15 Easy Fixes for Common WordPress Issues: Expert Troubleshooting Guide

As a WordPress developer and SEO specialist at Jackober, I’ve encountered just about every WordPress issue imaginable. From the dreaded white screen of death to frustrating plugin conflicts, WordPress websites can sometimes present challenges that leave site owners scratching their heads.

The good news? Most common WordPress problems have relatively simple solutions once you know what to look for.

Easy Fixes for Common WordPress Issues

In experts guide, I’ll share practical, easy-to-follow fixes for the most common WordPress issues I’ve encountered during my years of professional WordPress development.

Whether you’re a beginner who just finished learning How Easy Is It to Build a Website with WordPress? or a seasoned site owner, this troubleshooting guide will help you resolve issues quickly and get your site back on track.

1. The White Screen of Death (WSOD)

Perhaps the most alarming WordPress issue is the infamous “White Screen of Death” – when your site displays a completely blank page with no error messages.

What Causes It:

• PHP memory limit exceeded
• Plugin conflicts
• Theme coding errors
• Core WordPress file corruption
• Server configuration issues

Easy Fixes:

Increase PHP Memory Limit

If your site is hitting memory limits, you can increase the allocation by:

1. Adding this line to your wp-config.php file:

   define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

2. If you have access to your php.ini file, locate and modify:

   memory_limit = 256M

3. If using shared hosting without direct php.ini access, try adding this to your .htaccess file:

   php_value memory_limit 256M

Disable All Plugins

Plugin conflicts are a common WSOD cause. To disable all plugins when you can’t access the admin area:

1. Connect to your site via FTP or file manager
2. Navigate to wp-content/
3. Rename the “plugins” folder to “plugins_disabled”
4. Try accessing your site again

If your site works, the issue is plugin-related. Rename the folder back to “plugins” and then disable plugins one by one to identify the culprit.

Switch to a Default Theme

If theme issues are causing the WSOD:

1. Via FTP, navigate to wp-content/themes/
2. Rename your current theme’s folder
3. WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme

Enable WordPress Debug Mode

To get more information about what’s causing the issue:

1. Edit your wp-config.php file
2. Add these lines:

   define('WP_DEBUG', true);
   define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
   define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

3. Check the debug.log file in your wp-content folder for error messages

2. WordPress Not Sending Emails

Many WordPress functions rely on email notifications, but email delivery issues are surprisingly common.

What Causes It:

• Server email configuration restrictions
• Email going to spam folders
• PHP mail function disabled on the server
• Incorrect WordPress email settings

Easy Fixes:

Use an SMTP Plugin

The most reliable fix is to use a proper SMTP service instead of relying on the PHP mail function:

1. Install a plugin like WP Mail SMTP or Post SMTP
2. Configure it with a reputable SMTP service (Gmail, SendGrid, Mailgun, etc.)
3. Send a test email to verify functionality

Here’s a basic configuration for WP Mail SMTP:

SMTP Host: smtp.gmail.com
Encryption: TLS
Port: 587
Authentication: ON
Username: your-gmail-address@gmail.com
Password: [your app password]

If using Gmail, you’ll need to create an “App Password” in your Google account security settings.

Check WordPress Email Settings

Verify your WordPress email settings:

1. Go to Settings → General
2. Ensure your email address is correct in “Administration Email Address”
3. Make sure the domain in your email matches your site domain when possible

Test Email Delivery

Use a plugin like Check Email to test if WordPress can send emails at all, which helps identify if it’s a server restriction issue.

3. Internal Server Error (500 Error)

The dreaded 500 Internal Server Error is a generic server response indicating something went wrong, but it doesn’t tell you exactly what.

