Common WordPress Errors & How to Fix Them

Most WordPress errors come down to a few root causes: plugin conflicts, misconfigured core files, limited server resources, or incorrect settings in files like wp-config.php. Identifying the cause early helps you fix issues faster instead of cycling through unnecessary solutions.

Because many errors share similar causes, the problem is not always obvious at first. Running a few quick checks can help narrow it down before moving into specific fixes.

Basic troubleshooting steps for common WordPress errors

Before fixing specific issues, run through these steps. Make sure you understand any file or setting changes to avoid additional issues.

• Clear your browser cache and any caching plugins.
• Deactivate plugins to check for conflicts. Use the dashboard if accessible; if not, rename the /wp-content/plugins folder via FTP. Then, reactivate plugins one at a time.
• Switch to a default WordPress theme to rule out theme issues.
• Enable WP_DEBUG in your wp-config.php file to surface errors.
• Check error logs through your hosting provider.

Plugin conflicts are one of the most common causes of WordPress errors and often underlie many of the issues covered below. When plugins conflict or are not compatible with your WordPress version, they can break functionality or cause unexpected behavior.

What are the most common WordPress errors?

Identifying conflicts early helps narrow down the issue before moving into specific fixes.

• HTTP errors
• PHP errors
• MySQL errors
• JavaScript errors
• Login errors
• Server configuration errors
• Content management errors
• Indexing errors
• Security vulnerabilities

HTTP errors

HTTP errors occur when a website is unable to display the page that the user requests. Here are the two most common types of HTTP errors and what causes them:

400 errors

400 series status codes indicate client-side issues, meaning the request sent to the server cannot be processed. In WordPress, this is often tied to broken permalinks, incorrect redirects, or security rules blocking access.

Common examples include 400 Bad Request, 403 Forbidden, 404 Not Found, 405 Method Not Allowed, 413 Request Entity Too Large, and 429 Too Many Requests.

In some cases, clearing your browser cache will resolve the issue. If the error persists, check for misconfigured URLs, review recent changes to plugins or redirects, and confirm that file permissions and access rules are set correctly.

500 errors

HTTP 500 series errors indicate server-side issues, meaning something on the server is preventing the request from being completed. In WordPress, this is often caused by plugin conflicts, corrupted core files, misconfigured .htaccess rules, or server resource limits.

Common examples include 500 Internal Server Error, 502 Bad Gateway, 503 Service Unavailable, and 504 Gateway Timeout.

Start by refreshing the page and clearing your browser and WordPress cache. If the issue continues, check your .htaccess file for errors, deactivate plugins to identify any conflicts, and review server limits such as PHP memory or execution time. If needed, check error logs through your hosting provider to pinpoint the issue.

PHP errors

PHP is a web development scripting language that serves as the backbone of WordPress websites. However, a PHP error can occur when there is something wrong with the PHP code.

To activate or deactivate the display of PHP errors, you can access your wp-config.php file and set it to “true” to enable debugging mode or “false” to disable it.

Common types of PHP errors include:

Parse/syntax errors

If the PHP code contains syntax errors (for example, a missing quotation mark at the end of a line or an extra character), then the PHP parser won’t be able to interpret the code and will stop working.

To fix these issues, review the error message and locate the file and line number mentioned. You can then correct the malformed syntax using a text editor or FTP client.

Fatal errors

Fatal errors halt PHP script execution and can render a website inaccessible. These errors occur when WordPress is unable to complete a specific task or function, and they are commonly caused by conflicts with a theme, plugin, or core WordPress file.

In most cases, disabling the problematic themes or plugins will fix fatal errors. You can also try reverting any recent changes that may have caused it.

PHP memory limit exceeded error

Exceeding the PHP memory limit can cause several issues. This includes fatal errors as well as sluggish website performance.

Increasing your PHP memory limit will resolve this error. To do this, edit the wp-config.php file and add the following line: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

You can then adjust the memory limit based on your website’s requirements.

Missing a temporary folder error

Encountering a “Missing a temporary folder” error can disrupt file uploads and installations. To fix this error, you can define a temporary folder path in the wp-config.php file by adding this line of code: define(‘WP_TEMP_DIR’, dirname(__file__). ‘/wp-content/temp/’);

Once you’ve done this, confirm that the specified folder exists and has the appropriate permissions settings.

White screen of death (WSOD)

The WordPress white screen of death is a dreaded WordPress critical error that is often caused by PHP errors or syntax issues. This error leads to your entire website being replaced by a white screen, sometimes with an HTTP 500 error displayed as well.

If you encounter this issue, start by clearing your browser and WordPress caches. If that doesn’t work, try enabling debugging mode, disabling your plugins, resetting folder and file permissions, and/or changing your theme to the default WordPress theme.

