50 Common WordPress Errors and How to Repair Them

Running a WordPress website can be exciting, but sometimes it feels like a puzzle — things go wrong without warning. Maybe your site shows a white screen, your login stops working, or a plugin crashes your theme. Don’t worry — most WordPress issues are common and can be fixed easily once you know the cause.

In this detailed guide, we’ll look at 50 common WordPress errors and simple ways to repair them — even if you’re not a tech expert.

1. The White Screen of Death (WSOD)

What it means:
You open your website and see a completely blank page — no error message, no clue.

How to fix:

• Increase your PHP memory limit.
• Disable all plugins via FTP or File Manager.
• Switch to a default theme like “Twenty Twenty-Five”.
• Enable debugging by adding this line in wp-config.php:

• define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);

2. Internal Server Error (500 Error)

Why it happens:
Usually caused by corrupted .htaccess files or plugin conflicts.

Fix:

• Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old using FTP.
• Revisit your dashboard → Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes (this regenerates .htaccess).
• Deactivate plugins one by one to find the faulty one.

3. Error Establishing a Database Connection

Reason:
Wrong database credentials or a corrupted database.

Fix:

• Open wp-config.php and verify DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, and DB_HOST.
• Repair the database by adding:

• define(‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true);

Then visit: yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php.

4. 404 Error on Posts or Pages

Cause:
Broken permalinks.

Fix:
Go to Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes.
This refreshes the permalink structure and solves the issue.

5. Memory Exhausted Error

Reason:
WordPress has hit the PHP memory limit.

Fix:
Add this line in wp-config.php:

define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);

6. Connection Timed Out

Cause:
Your hosting server is overloaded or a heavy plugin is slowing things down.

Fix:

• Disable resource-heavy plugins.
• Switch to a lighter theme.
• Increase your PHP memory limit.

7. Failed Auto-Update Error

Reason:
WordPress update got interrupted.

Fix:

• Delete the .maintenance file in your root folder.
• Try the update again manually.

8. Syntax Error

Why it happens:
You added code with a missing bracket or semicolon.

Fix:

• Access your site through FTP.
• Open the file you edited.
• Correct the code syntax (missing ;, } etc.).

9. Locked Out of Admin (wp-admin Not Working)

Fix:

• Reset your password using phpMyAdmin.
• Disable security plugins that might block access.
• Rename the plugins folder to regain login.

10. “Briefly Unavailable for Scheduled Maintenance” Message

Reason:
Update stuck in progress.

Fix:

• Delete the .maintenance file in the root directory.
• Refresh your browser.

11. Stuck in Maintenance Mode

Fix:
Same as above — remove the .maintenance file using File Manager.

12. Sidebar Appearing Below Content

Reason:
Broken HTML tags or missing div in your theme file.

Fix:
Check index.php or single.php for mismatched <div> tags.

13. RSS Feed Errors

Cause:
Extra spaces or faulty code in functions.php.

Fix:
Remove any unwanted spaces before <?php or after ?> in your theme’s files.

14. Upload: “Missing a Temporary Folder”

Fix:
Add this to wp-config.php:

define(‘WP_TEMP_DIR’, dirname(__FILE__) . ‘/wp-content/temp/’);

Then create a temp folder inside wp-content.

15. Upload: “File Exceeds Maximum Upload Size”

Fix:
In php.ini, add:

upload_max_filesize = 256M

post_max_size = 256M

16. Image Upload Error

Cause:
Wrong file permissions.

Fix:
Set correct permissions for uploads folder:

• Folders: 755
• Files: 644

17. Mixed Content Warning (HTTPS Issue)

Fix:

• Use a plugin like “Really Simple SSL.”
• Update all URLs from http:// to https:// in your database using “Better Search Replace”.

18. Login Page Refreshing or Redirecting

Fix:

• Clear browser cookies.
• Delete .htaccess and regenerate it.
• Deactivate caching plugins.

19. WordPress Not Sending Emails

Fix:
Install and configure an SMTP plugin like “WP Mail SMTP” and use proper mail credentials.

20. Plugin or Theme Upload Fails

Fix:

• Increase PHP upload limits.
• Check file permissions.
• Upload via FTP manually.

21. Changes Not Showing (Caching Issue)

Fix:

• Clear browser cache.
• Purge plugin or server cache.
• Disable CDN temporarily.

22. “Are You Sure You Want to Do This?” Error

Fix:
Increase the max_upload_size and max_post_size in php.ini, then retry.