What Causes It:

• Corrupted .htaccess file
• PHP memory limit issues
• Plugin or theme conflicts
• Exceeding server resources
• Incorrect file permissions

Easy Fixes:

Regenerate .htaccess File

A corrupted .htaccess file is a common cause:

1. Connect via FTP
2. Locate the .htaccess file in your root directory
3. Download a backup copy to your computer
4. Delete or rename the existing .htaccess file
5. Go to Settings → Permalinks in your WordPress admin
6. Click “Save Changes” to generate a new .htaccess file

Check and Fix File Permissions

Incorrect file permissions can trigger 500 errors:

• Directories should be set to 755 or 750
• Files should be set to 644 or 640
• wp-config.php should be set to 600 for maximum security

You can set these via FTP client or with SSH commands.

Increase PHP Limits

Beyond memory limits, you might need to increase other PHP settings:

// Add to wp-config.php
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
define('WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M');

// Or in php.ini or .htaccess
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
php_value post_max_size 64M
php_value max_input_vars 3000

Check Error Logs

Server error logs can provide specific information:

1. Check your hosting control panel for error logs
2. Enable WordPress debugging as described earlier
3. Look for specific error messages that point to the cause

4. WordPress Login Issues

Login problems can be particularly frustrating since they block access to your admin area.

What Causes It:

• Forgotten passwords
• Corrupted cookies
• Database issues
• Security plugins blocking access
• Incorrect WordPress URL configuration

Easy Fixes:

Reset Password via Database

If you can’t reset your password through the normal reset link:

1. Access your WordPress database through phpMyAdmin (via hosting control panel)
2. Find the wp_users table (prefix might vary)
3. Locate your user account
4. Edit the user_pass field
5. Enter a new MD5 hashed password (you can use an online MD5 generator)
6. Click “Go” to save changes

Alternatively, run this SQL query (replace values as needed):

UPDATE wp_users 
SET user_pass = MD5('your-new-password') 
WHERE user_login = 'your-username';

Clear Browser Cookies

Cookie issues can prevent login:

1. Clear your browser cookies specifically for your WordPress site
2. Try using a different browser
3. Try incognito/private browsing mode

Fix WordPress URL Settings

Incorrect site URLs can cause login loops:

1. Access your wp-config.php file
2. Add these lines (with your actual URLs):

   define('WP_HOME', 'https://yourdomain.com');
   define('WP_SITEURL', 'https://yourdomain.com');

Disable Security Plugins via FTP

If a security plugin is blocking access:

1. Connect via FTP
2. Navigate to wp-content/plugins/
3. Rename the security plugin’s folder (e.g., wordfence to wordfence_disabled)
4. Try logging in again

5. Broken WordPress Permalinks

Suddenly broken permalinks resulting in “Page Not Found” errors can happen after server changes or WordPress updates.

What Causes It:

• Corrupted or missing .htaccess file
• Incorrect permalink settings
• Server configuration changes
• Apache mod_rewrite not enabled

Easy Fixes:

Refresh Permalink Structure

The simplest fix is often:

1. Go to Settings → Permalinks
2. Without changing anything, click “Save Changes”
3. This regenerates the .htaccess rules

Create or Fix .htaccess Manually

If the above doesn’t work, create a proper .htaccess file:

1. Create a text file on your computer
2. Add these lines for standard WordPress permalinks:

   # BEGIN WordPress
   <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
   RewriteEngine On
   RewriteBase /
   RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
   RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
   RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
   </IfModule>
   # END WordPress

3. If WordPress is installed in a subdirectory, change RewriteBase / to RewriteBase /your-subdirectory/
4. Upload this file as .htaccess to your WordPress root directory

Check for mod_rewrite

Ensure your server has mod_rewrite enabled:

1. Create a phpinfo.php file with this content:

   <?php phpinfo(); ?>

2. Upload it to your server and access it in a browser
3. Search for “mod_rewrite” to confirm it’s loaded
4. If not, contact your hosting provider to enable it

Switch to Plain Permalinks Temporarily

As a diagnostic step:

1. Change permalinks to “Plain” (Settings → Permalinks)
2. Test if your site works
3. If it does, the issue is with permalink processing
4. Gradually test other permalink structures

6. WordPress Media Upload Issues

Problems uploading images or other media can significantly hamper content creation.