MySQL errors

MySQL errors are errors related to database connection issues in WordPress. Here are the most common types of these error codes and how to fix them:

Error establishing database connection

This error often points to issues with the WordPress database or incorrect login credentials stored in wp-config.php.

To fix an “Error establishing database connection” error, start by checking your database credentials in the wp-config.php file to make sure the database name, username, password, and host are correct. You should also confirm that the database server is running and accessible.

If the issue continues, check your WordPress database using phpMyAdmin to ensure it is not corrupted. You can also try repairing the database through WordPress or your hosting provider.

Error #1005

This error typically signifies an issue creating or altering database tables. There are several things that can cause you to encounter this error, including:

• Attempting to use foreign key constraints that are incompatible with the columns they reference in other tables.
• Trying to create multiple indexes with the same name within a single table.
• Specifying data types that are incompatible with the column types or constraints.

Error #1213

Error #1213 indicates a deadlock situation where two or more transactions are waiting for each other to release locks. This can be caused by transactions that are attempting to access the same resources in conflicting orders, incorrect use of locking mechanisms, and heavy contention for resources such as tables, rows, or indexes.

To fix these issues, check your MySQL error logs to identify instances of Error #1213 and understand the transactions involved. You may then need to modify transaction logic or adjust your transaction isolation levels before attempting to retry the failed transactions.

Error #1064

This error indicates syntax errors in SQL queries, and it is commonly caused by issues such as missing or incorrect syntax, using reserved keywords or identifiers without proper escaping, or the improper use of special characters.

To fix these errors, you’ll first want to identify the location and nature of the syntax error by reviewing the error message. You can then review the query syntax and fix any mistakes that you find.

Error #2003

This error suggests issues establishing a connection to the MySQL server. If the server isn’t available due to network issues, this is the error code that will commonly be displayed. Other causes of Error #2003 include authentication failures and firewalls or security settings that are blocking connections to the MySQL server.

To fix this issue, you should first verify that the server is accessible by checking the MySQL server status, network connectivity, and firewall settings. Next, verify that connection parameters such as hostname, port, username, and password are correct. If these steps don’t work, contact your hosting provider for further support.

JavaScript errors

Many WordPress themes and plugins are built using JavaScript code, and issues within this code can cause your WordPress site to encounter errors. Here is a detailed breakdown of the JavaScript errors common to WordPress themes and plugins and how you can fix them:

Themes and plugins

If you encounter a JavaScript error with the theme or plugin that you are using, start by reviewing the JavaScript code in the offending theme/plugin to make sure it is functional and compatible. You should make sure that all of your themes and plugins are updated to the latest versions.

Enabling debugging mode in the WordPress settings will help you fix JavaScript errors, and you can also debug your themes and plugins using browser developer tools.

Along with preventing JavaScript errors, keeping your themes and plugins updated is also a major key to WordPress security; these themes and plugins often have vulnerabilities that can leave them exposed to hackers, and promptly installing the latest updates and patches is essential for preventing these vulnerabilities from being exploited.

Login and access errors

Issues accessing wp-admin are common and can prevent you from managing your site. These problems are often caused by incorrect login credentials, plugin conflicts affecting authentication, or corrupted WordPress core files.

To fix login issues, start by resetting your password using the WordPress login screen or through your database. If you still cannot access your account, try disabling plugins via FTP to rule out conflicts. In more severe cases, you may need to reinstall WordPress core files to restore proper functionality.

Server configuration errors

Server configuration and system-level errors are often tied to how your server is set up, how resources are managed, or how WordPress handles updates and file operations.

Here are the most common types of server configuration errors and how to fix them:

Failed auto-upgrade error

This error typically occurs when WordPress’s automatic update feature isn’t able to update a plugin, theme, or the WordPress core itself. Common issues that can lead to this include things like incorrect file permissions, insufficient disk space, or issues with your server’s configuration.

If checking file permissions and increasing your disk space doesn’t resolve the error, you will need to review your server's configuration settings to ensure that they meet WordPress's requirements. You should also try turning off “safe mode,” as having this mode enabled will sometimes prevent WordPress from auto-updating.

Connection timed out error

"Connection Timed Out" is the error message you will receive when the server hosting your WordPress website is unable to establish a connection within a certain period of time. This can be caused by things like poor internet connection, server overload, and aggressive firewall settings.

If you encounter this error, start by checking the server status. This will tell you if it is experiencing downtime or performance issues. If there aren’t any issues with the server itself, check your internet connection, check your firewall settings, and troubleshoot your plugins and themes to try and pinpoint the cause of the connection failure.

