Top 10 Most Common WordPress Errors and How to Resolve Them

WordPress is a powerful platform, but like any software, it’s not immune to errors. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, you’ve probably encountered at least one of these common WordPress issues.

Here’s a list of the top 10 most common WordPress errors and step-by-step solutions to fix them — with visual examples to make it easier for you!

1. Internal Server Error (500)

What It Looks Like:

Why It Happens:

• Corrupted .htaccess file
• Exhausted PHP memory limit
• Plugin or theme conflict

How to Fix:

1. Rename your .htaccess file via FTP or File Manager.
2. Increase PHP memory limit in wp-config.php: phpCopyEditdefine('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
3. Deactivate all plugins and reactivate one-by-one.

2. Error Establishing a Database Connection

What It Looks Like:

Why It Happens:

• Incorrect database credentials
• Corrupted database
• Unresponsive database server

How to Fix:

1. Check wp-config.php for correct DB name, username, password, and host.
2. Repair the database by adding: define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true); Then visit: yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php

3. White Screen of Death (WSOD)

What It Looks Like:

Just a blank white page with no error message.

Why It Happens:

• Plugin/theme conflict
• PHP memory exhaustion

How to Fix:

1. Increase PHP memory limit.
2. Disable plugins via FTP (wp-content/plugins).
3. Switch to default theme (twentytwentyone).

4. 404 Error on Posts

What It Looks Like:

Why It Happens:

• Broken permalink structure

How to Fix:

Go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes to flush rewrite rules.

5. WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

What It Looks Like:

“Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.”

Why It Happens:

• Update interrupted

How to Fix:

Delete the .maintenance file from your root directory via FTP.

6. Image Upload Issues

What It Looks Like:

• “HTTP error” during image upload

Why It Happens:

• Wrong file permissions
• PHP memory limit

How to Fix:

1. Change directory permissions of /wp-content/uploads/ to 755.
2. Increase memory limit and max upload size.

7. Connection Timed Out

What It Looks Like:

Why It Happens:

• Heavy plugins
• Low PHP memory

How to Fix:

1. Increase memory limit.
2. Deactivate resource-heavy plugins.
3. Optimize hosting/server.

8. Syntax Error in Code

What It Looks Like:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected...

Why It Happens:

• Mistyped code in functions.php or other files

How to Fix:

1. Use FTP to access the file and fix the syntax.
2. Avoid editing code directly in the WordPress editor without backups.

9. WordPress Login Redirect Loop

What It Looks Like:

Keeps redirecting to login page again and again.

Why It Happens:

• Corrupted .htaccess
• Site URL mismatch

How to Fix:

1. Delete or regenerate .htaccess.
2. Add the following to wp-config.php: define('WP_HOME','https://yourdomain.com'); define('WP_SITEURL','https://yourdomain.com');

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

Why It Happens:

• Nonce verification failed due to:
  • Plugin/theme issue
  • File upload size exceeded

How to Fix:

1. Increase PHP upload size in php.ini: upload_max_filesize = 64M post_max_size = 64M
2. Switch to a default theme and disable plugins.

✅ Final Tips

• Always back up your WordPress site before making any changes.
• Use debug mode: phpCopyEditdefine('WP_DEBUG', true);
• Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins up to date.

📌 Conclusion

Understanding these common WordPress errors and how to fix them can save you hours of frustration. Bookmark this article as your go-to WordPress troubleshooting guide!