Would you like to discover common WordPress bugs and find out how to fix them? This guide is made for you.
WordPress is a massive platform for building websites, with more than 20 billion web pages existing thanks to its services.
As one of the best self-hosted website building solutions, WordPress has many users growing their businesses and portfolios. But what if there is a bug or an error with WordPress?
Let's take a look at common WordPress bug fixes.
With these tips, new and experienced WordPress users will be able to resolve these issues in no time.
Table of contents ☰
What are common WordPress bugs?
With the number of people using WordPress, many WordPress bugs arise.
So let's take a look at common WordPress error messages and bugs.
1. Internal server error
Also known as 500 error codes, internal server errors are usually related to server issues.
What it is
An internal server error refers to a managed problem on the server side. The causes of these errors can be very diverse, requiring several steps to find and resolve.
How to fix it
Expect troubleshooting to fix an internal server error.
Typically, you should enable debug mode and disable plugins first to find the source of the problem. There may also be file related issues. .htaccess or memory usage, requiring technical know-how to fix the problem.
2. Technical difficulties
When a WordPress site displays a technical difficulties error message, there is not much information to work with.
What it is
This error message is displayed when there is a fatal error in WordPress that requires access to logs for the website to be repaired.
How to fix it
To access the website logs, you must be able to log in to WordPress using an admin email.
An easy way to check if the email you use to log in has administrator privileges is to check your email inbox and see if you can receive notification emails from WordPress.
3. Syntax error
Unlike the previous fatal errors listed above, a syntax error will have a clearer answer to its problems.
What it is
Syntax errors are reported problems in the code structure of the website. Usually a syntax error comes from custom code or new WordPress Plugin which does not work as it was designed.
How to fix it
The easiest way to fix a syntax error is to remove the custom code or plugin and recheck the code for errors. If the problem is new, you can also revert the website or plugin to a previous version using backup data.
4. Error 404
One of the most common errors that users see is error code 404.
What it is
A 404 error is a subset of the 400 error codes which all refer to errors HTTPS client side. Specifically, 404 errors refer to the web browser not finding a website at the given URL.
How to fix it
As client-side errors, 404 errors should be fixed on the user side rather than the hosting side. Check the URL for any typos or errors in the domain name. If users are reporting a 404 error on a page on your site, go to WordPress admin tools and make sure the webpage in question is published.
Sometimes pages can be hidden or disabled by accident, leading to these 404 error issues.
5. Out of memory error
Like a computer, websites use a certain amount of memory to function.
What it is
Out of memory errors refer to the website trying to use more PHP memory than it has allocated.
How to fix it
To fix this WordPress issue, you need to go to the wp-config.php file using an FTP (file transfer protocol) application to change the memory allocation.
Towards the bottom of the file, you need to change the line starting with " define ('WP-MEMORY-LIMIT) to the new memory value, typically 256 MB.
6. RSS feed error
RSS feeds refer to Really Simple Syndication feeds.
RSS feeds get used to stay updated on their favorite websites and widely used on the WordPress website.
What it is
An RSS feed error causes update information to be incorrectly sent to a user's RSS feed, resulting in a loss of notification from the website.
How to fix it
When setting up the RSS feed plugin on your website, ensure that the plugin's grammar is correct. RSS feeds use XML, a coding language known to be very finicky with its syntax.
Also, you can disable the RSS plugin on your website if you decide to remove this feature. This process is done from your website's WordPress dashboard.
6. Unavailable for scheduled maintenance
Although maintenance is not the most exciting process, it is an essential part of keeping your website running smoothly.
What it is
WordPress sometimes needs to perform maintenance on its servers to provide its web hosting service. This notification appears when your site is down due to maintenance on the WordPress side.
You will see a screen that says " Soon unavailable for scheduled maintenance"
How to fix it
There is no bugfix for this as it is not an error. Instead, this page appears when WordPress goes down for maintenance. The only solution to this problem is to wait for the scheduled maintenance to finish.
