Why Isn’t My WordPress Site Loading? 8 Simple Solutions to Common WordPress Errors

Are you frustrated with your WordPress website? It can be extremely frustrating to try and troubleshoot issues. Fear not – this blog post will provide eight simple solutions to improve your website, regardless of your familiarity with website development.

With a few clicks, we’ll guide you through common WordPress errors that businesses encounter so that you get your website back up and running in no time at all.

Common WordPress Errors and Their Solutions

Working with WordPress is simple but can quickly become complex, especially if you find errors that are hard to troubleshoot. To help pinpoint the issue and find the solution faster, it is vital to identify what type of error you are seeing before starting your search for an answer.

Common errors that can arise within WordPress include issues with plugins or themes, memory limits, and configuration problems. 

Fortunately, simple solutions are available to troubleshoot and fix most errors quickly. Knowing where to look, using debugging tools and refactoring code all come into play when dealing with common WordPress errors.

Here are 8 WordPress errors and the solutions you may encounter when using WordPress to build a website.

1. White Screen of Death

The dreaded White Screen of Death is a reason for concern and can be frustrating for WordPress users. Such an occurrence sticks out like a sore thumb when browsing, halting progress and hindering the user experience. If you face the white screen of death, there are a few suggested solutions to alleviate this problem. 

The first is to start by refreshing your browser window, as this may resolve an issue with your browser that is causing the WSOD.

Secondly, deactivate all your plugins to identify any potentially faulty code or conflict issues. Additionally, increasing your memory limit – as well as eliminating any potential causes of timeout or syntax errors – may help solve this issue as well.

If all else fails, contact technical support for assistance with debugging the problem.

2. Error Establishing a Database Connection

If you’re working in a WordPress environment and see an error message indicating that there is an error establishing a database connection, don’t worry – it’s a common issue with simple solutions.

There are several potential reasons why this might happen, such as incorrect login credentials entered into the configuration file or an issue with your server settings.

The best way to diagnose and resolve the issue is to check the error log, which will tell you the exact cause of the problem so you can identify the ideal solution. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your hosting provider either – they’ll be more than happy to assist you in resolving this error.

3. Memory Exhaustion Error

Have you encountered a memory exhaustion error lately? If so, this error is likely due to the system not allocating enough RAM to run a program efficiently.

However, don’t worry – this problem can be solved quickly and without any significant effort. A simple restart of your device or switching out programming tasks should help ease the burden on the system’s resources.

With this in mind, understand that memory exhaustion errors are common but easily avoided with the right steps.

4. Internal Server Error

Have you ever been confronted with an Internal Server Error (ISE) while trying to access a website? These errors are extremely frustrating and can have multiple reasons, ranging from the server not knowing what to do when it receives a request due to a misconfiguration or programming glitch all the way to a complete outage which can be caused by technical or maintenance issues.

If you find yourself in this situation, you can try these solutions.

First, try clearing your browser cache and restarting your browser. Second, check for browser updates and lastly, restart your computer.

If you continue to have issues, we suggest contacting your webmaster as you may need the specialised assistance of an IT specialist.

5. HTTP 404 Error

An HTTP 404 error usually occurs when the website you are trying to reach can’t be found. This is generally due to a misconfigured link or a faulty redirect.

For users, this could mean getting stuck on a page that doesn’t exist, preventing them from visiting their intended destination.

Fortunately, there are solutions for fixing an HTTP 404 error. The reason for the issue can first be identified by checking your URLs and ensuring they’re correctly constructed and properly linked to each other. 

Afterwards, it’s just a matter of creating an appropriate redirect, if needed, which should help all visitors find their way without any problems.

6. A Block Contains Unexpected or Invalid Content

Encountering an error due to invalid or unexpected content in a block can be a frustrating experience. Finding the root cause of why it happened and what the solution requires some detective work.

Thankfully, all you need to do is inspect the block, reason through what has happened, and double-check any settings associated with the block. This should provide you with insight into why the error occurred and how to rectify it.