What Causes It:

• Insufficient PHP upload limits
• File permission issues
• Image dimensions too large
• Server timeout during upload
• Disk space limitations

Easy Fixes:

Increase PHP Upload Limits

Modify these settings in php.ini, .htaccess, or wp-config.php:

upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300
memory_limit = 256M

For wp-config.php, you would add:

@ini_set('upload_max_filesize', '64M');
@ini_set('post_max_size', '64M');
@ini_set('max_execution_time', '300');

Fix File Permissions

Ensure proper permissions for the uploads directory:

wp-content/uploads: 755

You can set this via FTP or with SSH:

chmod 755 wp-content/uploads

Use Alternative Upload Methods

If direct uploads fail:

1. Try the browser’s drag-and-drop feature instead of the media uploader
2. Upload via FTP directly to wp-content/uploads/(year)/(month)/
3. Use the Add from Server plugin to import media already on your server

Check Disk Space

If you’re on shared hosting, you might be hitting space limits:

1. Check your hosting control panel for disk usage stats
2. Use a plugin like WP-Optimize to clean up your database and free space
3. Remove unnecessary plugins, themes, and media files

7. WordPress Site Running Slowly

Site speed is crucial for user experience and SEO, but WordPress sites can slow down for various reasons.

What Causes It:

• Inefficient hosting
• Too many or poorly coded plugins
• Unoptimized images
• Lack of caching
• Database bloat
• External script loading

Easy Fixes:

Implement Caching

Caching dramatically improves WordPress performance:

1. Install a caching plugin like WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or WP Super Cache
2. Configure basic caching settings
3. Enable browser caching
4. Implement page caching

For W3 Total Cache, these basic settings work well for most sites:

• Page Cache: Enable
• Minify: Enable for HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Database Cache: Enable
• Object Cache: Enable
• Browser Cache: Enable

Optimize Images

Large images are often the biggest performance culprit:

1. Install an image optimization plugin like Smush or ShortPixel
2. Bulk optimize existing images
3. Enable automatic optimization for new uploads
4. Consider lazy loading images

Clean Your Database

Database bloat slows down queries:

1. Use WP-Optimize or similar plugin
2. Remove post revisions, spam comments, and transients
3. Optimize database tables
4. Schedule regular cleanups

Reduce Plugin Usage

Audit your plugins:

1. Deactivate and delete unused plugins
2. Replace multiple single-purpose plugins with fewer multi-purpose ones
3. Identify slow plugins using Query Monitor or similar performance analysis tool

For more comprehensive speed improvements, check our detailed guide on WordPress Page Speed Optimization.

8. WordPress Theme Display Issues

Visual problems can range from minor styling glitches to completely broken layouts.

What Causes It:

• Browser caching of old styles
• Plugin conflicts affecting theme
• Responsive design breakpoints
• Custom CSS conflicts
• Theme updates

Easy Fixes:

Force Refresh Browser Cache

When visual changes don’t appear:

1. Press Ctrl+F5 (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) to force reload
2. Clear browser cache completely
3. Try in incognito/private browsing mode

Use Browser Inspector

For specific styling issues:

1. Right-click the problematic element
2. Choose “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”
3. Check the applied CSS
4. Test fixes in the inspector before applying to your site

Fix Responsive Design Issues

For mobile display problems:

1. Use browser developer tools to toggle device mode
2. Test at various screen sizes
3. Add custom CSS media queries to your theme’s Additional CSS or child theme:

@media only screen and (max-width: 768px) {
  /* Mobile-specific fixes */
  .problem-element {
    width: 100% !important;
    margin: 0 !important;
  }
}

Create or Update Child Theme

For theme customizations:

1. Create a child theme to prevent losing changes during updates
2. Move custom code from the parent theme to the child theme
3. Ensure your child theme’s style.css has the proper parent theme reference:

/*
Theme Name: Your Child Theme
Template: parent-theme-folder-name
*/

Our collection of Free WordPress Themes includes child-theme-ready options that minimize display issues.

