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60+ Most Common WordPress Errors: Troubleshooting Guide ✅

If you’ve ever worked with WordPress, you know it can be an absolute lifesaver when it comes to building websites. But, let’s face it, WordPress isn’t always smooth sailing. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a complete beginner, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered at least one WordPress error that had you scratching your head. Don’t worry, though! You’re not alone, and more importantly, most of these errors are fixable.

In this article, we’ll cover the most common WordPress errors and how to fix them, so you can troubleshoot like a pro, get your site back up and running, and spend less time Googling fixes. From “White Screen of Death” to “Internal Server Errors,” we’ve got it all covered.

Let’s dive right in!

Most Common WordPress Errors and How to Fix Them

1. The White Screen of Death (WSOD)

This is one of the most frustrating errors a WordPress user can encounter. When you open your website and all you see is a blank white page, it feels like the end of the world. But don’t panic! This issue usually happens due to a PHP memory limit, a plugin conflict, or a theme malfunction.

How to Fix It:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
  • Deactivate your plugins via FTP by renaming the plugins folder.
  • Switch to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-One) to rule out theme issues.

2. The “Error Establishing a Database Connection” Error

When your WordPress site can’t connect to its database, you’ll see this dreaded error. It typically occurs due to incorrect database credentials, a corrupted database, or a server issue.

How to Fix It:

  • Double-check your database login credentials in the wp-config.php file.
  • Repair your database using phpMyAdmin.
  • Contact your hosting provider to ensure the database server is running.

3. 403 Forbidden Error

This one is pretty self-explanatory – it tells you that the server is denying access to your WordPress site. It could be due to improper file permissions, issues with .htaccess, or security plugins.

How to Fix It:

  • Check file and folder permissions (755 for folders, 644 for files).
  • Reset the .htaccess file by renaming it and creating a new one.
  • Deactivate security plugins temporarily to see if they’re causing the issue.

4. 404 Page Not Found

A “404 Error” happens when WordPress can’t find the page you’re looking for. This often occurs after a site migration or if you’ve changed permalink settings without redirecting old URLs.

How to Fix It:

  • Go to Settings > Permalinks, and click Save Changes to refresh your permalinks.
  • Ensure the page you’re trying to visit exists and hasn’t been deleted or moved.

5. “Internal Server Error” (500 Error)

An “Internal Server Error” can happen for several reasons. It could be due to a corrupt .htaccess file, insufficient PHP memory, or a plugin conflict.

How to Fix It:

  • Increase PHP memory in wp-config.php:phpCopy code
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '128M');
  • Deactivate all plugins by renaming the plugins folder via FTP.
  • Reset your .htaccess file by renaming it and regenerating it in the WordPress dashboard.

6. Connection Timed Out

A connection timeout error happens when your website takes too long to load, often because the server is under heavy load or the PHP execution time is too short.

How to Fix It:

  • Increase the PHP max execution time in your php.ini file:
max_execution_time = 300
  • Optimize your site by reducing the number of plugins and large media files.

7. “Fatal Error: Maximum Execution Time Exceeded”

This error indicates that a script has run for too long and has exceeded the maximum execution time limit. Usually, this happens with poorly optimized plugins or themes.

How to Fix It:

  • Increase the max execution time in php.ini or wp-config.php.
  • Identify and disable any resource-heavy plugins or themes.
  • Contact your host to increase server limits.

8. WordPress Dashboard Redirecting to Login Page

You enter your credentials, hit login, and then…boom. You’re right back at the login screen. This is usually a cookie issue or a plugin conflict.

How to Fix It:

  • Clear your browser cache and cookies.
  • Deactivate all plugins via FTP and check if you can log in.
  • Check your site URL settings in Settings > General.

9. The “404 Not Found” for WordPress Admin Login

The WordPress admin login page should be easily accessible, but if it’s not, you might see a 404 error when trying to access /wp-admin.

How to Fix It:

  • Go to Settings > Permalinks, and click Save Changes.
  • Ensure your WordPress core files aren’t corrupted.

10. Missing Styles in the Admin Dashboard

This error usually occurs when WordPress can’t load the CSS file for the admin area, resulting in a disorganized or unusable backend.

How to Fix It:

  • Clear your browser cache and reload the page.
  • Deactivate any caching plugins.
  • Check your file permissions for the wp-admin directory.

