see our information on methods to clear browser cache in all main browsers.

4. Clear Your WordPress Cache

If you’re utilizing a WordPress caching plugin like WP Rocket, then it’s possible you’ll be seeing a cached model of your web site.

Some prime WordPress internet hosting firms like Bluehost and SiteGround even have their very own built-in caching software program. This could trigger you to see a cached model of your web site, even should you haven’t put in a caching plugin.

In case your website is displaying outdated content material, it’s possible you’ll simply must clear your WordPress cache.

5. Deactivate All Plugins Put in on Your Web site

Typically errors are attributable to plugins conflicting with one another, your theme, or the WordPress core.

The simplest approach to troubleshoot these errors is by deactivating all of your WordPress plugins. You may then reactivate these plugins one after the other, to see when the error occurs once more.

When you have entry to the admin space of your WordPress website, then merely head over to the plugins web page.

A list of installed WordPress plugins

First, that you must choose all plugins, after which choose ‘Deactivate’ from ‘Bulk Actions’ drop down menu. Click on on the Apply button to deactivate all chosen plugins.

Deactivating al your WordPress plugins

Some errors might cease you from accessing your WordPress admin space. If that is so then you possibly can deactivate your plugins utilizing FTP.

To begin, you’ll want to connect with your WordPress internet hosting information utilizing an FTP consumer. For those who haven’t used FTP earlier than, then please see our information on methods to use FTP to add information to WordPress.

When you’ve accomplished that, open the ‘wp-content’ folder in your FTP consumer.

Troubleshooting a WordPress website

Right here you’ll see a folder named ‘plugins.’

Now you can both Management-click or right-click this folder, and choose ‘Rename.’

Renaming a folder in FTP

When you’ve accomplished that, rename this folder to ‘plugin.deactivate.’ This can deactivate your whole WordPress plugins.

For extra detailed directions, see our article on methods to deactivate all plugins when not in a position to entry wp-admin.

After deactivating your plugins, test to see whether or not the issue continues to be occurring in your web site or WordPress weblog. In case your website is now working completely, you then’ll know that the issue is said to a plugin.

Now you can merely reactivate your plugins one after the other, to see when the issue begins occurring once more.

To get began, go to Plugins » Put in Plugins. Now you can discover the plugin that you just need to reactivate and click on on its ‘Activate’ hyperlink.

Activating a WordPress plugin

As quickly as the issue reappears, you’ll know which plugin is inflicting the issue. You may then uninstall this WordPress plugin and discover a higher various.

6. Change to a Default WordPress Theme

Generally your WordPress theme may cause points in your website. To search out out in case your theme is inflicting the issue, you possibly can attempt switching to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One or Twenty-Twenty Two.

Since these themes are created by the official WordPress crew, they’re much less prone to trigger conflicts or have bugs in comparison with another third celebration themes.

To modify to a default WordPress theme, go to Look » Themes.

Troubleshooting WordPress errors

You may then hover your mouse over any of the default themes.

Then, simply click on on the ‘Activate’ button.

Activating a WordPress theme

For those who can’t log into the admin space of your WordPress website, then you possibly can change to a default theme utilizing FTP.

First, hook up with your web site utilizing an FTP consumer. When you’ve accomplished that, head to the ‘/wp-content/themes/’ folder.

The WordPress wp-content folder

Inside this folder, you’ll see all of the themes put in in your WordPress web site.

Earlier than making any modifications, it’s a good suggestion to obtain a duplicate of your present lively theme. This can make it simpler to revive your theme after doing this check.

To obtain your present lively theme, merely discover the folder that has this theme’s title. Then both Management-click or right-click this folder.

After that we’re going to pick ‘Obtain.’

Downloading your current WordPress theme

When you’ve downloaded this folder, you possibly can go forward and delete each theme inside your FTP consumer besides a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Two.

Since your lively theme is now not obtainable, WordPress will routinely change to utilizing the default theme.

If this solves the error, you then’ll know that your theme was inflicting the issue.

If that is so, we advocate discovering a brand new theme in your WordPress web site. That will help you out, we’ve posted our skilled choose of one of the best responsive WordPress themes.