9. WordPress Plugin Conflicts

Plugin conflicts can cause functionality issues, visual glitches, or even site crashes.

What Causes It:

• Two plugins trying to modify the same functionality
• Plugins using outdated code practices
• Resource competition between plugins
• Incompatible plugin versions

Easy Fixes:

Identify Conflicting Plugins

The deactivation method:

1. Deactivate all plugins
2. Reactivate them one by one, testing after each
3. When the problem reappears, you’ve found the conflicting plugin

Update All Plugins

Outdated plugins often cause conflicts:

1. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
2. Select all outdated plugins
3. Choose “Update” from the bulk actions dropdown
4. Test your site after updates

Replace Problematic Plugins

If you identify a problematic plugin:

1. Research alternatives with similar functionality
2. Look for plugins with recent updates and good ratings
3. Test the replacement thoroughly before fully implementing

Adjust Plugin Load Order

For advanced users, you can control plugin loading order:

1. Install a plugin like Plugin Organizer
2. Arrange plugins so that foundational plugins load first
3. Test different arrangements to resolve conflicts

10. WordPress Update Failures

WordPress core, theme, or plugin updates can sometimes fail or cause issues after updating.

What Causes It:

• Insufficient server resources during update
• File permission issues
• Incompatible plugin/theme versions
• Manual interruption of the update process
• Server timeout during large updates

Easy Fixes:

Manual Update When Automatic Update Fails

For WordPress core:

1. Download the latest WordPress from wordpress.org
2. Extract the files on your computer
3. Delete the wp-content folder and wp-config.php from the extracted files
4. Upload the remaining files to your server via FTP, overwriting existing files

Restore from Backup

If an update causes major issues:

1. Restore your site from a pre-update backup
2. If using a managed host like Flywheel WordPress Hosting, use their one-click restore feature
3. For manual restoration, restore both files and database

Fix Incomplete Updates

If WordPress is stuck in maintenance mode:

1. Connect via FTP
2. Check for a .maintenance file in your root directory
3. Delete this file to exit maintenance mode

Update via WP-CLI

For developers, WP-CLI offers more reliable updates:

# Update WordPress core
wp core update

# Update all plugins
wp plugin update --all

# Update all themes
wp theme update --all

11. WordPress Security Issues

Security problems can range from suspicious activity to full-blown hacks.

What Causes It:

• Outdated WordPress core, plugins, or themes
• Weak passwords
• Lack of security measures
• Vulnerable hosting environment
• Phishing or social engineering

Easy Fixes:

Clean Infected Files

If your site has been compromised:

1. Install a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri
2. Run a complete site scan
3. Let the plugin clean infected files
4. Change all passwords immediately
5. Update everything to latest versions

Implement Basic Security Measures

Preventative steps every site should take:

1. Keep everything updated
2. Use strong passwords and 2FA
3. Limit login attempts with a plugin like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
4. Implement proper SSL security
5. Change the default wp-admin URL with a plugin like WPS Hide Login

Secure wp-config.php

Add these security keys and measures to wp-config.php:

// Generate fresh keys at https://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/salt/
define('AUTH_KEY',         'put your unique phrase here');
define('SECURE_AUTH_KEY',  'put your unique phrase here');
define('LOGGED_IN_KEY',    'put your unique phrase here');
define('NONCE_KEY',        'put your unique phrase here');
define('AUTH_SALT',        'put your unique phrase here');
define('SECURE_AUTH_SALT', 'put your unique phrase here');
define('LOGGED_IN_SALT',   'put your unique phrase here');
define('NONCE_SALT',       'put your unique phrase here');

// Disable file editing in admin
define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);

Regular Backups

Implement a robust backup strategy:

1. Use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy
2. Schedule regular automated backups
3. Store backups in multiple locations (not just on your server)
4. Test backup restoration periodically

12. WordPress Database Connection Errors

Database connection errors typically show messages like “Error establishing a database connection.”