You can then apply any changes needed and resolve the issue quickly without disrupting your workflow.

7. The WordPress Login Page Redirects to a Loop

Have you ever visited the WordPress login page and just watched it continually loop back to itself?

Don’t worry, this is a very common reason, and there is a quick solution. This issue can occur if you have an outdated version of WordPress or a browser that isn’t compatible with its coding systems.

To fix it, try updating your browser or upgrading your WordPress installation. With these quick steps, you should be logged in with no difficulties.

8. You Can’t Upload an Image

It’s frustrating when you cannot upload an image to a website. Unfortunately, it can happen. The reason can range from incorrect file size or format to the issue being caused by your computer rather than the website. Whatever the reason may be, there are several solutions that you can try.

First, ensure the file meets all requirements for size and format that the website has laid out.

Second, try clearing your web browser cache and cookies. If that doesn’t help, try opening the same site in a different web browser as well.

And lastly, if all else fails to troubleshoot on your end, ask for assistance from technical support staff at the site you’re trying to upload your image to.

Best Practices to Prevent WordPress Error

Running a website may seem daunting if you’re unfamiliar with web design, but with tips and best practices outlined below, managing WordPress will become an effortless task.

1. Always keep WordPress and all plugins up to date – Regularly updating WordPress and its associated plugins helps protect your website from potential security vulnerabilities, bugs, or compatibility issues that could lead to errors.

2. Avoid overloading themes and plugins – Too many themes and plugins can slow down your site, making it more prone to errors. Try to install only the necessary ones and delete any unused ones.

3. Backup regularly – Setting up regular backups of your site is essential for recovering from any errors you might encounter in the future. This can prevent many headaches if something goes wrong with your website.

4. Use caching – Caching can significantly reduce page load times as well as the number of requests sent to your server. This helps improve your website’s performance, reducing the risk of errors due to server overload or slow page loading times.

5. Monitor user activity – Keeping an eye on who’s accessing your WordPress site and for what purpose can help you identify any potential malicious activities that could lead to errors down the line.

6. Keep a log of changes – It’s essential to keep track of any changes you make to your site, such as updating plugins or installing new ones. This will allow you to pinpoint any issues quickly should they arise in the future.

7. Use quality hosting services – Having a reliable and secure hosting provider is essential for any WordPress website. Poor hosting can lead to errors that may be difficult to pinpoint and fix. 

8. Use security plugins – A WordPress security plugin can help protect your website from potential threats, such as malicious code injection or brute force attacks. This is essential for keeping your site safe from errors caused by hacker activity. 

9. Monitor the error log – Checking your server’s error log regularly for any signs of problems with your website is an important part of maintaining it and preventing errors in the future.

10. Check browser compatibility – Ensuring that your site looks and functions correctly across different browsers will help prevent users from experiencing errors due to compatibility issues. Test it on all major browsers to ensure that it works correctly.

Following these best practices can help you prevent potential errors and keep your WordPress site running smoothly. It’s also important to remember that if any errors do occur, they should be addressed as soon as possible to minimise their effects on your website. With the proper precautions and regular maintenance, you can ensure a secure, error-free WordPress experience for yourself and your users.

Final Thoughts

If you’re experiencing any of these common WordPress errors on your website or your site isn’t working correctly, working through these solutions methodically should help you troubleshoot and find a resolution.

Whether you’re a small business in Cornwall or beyond, one of these steps will likely do the trick. However, due to the complex nature of today’s digital environment, it’s possible that multiple steps may need to be taken to resolve the issue.

Ultimately, with some patience, thorough testing of each hypothesis, and a clear train of thought throughout the process, it’s highly probable that you’ll eventually arrive at a solution that works best for your website. Contact us at Sanders Design; we specialise in web design in Cornwall and help businesses across the UK create successful online platforms. With any luck, this blog post has provided valuable insight into how to troubleshoot and resolve any WordPress issues you’re experiencing. We’re always here to offer additional assistance if needed.