11. WordPress Content is Not Showing After Update

You’ve updated your WordPress site, but now the content isn’t showing. This can happen due to outdated plugins or theme files not compatible with the latest version of WordPress.

How to Fix It:

  • Update all plugins and themes to their latest versions.
  • Clear any caching plugin or browser cache.
  • Revert to a previous backup if necessary.

12. WordPress Search Not Returning Results

If your WordPress search function isn’t delivering results, it’s often due to indexing issues or theme/plugin conflicts.

How to Fix It:

  • Check if any search plugins are installed and configure them properly.
  • Deactivate plugins one by one to identify the conflict.

13. White Text on White Background (CSS Error)

This is one of those “small but annoying” errors where your text blends with the background color, making it invisible to users.

How to Fix It:

  • Check your theme’s CSS file and look for any color settings for the text or background.
  • Change the text color or background color in the theme customizer.

14. “Sorry, This File Type Is Not Permitted for Security Reasons” Error

This occurs when you’re trying to upload a file type that’s not supported by WordPress.

How to Fix It:

  • Add the file type to your allowed file types in wp-config.php
define('ALLOW_UNFILTERED_UPLOADS', true);
  • Alternatively, you can install a plugin like “WP Add Mime Types” to allow the specific file type.

15. Theme Compatibility Issues

Sometimes, your theme might be incompatible with a newer version of WordPress or a plugin, causing various issues like broken layouts or malfunctioning features.

How to Fix It:

  • Ensure your theme is updated to the latest version.
  • Test compatibility by switching to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One.

16. WordPress Database Errors

Corruption in the database can lead to errors such as missing posts, login issues, or the “Error Establishing a Database Connection” message.

How to Fix It:

  • Run a database repair tool from your WordPress dashboard:
    wp-admin/maint/repair.php.
  • Restore your database from a recent backup if necessary.

17. “No Input File Specified” Error

This error is often triggered by incorrect server configurations or problems with URL rewriting.

How to Fix It:

  • Check if the correct file is being referenced in the URL.
  • Ensure your .htaccess file is set up correctly to support URL rewriting.

18. WordPress Redirect Loop

A redirect loop happens when your browser is caught in an infinite loop of page redirection.

How to Fix It:

  • Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
  • Check for faulty redirects in your .htaccess file or plugin settings.
  • Deactivate all plugins and reactivate them one by one to identify the culprit.

19. Plugin or Theme Update Stuck

When trying to update a plugin or theme, the process might freeze or time out.

How to Fix It:

  • Try updating the plugin/theme manually by uploading it via FTP.
  • Increase the PHP max execution time as mentioned earlier.

20. Failed to Write to Disk Error

This error occurs when WordPress can’t write to the disk due to incorrect file permissions.

How to Fix It:

  • Ensure that your wp-content/uploads directory has the correct permissions (755).
  • If needed, change the ownership of the directory to the web server user.

21. Error 504 Gateway Timeout

This error indicates that the server took too long to respond.

How to Fix It:

  • Try increasing the PHP max execution time and memory limits.
  • Deactivate plugins that may be consuming too many resources.

22. 403 Forbidden Access to Admin

When you try to access the WordPress admin area but are met with a 403 error.

How to Fix It:

  • Check and reset file permissions for wp-admin and wp-includes directories.
  • Deactivate security plugins temporarily to check if they’re blocking access.

23. Database Table is Missing or Corrupted

A missing or corrupted database table can cause critical errors in WordPress.

How to Fix It:

  • Use phpMyAdmin to repair or optimize the database.
  • Restore from a recent backup if necessary.

24. HTTP Error When Uploading Media

This error typically happens when trying to upload an image to WordPress.

How to Fix It:

  • Increase the file upload size limit in php.ini.
  • Clear your browser cache or use a different browser.

25. Plugin or Theme Conflicts

Incompatible or outdated plugins or themes can break your site.

How to Fix It:

  • Deactivate all plugins and switch to a default theme.
  • Reactivate them one by one to identify the cause.

26. No Permission to Access the Page

This error occurs when a user doesn’t have proper permissions to access a specific page.

How to Fix It:

  • Check the user roles and capabilities in WordPress.
  • Ensure the page settings or permissions are correct.