In some cases, timeouts are related to server limits or resource usage. Reviewing PHP limits or recent plugin changes can help resolve the issue.

Failed to write file to disk

This error occurs when WordPress cannot save uploaded files to the server. It is often caused by incorrect file permissions, limited disk space, or misconfigured server settings.

To fix it, check file permissions for your uploads directory to ensure WordPress can write to it. Next, confirm that your server has enough available disk space. If the issue persists, review upload settings in php.ini and verify that your hosting environment is not restricting file uploads.

Content management errors

Issues with the content published on your WordPress site can sometimes result in errors. Here are a few common types of content management errors:

Broken links and images

Broken links and images can sometimes prevent a page from loading properly and are caused by issues such as URL changes, a page or post being moved, WordPress settings changes, or modifications to the wp-config.php file.

You can scan for these issues in your WordPress content using a tool or plugin designed to identify them, and then apply the necessary fixes to resolve the error.

Media library errors

Media library errors are errors that affect the upload, management, or display of media files such as images, videos, and documents. If images or other content are not loading correctly in the WordPress media library, there are a number of steps you can take. This includes things like checking the image file paths, verifying file permissions, clearing your browser cache, and ensuring proper image URLs.

Content publishing errors

"Updating Failed" and "Publishing Failed" are two types of content publishing errors you can encounter when attempting to save or publish content like posts or pages. If you encounter one of these errors, start by reviewing the post or page you’re trying to publish to make sure there are no invalid characters or other issues that could be triggering the error. Updating WordPress, disabling plugins, and switching to a default theme are other ways to troubleshoot these errors.

Indexing errors

Unlike the other errors on our list, indexing errors won’t directly affect your website’s functionality or performance. What they will do, however, is prevent your website from being found by users.

When search engines, like Google, have issues indexing your website, it can negatively impact search engine visibility and website traffic. This means your pages may not appear in search results when users are looking for them, even if your site is working properly. It can also affect your SEO (search engine optimization).

Here are some important steps that you can take to resolve and prevent these issues:

Search engine visibility settings

In the “Settings” section of your WordPress admin, you’ll find a setting called “Reading.” If the box is checked, search engines will be discouraged from indexing your site, so it’s important to disable this feature.

Check Google Search Console

You should regularly check your Google Search Console to monitor indexing status, review crawl errors, and address any issues that are negatively impacting search engine visibility.

Check for malware or malicious code

A hacked WordPress site can cause search engines to lose trust in the website and remove it from their indexes. For this reason (along with numerous others), it is vital to properly secure your WordPress website and ensure that you have tools in place that will continuously scan for malware or malicious code.

Security vulnerabilities

Security issues can lead to a multitude of WordPress errors, along with problems that are even more costly, such as compromised data and a loss of customer trust. If you would like to prevent the nightmare scenario of having your WordPress website hacked, here are the vital security vulnerabilities that you should address:

Weak passwords

If you aren’t using strong passwords on your WordPress sites, you are making it far too easy for hackers to access them. Following proper password protocols and choosing passwords that are as strong as possible is a major key to preventing WordPress hacks.

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks

DDoS attacks are a malicious type of cyberattack intentionally designed to render a website inoperable by flooding its servers with requests. As you might imagine, these attacks can lead to a lot of WordPress errors.

To ensure the accessibility and functionality of your site, protecting it against DDoS attacks is one of the most important WordPress vulnerabilities to address.

Structured query language (SQL) injections

An SQL injection is a type of attack that involves injecting malicious code into input fields or URLs of a web application. This allows hackers to exploit vulnerabilities in the application's SQL database and perform actions such as accessing data from the database and executing administrative operations.

To prevent this potentially damaging form of attack, it’s essential to use a cybersecurity solution that is capable of detecting and blocking malicious code.

Phishing and malware

Phishing and malware are two more types of cyberattacks that can disrupt and compromise a WordPress website. With a phishing attack, hackers attempt to impersonate legitimate websites so that they can trick users into providing their confidential information. Malware, meanwhile, is a form of malicious software designed to infiltrate, damage, or disrupt computer systems.

Cybersecurity solutions designed to detect and block malware are a necessity for any website. And, along with understanding the best practices to prevent phishing scams, anti-phishing software will help prevent hackers from spoofing your website.

Keep your WordPress site secure with SiteLock

Preventing WordPress errors starts with understanding your site’s overall health, security, and addressing issues before they escalate.

SiteLock helps you monitor your website security continuously, with a clear Site Health Score and Prioritized Tasks that highlight what to fix first. With automated scanning, protection, and remediation, you can stay ahead of vulnerabilities and keep your site running smoothly.