If this doesn’t remedy the issue, then you possibly can restore your unique theme. The simplest manner is utilizing the copy you downloaded to your laptop. For extra detailed directions, please see our information to utilizing FTP to add information to WordPress.

7. Refresh Permalinks

WordPress makes use of an search engine optimization pleasant URL construction. Generally this permalink construction is just not up to date or arrange correctly, which can lead to surprising 404 errors in your website.

For those who’re getting 404 errors, then you possibly can attempt regenerating your hyperlinks, which is able to rebuild and restore your permalink construction. You are able to do this with the clicking of a button, and with out altering something in your WordPress web site.

To regenerate your permalinks, go to Settings » Permalinks.

The WordPress permalink settings

Now scroll to the very backside of this web page and click on on ‘Save Adjustments.’

After a number of moments, you need to see a message confirming that WordPress has up to date your permalink construction.

Saving your WordPress permalink settings

For extra info, see our full information on methods to regenerate your permalinks in WordPress.

8. Backup and Delete .htaccess File

Are you getting an inner server error? A corrupt .htaccess file may be accountable.

The simplest approach to repair your .htaccess file is by deleting it. WordPress will then create a brand new .htaccess file routinely.

To delete your present .htaccess file, hook up with your website utilizing an FTP consumer. You’ll discover the .htaccess file in your website’s root listing.

To get to this root listing, merely open the folder that reveals your web site’s title.

Then go forward and open the ‘public_html’ folder.

WordPress public_html file

You’ll now see your .htaccess file inside this folder.

For those who don’t see .htaccess, then your FTP consumer could also be set to cover delicate information. For extra info, see our article on why you possibly can’t discover the .htaccess file in your WordPress website.

Earlier than doing something, it’s a good suggestion to create a duplicate of your present .htaccess file. Then if something goes improper you possibly can merely restore your unique file.

To obtain your .htaccess file, give it a click on after which choose ‘Obtain.’

Downloading the WordPress .htaccess file

When you’ve accomplished that, you possibly can go forward and delete the unique .htaccess file in your FTP window. After that, go to Settings » Permalinks in your WordPress admin space.

Lastly, click on on the ‘Save Adjustments’ button. WordPress will now go forward and create a brand new .htaccess file in your web site.

9. Repair WordPress Web site URL

When you have the improper settings in your ‘WordPress Deal with’ and ‘Web site Deal with’ choices, then it could possibly trigger redirect points, 404 errors, and different widespread issues.

To try your URL settings, go to the Settings » Normal web page.

Your WordPress website's URL

On this web page, discover the ‘WordPress Deal with (URL)’ and ‘Web site Deal with (URL)’ fields.

You must ensure each of those URLs are precisely the identical.

For those who can’t entry the admin space of your WordPress website, then you possibly can change these URLs utilizing FTP.

After connecting to your website utilizing an FTP consumer, there are two methods to entry these URLs.

Replace WordPress URL and Web site URL Settings in wp-config.php File

With this methodology, you’ll add some code to your website’s wp-config.php file.

You’ll discover this file within the root folder of your web site together with different folders like wp-content.

The WordPress wp-config file

When you’ve discovered this file, give it a click on after which choose ‘View/Edit.’

This can open the file in your laptop’s default textual content editor, resembling Notepad.

Editing the wp-config file

On this file, discover the road that claims:

/* That is all, cease enhancing! Joyful running a blog. */

Simply earlier than this line, add the next code:

outline('WP_HOME', 'http://instance.com');
outline('WP_SITEURL', 'http://instance.com');

Don’t overlook to switch ‘instance.com’ with your personal area title. You may then save your your modifications and add the file again to your server.

Replace URLs Utilizing features.php File

You can too replace these URLs utilizing your theme’s features.php file.

In your FTP consumer, go to the ‘wp-content/themes/’ folder.

Then, open the folder in your present lively theme and discover its features.php file.

The WordPress functions.php file

Subsequent, you simply must click on on the features.php file and choose ‘View/Edit.’ This can open the features.php file in your laptop’s default textual content editor.