Usually, WordPress does not stop its web hosting services. Double check that you have enabled WordPress service notification emails to receive a warning when maintenance arrives.
7. WordPress White Screen of Death
The white screen of death is one of the worst errors you can receive. This screen blocks people from accessing your website.
What it is
This error occurs when there is a critical issue with your website rendering. Usually the problem is caused by a WordPress plugin or theme.
How to fix it
If you added a new theme or plugin to your website, removing that addition should bring your website back to something good. Rolling back to a previous version after an automatic update can also help.
8. Error showing sidebar below content
Ads and sidebar notifications belong on the content side, but an error can cause them to appear below the content instead.
What it is
This error is a web page formatting issue caused either by bad syntax in the sidebar or incorrect formatting of the WordPress theme enabled on the page.
How to fix it
This error is one of the common WordPress issues for people monetizing their website. To solve this problem, check the HTML code and CSS to make sure you have closed all tags and the appropriate pixel width for the ad is set.
9. WordPress constantly disconnects
This WordPress error prevents you from staying logged into your account for an extended period of time, interrupting the workflow.
What it is
WordPress uses cookies to authenticate users when they log in. If the cookie contains URL data that does not match the URL from which you want to log in, the website will log you out after a few moments.
This feature prevents someone from messing with the website.
How to fix it
Go to your General Settings through the WordPress Dashboard and make sure the WordPress Address and Site Address URL fields match.
This method ensures that the URL matches all cookies generated by the website, regardless of the field from which it extracts data.
10. Common WordPress Image Issues
Images are an important part of website design, which means that issues with this medium can be frustrating.
What it is
WordPress has tools built into its dashboard to simplify uploading and adding images. However, for new users, these tools can be confusing or unintuitive, causing images to render oddly.
How to fix it
The most common WordPress image issues boil down to not knowing how to edit images inside WordPress. WordPress offers many support pages for images, all dedicated to explaining the different issues that images can have on the platform.
Search these pages for your image problems and read how editing tools can solve the problem.
Why is WordPress so slow today?
One of the biggest contributing factors to a high bounce rate on your website is the slow loading times . To remedy those long wait times, take a look at some of these tips:
1. Slow or poor quality hosting
WordPress is a default website option for most web hosting services. But not all hosting options are created equal. Some web hosts don't offer the same level of maintenance or hardware updates as faster hosts to deliver high speeds.
Without these measures, your website will run on a slower server, which will increase page load times. The best way to solve this problem is to prevent it in the first place.
When researching web hosts, examine the average server response times using various ping tests. The higher the ping, the slower the servers are in resending data.
You can also consider migrating your website to another web host. But this requires access to the website's FTP files and some technical know-how to transfer those files to the workers setting up your site on the new servers.
Pro Tip: Best Managed WordPress Hosting
If your website is running slowly, you're probably running into resource limits or just the limits of what your shared host defines as reasonable.We suggest you check out managed WordPress hosting, which is specifically optimized to keep your site running fast.
2. No caching or caching plugins
The best way to speed up your website is to use a caching plugin. Caching refers to a technical process in which data remains hidden in a storage layer for later use. The process is best for data that needs to be accessed repeatedly to reduce load times.
A caching plugin collects data from static web pages and stores this data in advance for users. When a user accesses the website, the caching plugin releases this data faster than if the user tries to connect to the FTP files running in the database of the website.
Caching plugins can be very technical. So review how caching works and what you want to cache on your website before you go crazy with these tools!
3. No CDNs
A content delivery network (CDN) refers to a content distribution system that stores the version in caching your website and sends it to multiple servers. From there, when a user tries to access the website, they connect to the server closest to them and not where the web hosting server is located.
The main purpose of shortening the physical distance between the user and the server is speed. Faster loading speed means users can access content faster, reducing the risk of them bouncing off the website.