What Causes It:

• Incorrect database credentials
• Database server down
• Corrupted database
• Excessive database connections
• Server resource limitations

Easy Fixes:

Verify Database Credentials

Check wp-config.php for correct information:

// These should match your hosting database credentials
define('DB_NAME', 'database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'database_username');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'database_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost'); // Sometimes needs to be specific IP or path

Repair Database

WordPress has a built-in database repair feature:

1. Add this line to wp-config.php:

   define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);

2. Visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php
3. Choose “Repair Database” or “Repair and Optimize Database”
4. Remove the line from wp-config.php when finished

Contact Hosting Provider

If database issues persist:

1. Check your hosting control panel to ensure the MySQL service is running
2. Look for database usage limits you might be exceeding
3. Contact support to check for server-side database issues

Increase Database Connection Timeout

Add this to wp-config.php:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('MYSQL_CLIENT_FLAGS', MYSQLI_CLIENT_COMPRESS);
$mysqli_timeout = 300;
if (!isset($wpdb)) {
    $wpdb = new mysqli(DB_HOST, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, DB_NAME);
    $wpdb->options(MYSQLI_OPT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT, $mysqli_timeout);
}

13. WordPress E-commerce Issues

For sites using WooCommerce or other E-commerce WordPress solutions, specific problems can affect your online store.

What Causes It:

• Payment gateway configuration issues
• Product catalog display problems
• Checkout process errors
• Tax or shipping calculation errors
• Inventory management glitches

Easy Fixes:

Fix Payment Gateway Issues

For payment processing problems:

1. Verify your Payment Gateways for WordPress are configured correctly
2. Ensure you have proper SSL certificate installed
3. Check for currency compatibility issues
4. Test in sandbox/test mode before going live
5. Verify API credentials are correct

Resolve Checkout Errors

For checkout process issues:

1. Test the entire checkout process in incognito mode
2. Check for required fields that might be hidden by CSS
3. Verify shipping zone configurations
4. Ensure tax calculations are set up correctly
5. Check for plugin conflicts affecting the checkout page

Fix Product Display Problems

For catalog display issues:

1. Regenerate product thumbnails with a plugin like Regenerate Thumbnails
2. Check for theme compatibility with WooCommerce
3. Verify product category settings
4. Ensure product attributes are configured correctly
5. Test different product types (simple, variable, etc.)

Update WooCommerce Systematically

When updating WooCommerce:

1. Always backup before updating
2. Update extensions and theme first
3. Test on a staging site when possible
4. Check critical functions after updating
5. Update during low-traffic periods

14. WordPress SEO Issues

SEO problems can affect your site’s visibility in search engines.

What Causes It:

• Improper indexing settings
• Missing or duplicate meta information
• Poor site structure
• Slow page loading
• Mobile usability issues

Easy Fixes:

Fix Indexing Issues

If your site isn’t being indexed properly:

1. Check your WordPress Reading settings (Settings → Reading)
2. Ensure “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” is NOT checked
3. Verify robots.txt isn’t blocking important content
4. Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console

Implement Basic SEO Best Practices

Quick SEO improvements:

1. Install an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math
2. Set up proper title and meta description templates
3. Enable breadcrumbs for better site structure
4. Create an XML sitemap
5. Optimize your permalinks structure

Fix Duplicate Content

For duplicate content issues:

1. Set proper canonical URLs
2. Implement 301 redirects for duplicate pages
3. Use noindex tags for true duplicate content that must remain
4. Configure proper pagination for archives

Mobile Optimization

For mobile SEO issues:

1. Use a responsive WordPress theme
2. Test mobile usability in Google Search Console
3. Ensure tap targets are properly sized
4. Fix any mobile content width issues
5. Optimize for mobile page speed

15. WordPress Page Builder Issues

If you’re using Best WordPress Page Builders, you might encounter specific problems.

