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Common WordPress errors and how to solve them
20 March 2024 · 8 min read
WordPress is reliable, but sometimes something goes wrong. In this article we cover the most common WordPress errors and how you can solve them yourself.
White Screen of Death (WSOD)
A completely white screen without an error message. **Cause:** Usually a PHP error from a plugin or theme. **Solution:** 1. Deactivate all plugins via FTP (rename the /plugins/ folder) 2. Switch to a standard theme 3. Enable WP_DEBUG in wp-config.php 4. Check the PHP error log
Error establishing database connection
WordPress cannot connect to the database. **Solution:** 1. Check wp-config.php (DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, DB_HOST) 2. Check whether the database server is running 3. Repair the database via phpMyAdmin 4. Contact your hosting provider
404 errors after update
Pages show a 404 error after a WordPress update. **Solution:** Go to Settings > Permalinks and click "Save changes". This flushes the permalink structure.
Upload max file size exceeded
Files cannot be uploaded because of a limit. **Solution:** Add to php.ini or .htaccess: php_value upload_max_filesize 64M php_value post_max_size 64M php_value max_execution_time 300
Memory exhausted error
WordPress does not have enough memory. **Solution:** Add to wp-config.php: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
Login page not reachable
You cannot log in to WordPress. **Solution:** 1. Reset password via phpMyAdmin 2. Deactivate security plugins via FTP 3. Check whether the login URL has been changed 4. Check whether your IP is blocked
WP Emergency help
Can't solve an error yourself? WP Maintainer offers 24/7 emergency help. We solve WordPress problems quickly and professionally.