Merely add the next strains on the backside of the features file:

update_option( 'siteurl', 'http://instance.com' );
update_option( 'residence', 'http://instance.com' );

You must now be capable of entry your WordPress admin space.

When you’re logged in, go to Settings » Normal. Now you can change your ‘WordPress Deal with (URL)’ and ‘Web site Deal with (URL)’ following the identical course of described above.

When you’ve accomplished that, you simply must delete the code that you just added to your features.php file. To do that, merely open the features.php file following the method described above, after which delete the code.

10. Test Studying Settings

For those who comply with the WordPress search engine optimization greatest practices, then search engines like google and yahoo like Google ought to discover your web site routinely.

Nonetheless, generally a newly created WordPress web site received’t present up within the search engine outcomes. This can be as a result of your website is hidden from the various search engines.

To test your website’s settings, go to Settings » Studying.

Fixing WordPress errors

When you’ve accomplished that, scroll right down to the underside of the web page and ensure that the field subsequent to ‘Search Engine Visibility’ is unchecked.

This selection discourages search engines like google and yahoo from indexing your website.

WordPress' search engine visibility settings

Web site house owners typically use this setting after they’re nonetheless engaged on their website and don’t need their content material to indicate up in search outcomes.

Nonetheless, you may unintentionally test this setting and overlook about it.

If you need your website to look in search outcomes, then ensure this selection is unchecked after which click on on ‘Save Adjustments.’

For those who’re nonetheless working in your website, then it’s possible you’ll need to create a coming quickly web page. A beautifully-designed coming quickly web page will create a buzz round your web site and might even act as a lead technology device. For extra info, please see our information on methods to create stunning coming quickly pages in WordPress.

11. Troubleshooting Electronic mail Points

Some WordPress internet hosting suppliers don’t correctly configure their mail settings. This could cease you and your guests from receiving emails despatched by WordPress.

If you’re utilizing a contact type plugin you then received’t get an electronic mail when guests full your type. Additionally, you will not get any WordPress notifications together with messages about critical safety threats or suspicious exercise.

The easiest way to repair this drawback is through the use of an SMTP service supplier. For extra particulars, see our information on methods to repair WordPress not sending electronic mail subject.

12. Scanning for Malware and Backdoors

For those who suspect that your WordPress website is contaminated by malware, then you need to scan your web site with Sucuri.

It’s the greatest web site safety monitoring service for WordPress website house owners. Actually, Sucuri helped us block 450,000 WordPress assaults in 3 months.

For extra info, see our information on methods to scan your WordPress website for probably malicious code.

Getting Higher Assist

By following these troubleshooting steps, you possibly can repair many of the widespread WordPress errors.

Nonetheless should you’re nonetheless having issues together with your website, then there are methods to get further assist.

WordPress has a big and useful group. You may at all times ask different WordPress customers and consultants for assist by posting in WordPress assist boards or within the WPBeginner Fb group.

When reaching out to the group, it’s essential to keep in mind that you’re asking folks to take their worthwhile time and reply your query without spending a dime. With this in thoughts, it’s essential to:

  • Be well mannered and good. Irrespective of how upset or pissed off you’re, don’t use harsh or disagreeable language.
  • Point out your drawback briefly. This can make it simpler for folks to see what the issue is, and determine whether or not they may help.
  • Describe the troubleshooting steps you will have taken to this point. This reveals that you just don’t simply need different folks to do your work without spending a dime. It additionally signifies that folks received’t waste their time by suggesting issues that you just’ve already tried.
  • Add screenshots on a cloud picture sharing service, after which add the hyperlinks in your assist thread. This could present a deeper perception into your drawback.

For extra on this subject, check out our information on methods to correctly ask for WordPress assist and get it.

We hope this text helped you learn to troubleshoot WordPress errors. Subsequent, it’s possible you’ll need to try our final WordPress safety information, or see our skilled choose of one of the best WordPress plugins to develop your web site.

For those who appreciated this text, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can too discover us on Twitter and Fb.