27. SSL Issues

SSL certificate issues can cause the “mixed content” error or make your site insecure.

How to Fix It:

  • Install or renew an SSL certificate.
  • Update site URLs in WordPress settings to HTTPS.

28. Mixed Content Warning

Occurs when a secure site (HTTPS) loads non-secure (HTTP) resources.

How to Fix It:

  • Update all links to HTTPS in the content.
  • Use a plugin like “Really Simple SSL” to handle mixed content.

29. WordPress Keeps Logging Out

When WordPress logs you out repeatedly, it’s often due to cookie or session issues.

How to Fix It:

  • Clear your browser’s cookies and cache.
  • Check the WordPress URL and Site URL settings.

30. Upload Folder Permissions Error

This occurs when WordPress cannot write to the upload folder due to incorrect permissions.

How to Fix It:

  • Set the correct permissions (755) for the wp-content/uploads directory.

31. Server Overload or Slow Performance

A slow or overloaded server can cause your site to perform poorly or even crash.

How to Fix It:

  • Use a caching plugin to speed up the site.
  • Consider upgrading to a better hosting plan if your traffic is increasing.

32. Too Many Redirects

Too many redirects cause a loop between pages, resulting in this error.

How to Fix It:

  • Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
  • Check your .htaccess file for any incorrect redirects.

Broken links can affect SEO and user experience.

How to Fix It:

  • Use a plugin like “Broken Link Checker” to find and fix broken links.
  • Manually update links that are pointing to 404 pages.

34. Can’t Add New Users

Unable to add new users typically happens due to a user role or permissions issue.

How to Fix It:

  • Check user roles and permissions to ensure they have the right capabilities.
  • Disable conflicting plugins that manage users.

35. Search Function Not Working

If the search feature on your site doesn’t return results, it could be due to plugin issues or indexing problems.

How to Fix It:

  • Deactivate plugins that may affect search functionality.
  • Rebuild or re-index the content in your database.

36. Auto-update Failure

WordPress auto-updates fail due to file permission issues, or server timeouts.

How to Fix It:

  • Manually update WordPress via the dashboard or FTP.
  • Check file permissions for the wp-admin directory.

37. Error Uploading Image to WordPress

This can happen due to server misconfigurations, file size restrictions, or incorrect file permissions.

How to Fix It:

  • Increase the file upload limit in php.ini.
  • Check for permissions in the wp-content/uploads folder.

38. Missing WordPress Version

If the WordPress version is missing or incorrect, it can affect compatibility.

How to Fix It:

  • Check your wp-config.php file for any version-related issues.
  • Ensure WordPress is updated to the latest version.

39. Cannot Access wp-admin

If you cannot access the WordPress admin dashboard, it could be due to a variety of errors.

How to Fix It:

  • Deactivate plugins via FTP.
  • Check for issues in the .htaccess file or WordPress URL settings.

40. Broken Admin Panel

When the WordPress admin panel is corrupted or not loading correctly.

How to Fix It:

  • Deactivate all plugins and revert to a default theme.
  • Check file permissions for wp-admin.

41. Internal Server Error (500)

The 500 Internal Server Error occurs when the server is unable to process the request.

How to Fix It:

  • Deactivate plugins and themes to identify the cause.
  • Check the error logs for detailed messages.
  • Increase PHP limits in your .htaccess or php.ini file.

42. WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD)

This occurs when WordPress displays a blank white screen instead of your website.

How to Fix It:

  • Increase memory limits via the wp-config.php file.
  • Deactivate all plugins via FTP and check if the site works.

43. 403 Forbidden Error

This error is caused when you do not have permission to view a particular page or resource.

How to Fix It:

  • Ensure correct file and folder permissions (755 for directories, 644 for files).
  • Deactivate security plugins temporarily to check if they are blocking access.

44. 404 Not Found Error

When users try to access a page, it results in a 404 error.

How to Fix It:

  • Go to Settings > Permalinks and save the settings to refresh the permalinks.
  • Check if the page URL or slug has changed.

45. Error Establishing a Database Connection

This error occurs when WordPress cannot connect to the database.

How to Fix It:

  • Verify the database credentials in the wp-config.php file.
  • Check if the database server is down or if the database is corrupt.