What Causes It:

• Builder plugin updates
• Theme compatibility issues
• Excessive shortcodes
• Resource limitations
• Content import/export problems

Easy Fixes:

Fix Broken Layouts

When page builder layouts break:

1. Clear your cache completely
2. Update the page builder plugin
3. Check for CSS conflicts in your theme
4. Rebuild problematic sections
5. Use the page builder’s built-in repair tools if available

Recover Lost Content

If content disappears after updates:

1. Check for backup revisions in the WordPress editor
2. Look for autosave versions
3. Restore from a site backup
4. Check the database for content in post_content field
5. Contact the page builder’s support with your site details

Optimize Page Builder Performance

For slow page builder pages:

1. Minimize the use of complex elements
2. Reduce the number of custom fonts
3. Optimize images before adding them
4. Use native WordPress galleries instead of builder galleries when possible
5. Implement aggressive caching

Fix Editor Loading Issues

When the builder editor won’t load:

1. Increase PHP memory limits
2. Deactivate other plugins temporarily to check for conflicts
3. Switch to a default WordPress theme temporarily
4. Try a different browser
5. Clear browser data completely

When to Seek Professional Help

While many WordPress issues have DIY solutions, some situations warrant professional assistance from a WordPress Expert for Hire:

• Persistent security issues: If you suspect a deep hack or ongoing breach
• Complex database problems: When data integrity is at risk
• Custom code failures: Issues with bespoke functionality
• Migration disasters: Failed site transfers or domain changes
• Performance issues you can’t resolve: When you’ve tried basic optimization without success
• E-commerce payment processing problems: Issues affecting your business revenue

For ongoing support needs, consider implementing a WordPress Support Ticket system to manage professional assistance efficiently.

Preventative Maintenance: Avoiding Future Issues

The best way to fix WordPress problems is to prevent them in the first place:

Regular Maintenance Checklist

Implement these practices monthly:

1. Update everything: WordPress core, plugins, and themes
2. Backup your site: Both files and database
3. Clean your database: Remove unused data and optimize tables
4. Security scan: Check for vulnerabilities or suspicious code
5. Performance test: Monitor page speed and server response times
6. Check broken links: Identify and fix broken internal and external links
7. Review error logs: Look for recurring PHP errors or warnings

Recommended Maintenance Tools

These tools can automate much of your maintenance:

• UpdraftPlus: For automated backups
• WP-Optimize: For database maintenance
• Broken Link Checker: For link monitoring
• Wordfence: For security scanning
• Monster Insights: For analytics monitoring
• Query Monitor: For performance debugging

Consider Managed WordPress Hosting

For mission-critical sites, managed WordPress hosting like Flywheel WordPress Hosting handles many maintenance tasks automatically and provides expert support when issues arise.

Conclusion: Staying Ahead of WordPress Issues

WordPress is a powerful platform that occasionally presents challenges, but most common issues have straightforward solutions once you know where to look. By understanding the typical causes of WordPress problems and implementing the fixes outlined in this guide, you can resolve issues quickly and keep your site running smoothly.

Remember that prevention is always better than cure. Regular maintenance, quality hosting, careful plugin selection, and periodic professional reviews can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of WordPress issues.

For site owners who prefer to focus on their content and business rather than technical troubleshooting, working with experienced WordPress professionals can be a worthwhile investment. At Jackober, we specialize in keeping WordPress sites healthy, secure, and performing at their best.

Whether you tackle WordPress issues yourself or seek professional help, having a systematic approach to troubleshooting will save you time, reduce stress, and ensure your WordPress site continues to serve your audience effectively.