23. Memory Limit Error While Importing Demo Content

Fix:
Set higher limits in wp-config.php:

define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘512M’);

24. Theme Customizer Not Working

Fix:

• Disable all plugins.
• Clear cache.
• Check your PHP version (should be 7.4 or above).

25.“Sorry, This File Type Is Not Permitted”

Fix:
Add this line in wp-config.php:

define(‘ALLOW_UNFILTERED_UPLOADS’, true);

26. Error 403 – Forbidden

Cause:
Security plugin or .htaccess rules blocking access.

Fix:

• Check file permissions.
• Rename .htaccess.
• Disable your security plugin.

27.Error 404 on Admin Pages

Fix:

• Re-save permalinks.
• Re-upload .htaccessdefault code.
• Deactivate plugins temporarily.

28.Too Many Redirects

Fix:

• Clear cookies.
• Set correct site URL in Settings → General.
• Remove conflicting redirects from .htaccess.

29. WordPress Keeps Logging You Out

Fix:
Make sure siteurl and home match in wp_options.

30. WordPress Slow Loading

Fix:

• Optimize images.
• Use caching plugins.
• Use lightweight themes.
• Consider better hosting.

31. Stuck in Infinite Redirect Loop

Fix:
Disable SSL plugin temporarily.
Check wp-config.php for hard-coded URLs.

32. Broken Theme After Update

Fix:

• Revert to a previous version.
• Clear browser and site cache.
• Reinstall the theme.

33. “Upload Failed to Write File to Disk”

Fix:

• Set folder permissions to 755.
• Ask hosting provider to check temporary folder.

34. Jetpack Connection Issues

Fix:
Deactivate and reconnect Jetpack.
Ensure your XML-RPC file is not blocked.

35. Posts Returning 404, Homepage Works

Fix:
Reset permalinks again.
Re-save .htaccess rules.

36. PHP Time Limit Error

Fix:
Add this in wp-config.php:

set_time_limit(300);

37. “Destination Folder Already Exists” Error

Fix:
Delete the existing folder inside wp-content/plugins/ or themes/ and retry upload.

38. WordPress Search Not Working Properly

Fix:
Rebuild your index using a plugin like “Relevanssi” or “SearchWP.”

39. Comments Not Showing

Fix:

• Check “Discussion” settings.
• Verify your theme includes <?php comments_template(); ?>.

40. Scheduled Posts Missed

Fix:
Install the “WP Crontrol” plugin to monitor and repair cron jobs.

41. WordPress Redirects to Old Domain

Fix:
Search and replace old URLs in the database.
Update wp-config.php URLs.

42. Mixed Language or Encoding Issues

Fix:
Set UTF-8 encoding in your database and WordPress settings.

43. “Failed to Open Stream” Error

Fix:
File missing or incorrect path.
Check the path in your PHP or theme file.

44. XML Sitemap Not Working

Fix:
Flush permalinks.
Disable and re-enable your SEO plugin.

45. Broken Shortcodes

Fix:

• Make sure the plugin supporting that shortcode is active.
• Remove extra spaces or brackets.

46. “Invalid JSON Response” in Block Editor

Fix:

• Check your site’s SSL.
• Disable conflicting plugins.
• Use Classic Editor temporarily.

47. WordPress REST API Error

Fix:
Ensure permalinks are set correctly and your .htaccess file is not blocking REST routes.

48. Can’t Install Plugins (Error: Folder Permissions)

Fix:
Set correct folder permissions to 755 and files to 644.

49. Auto-Save or Draft Not Working

Fix:
Increase PHP memory.
Clear browser cache.
Disable conflicting editor plugins.

50. Malware or Hacked Website

Fix:

• Scan with a security plugin (e.g., Wordfence or Sucuri).
• Change all passwords.
• Reinstall clean WordPress core files.

Extra Tips to Prevent WordPress Errors

• Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated.
• Use reliable hosting.
• Backup your site regularly.
• Avoid editing core files directly.
• Test updates on a staging site first.
• Limit plugin usage to what’s necessary.

Final Thoughts

WordPress is powerful but like any software, it can run into issues. The good news? Most errors are easy to repair with a few clicks or a small tweak.
By keeping your website updated, using clean themes, and maintaining regular backups, you can avoid most of these 50 common errors.

Remember — every error teaches you something new about your website. The more you fix, the better you get at managing WordPress confidently.