46. Fatal Error: Allowed Memory Size Exhausted

When WordPress runs out of memory while processing.

How to Fix It:

  • Increase the memory limit by adding define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); in wp-config.php.
  • Deactivate plugins that may be consuming too much memory.

47. Database Connection Timeout

When the database server doesn’t respond quickly enough, causing a timeout.

How to Fix It:

  • Increase the max execution time in php.ini.
  • Optimize the database and reduce server load.

48. Too Many Redirects

This happens when your browser is stuck in a redirect loop.

How to Fix It:

  • Clear browser cache and cookies.
  • Check your WordPress and Site URL settings to ensure they match.
  • Disable caching or redirection plugins temporarily.

49. Auto-Update Failed

When WordPress fails to update automatically to the latest version.

How to Fix It:

  • Check your server’s file permissions.
  • Update WordPress manually via FTP or your hosting control panel.

50. White Screen After WordPress Update

Sometimes after updating WordPress, the website might go blank.

How to Fix It:

  • Deactivate plugins and switch to a default theme.
  • Check the PHP error logs for any errors related to the update.

51. 429 Too Many Requests Error

Occurs when a server receives too many requests in a short time, often due to a bot attack or malfunctioning script.

How to Fix It:

  • Contact your hosting provider to identify the source of the traffic.
  • Temporarily disable all plugins and then reactivate them one by one to identify any causing the issue.

52. Mixed Content Warnings (HTTP/HTTPS)

These warnings happen when some resources are loaded over HTTP on a secure (HTTPS) page, leading to security warnings.

How to Fix It:

  • Use a plugin like Really Simple SSL to force HTTPS for all content.
  • Manually update URLs in your database to HTTPS using a plugin or database tool.

53. Image Upload Issue (HTTP Error)

This error may appear when uploading images, often due to server configurations or memory limitations.

How to Fix It:

  • Increase PHP memory limit in wp-config.php.
  • Check if the image file size is too large and optimize it if needed.

Over time, links to external sites or internal pages might break, affecting user experience and SEO.

How to Fix It:

  • Use a plugin like Broken Link Checker to identify broken links.
  • Update or remove outdated links and perform regular checks.

55. PHP Errors Showing on the Frontend

When WordPress displays PHP warnings or errors on the front end, it can affect the user experience.

How to Fix It:

  • Disable error display by adding define('WP_DEBUG', false); in wp-config.php.
  • Review error logs to address underlying issues.

56. Cannot Modify Header Information – Headers Already Sent Error

This error often appears due to blank spaces or unintentional code before the opening <?php tag in files.

How to Fix It:

  • Ensure there are no spaces before <?php or after ?> in wp-config.php or functions.php.
  • Check for any unexpected characters in these files.

57. Connection Timed Out Error

Occurs due to overloaded shared hosting resources, especially with resource-heavy themes or plugins.

How to Fix It:

  • Increase PHP memory limit and execution time in your hosting settings.
  • Limit the number of active plugins and use a lightweight theme.

58. Googlebot Cannot Access CSS/JS Files

Google Search Console might flag this issue, which can impact SEO.

How to Fix It:

  • Ensure your robots.txt file does not block Googlebot from accessing /wp-includes/ or other core folders.

59. Syntax Error in Code

A syntax error can occur when there’s a typo in PHP code, such as a missing bracket or semicolon.

How to Fix It:

  • Check the exact error message to locate the file and line number.
  • Restore the affected file from a backup or fix the code error manually.

60. Missing Temporary Folder Error

This error often prevents file uploads, and it’s due to a missing temporary directory configuration in PHP.

How to Fix It:

  • Add the below code to wp-config.php
define('WP_TEMP_DIR', dirname(__FILE__) . '/wp-content/temp/')
  • Create a temp folder in your wp-content directory if it doesn’t already exist.

Final Takeaway on Common WordPress Errors

Encountering errors on your WordPress site is frustrating, but understanding how to troubleshoot and fix the most common issues can save you time and stress. By following the solutions outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to resolve most of the most common WordPress errors and how to fix them quickly and effectively.

Remember, every problem has a solution, and WordPress is a robust platform that, when properly maintained, can run smoothly for years to come. So, the next time you face an error, don’t panic—just refer to this guide, and you’ll be back on track in no time!