Unlike the other speed solutions listed here, CDNs are easy to set up. Adding a CDN plugin to your website usually involves a few minutes of setting up an account and adding the plugin through the dashboard.
WordPress bug fixes
With errors and slow pages covered, let's talk about WordPress bug fixes and tips.
1. Hire an expert
Not everyone who sets up a WordPress website is an HTTP master. For people who are building a website for their business and need help, a WordPress expert can help troubleshoot.
Do not hesitate to call on one of these experienced pros if necessary! They are cheaper than expected and the time savings alone are worth every penny.
2. Clear cache
If you are using a caching plugin, clearing the cache can help your website.
What it can solve
Clear cache in WordPress can speed up your website after major changes and prevent loading issues. It will also help you see the changes you apply to the website faster.
How to do
Without a caching plugin, you have to access FTP and SSL files and manually delete the cache from the website folder. This route requires some coding knowledge, so it's not recommended to attempt without some coding experience.
Otherwise, you can use a caching plugin to clear your cache. Most caching plugins have this option in their settings, which you can access through the WordPress dashboard.
3. Reset the site
Resetting your site means starting over, but that could be a good thing.
What it can solve
If your website needs a total overhaul or has been hacked, resetting the website can give you a clean slate to work with without any leftover caching or configuration files.
How to do
Just like clearing your cache, resetting your website is possible with and without a plugin. A plugin will do much of the database erasing needed to create the blank slate.
So unless you have experience with databases and deleting web files, use a plugin or contact an expert.
4. Check the .htaccess file
Examining your .htaccess file can tell you a lot about your website's permissions and policies.
What it can solve
The .htaccess file of your WordPress site contains the data necessary for authorizations and restrictions concerning:
- web hosting
- Connections
- Similar Connections
Problems with these parts of your site may mean that something needs to be changed in this file.
How to do
Any changes to the file should only be done after creating a backup of your website. Mistakes made in the .htaccess file can harm your website if you are not careful.
From there, a plugin or an FTP client can give you access to the file. Browse the file to find the line of code related to your problem.
5. Switch to Default Theme
Themes on WordPress can make your site attractive, but also cause problems.
What it can solve
If a theme isn't working on your website due to resource overload or security issues, switching to the default theme ensures that your website will work.
How to do
In the WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearence then Themes:.
Select the Default Theme and save changes. As a warning, updating your website to the default theme may take a minute or two.
6. Increase memory limit
The PHP memory limit represents the amount of memory that can run in the background of your website.
What it can solve
Increasing your site's memory limit allows more plugins and similar resources to run in the background.
How to do
Changing the memory limit requires an FTP file viewer to access the correct file. Once on the latter, you will find the memory limit setting towards the bottom of the text file.
Change the memory limit to a value slightly above your maximum usage to ensure you don't freeze the website.
7. Disable plugins
Although many WordPress plugins improve your website's performance and capabilities, some aren't worth the headache they cause.
What it can solve
Disabling plugins can reduce the number of ways hackers can try to gain access to your website, especially if the plugins are old.
How to do
Access your plugins settings in the WordPress dashboard. For each plugin you no longer want, click the Disable button.
Save the changes by choosing the Apply option just above the list of plugins.
Read also:
- Top 7 Essential Guest Post Plugins for WordPress Blogs
- 10 Best Essential Guest Blogging WordPress Plugins
- What is WordPress? The quick guide
- WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: Similarities, Differences, and Which to Choose
- How to Make Your WordPress Site Mobile-Friendly
- 10 Best Guest Blogging WordPress Plugins
- WordPress Security: The Ultimate Guide to Securing Your WordPress Site
Conclusion
For WordPress bug fixes, you need to know what error you are dealing with and have technical knowledge to dig into your website files. Plugins can make these tasks easier or contribute to the problem depending on the quality of the plugins.
Overall, troubleshooting is best left to people who understand WordPress code.
Understanding these error codes can help you tell a WordPress expert or support where the problem is, which will help you resolve the problem faster.
