WordPress Repair
What can go wrong with WordPress?
White Screen of Death (WSOD):
Cause: This usually happens due to PHP errors, plugin conflicts, or memory limit exhaustion.
Solution: Access your site via FTP and rename the plugins folder to deactivate all plugins. If the site loads, reactivate plugins one by one to identify the problematic one. Alternatively, increase PHP memory limit or check error logs for specific PHP errors.
Plugin Conflicts:
Cause: When two or more plugins have conflicts with each other, they can cause various issues such as errors or broken functionality.
Solution: Deactivate all plugins and reactivate them one by one to identify the conflicting plugin. Once found, consider finding alternatives or contacting the plugin developer for support.
Theme Issues:
Cause: A poorly coded or outdated theme can cause layout issues, performance problems, or conflicts with plugins.
Solution: Switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One to see if the issue persists. If not, consider updating or replacing the problematic theme.
Website Speed and Performance:
Cause: Large images, too many plugins, or inadequate hosting can lead to slow website performance.
Solution: Optimize images, minify CSS and JavaScript files, use caching plugins, and consider upgrading your hosting plan to a faster one.
Security Vulnerabilities:
Cause: Outdated WordPress core, themes, or plugins can be exploited by hackers.
Solution: Regularly update WordPress core, themes, and plugins. Additionally, use strong passwords, limit login attempts, and consider using security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri.
Database Connection Errors:
Cause: Misconfiguration of the database credentials or server issues can result in database connection errors.
Solution: Check wp-config.php file for correct database credentials. If credentials are correct, contact your hosting provider to ensure the database server is running properly.
Broken Links or Missing Images:
Cause: URLs might change, or files might be moved or deleted, resulting in broken links or missing images.
Solution: Use plugins like Broken Link Checker to identify and fix broken links. For missing images, re-upload them to the correct location or use redirection plugins if URLs have changed.
HTTP Error During Media Uploads:
Cause: This could be due to server configuration issues, insufficient file permissions, or conflicting plugins.
Solution: Increase PHP memory limit, check file permissions, disable conflicting plugins, or try uploading media using the browser uploader instead of the flash uploader.
Spam Comments:
Cause: WordPress websites can attract spam comments, which can be annoying and affect user experience.
Solution: Use anti-spam plugins like Akismet or enable comment moderation to manually approve comments before they appear on the site.
DNS Issues:
Cause: Misconfigured DNS settings or propagation delays can result in website downtime or domain-related issues.
Solution: Double-check DNS settings with your domain registrar or hosting provider, and allow time for DNS changes to propagate globally.
Regular maintenance, backups, and keeping everything up-to-date are crucial practices to minimize the occurrence of these issues and ensure the smooth operation of a WordPress website.