How to Debug Common WordPress Errors White Screen, 500 Error, and More
WordPress is known for being user-friendly, flexible, and widely supported—but like any platform, problems can occasionally pop up. Whether you’re a site owner, blogger, or developer, there’s a good chance you’ll eventually run into errors like the White Screen of Death, Internal Server Error (500), or database connection issues.
The good news? Most WordPress errors are fixable with a little patience and the right troubleshooting steps. In this guide, we’ll walk through the most common WordPress errors, why they happen, and how to debug them effectively.
Table of Contents
1. The White Screen of Death (WSOD)
The White Screen of Death occurs when your site displays nothing but a blank white screen. No error messages. No dashboard access. Just… white.
Common Causes
- A faulty theme or plugin
- Memory limits being reached
- PHP errors that are hidden from display
How to Fix It
a) Enable Debug Mode
- First, turn on WordPress debugging to reveal the actual error.
- Connect to your site via FTP or your hosting file manager.
- Open the file
wp-config.php.
Add or edit the following line:
- define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
To also display the errors on screen, add:
b) Try Disabling Plugins
If the site worked before, a plugin update may be the issue.
Rename the folder:
/wp-content/plugins/→/plugins_disabled/Reload the site.
If the site comes back, rename the folder back and activate plugins one by one until you find the culprit.
c) Switch to a Default Theme
If the issue isn’t plugin-related, your theme might be the cause.
Rename your active theme folder:
- /wp-content/themes/your-theme → your-theme-old
WordPress will fall back to a default like Twenty Twenty-Four.
2. Internal Server Error (500 Error)
The 500 Internal Server Error typically indicates a server misconfiguration or corrupted system file.
Common Causes
- Corrupt
.htaccessfile - Plugin or theme conflicts
- PHP memory limits
- Server misconfiguration
How to Fix It
a) Regenerate the .htaccess File
- Rename
.htaccess→.htaccess_old - Try refreshing your site.
If the site loads, go to:
Settings → Permalinks → Save
to generate a new .htaccess.
b) Increase PHP Memory Limit
Add this to wp-config.php:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
c) Deactivate Plugins / Switch Themes
- Use the same method described in the WSOD section.
3. Error Establishing Database Connection
This error means your website can’t connect to your database—so WordPress can’t load content.
Common Causes
- Wrong database login credentials
- Database server down
- Corrupted database tab
How to Fix It
a) Check Database Credentials
Open wp-config.php and verify:
Ensure they match the values in your hosting control panel.
b) Repair the WordPress Database
Add this line to wp-config.php:
Visit:
Run repair, then remove the line.
4. 404 Page Not Found on Posts
If your homepage loads but blog posts show 404 errors, your permalinks likely need refreshing.
Fix It
Go to:
Dashboard → Settings → Permalinks → Save
No settings need changing—just save.
5. WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode
If an update is interrupted, WordPress may get stuck displaying:
“Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance. Check back in a minute.”
Fix It
- Connect to your site files.
- Delete the
.maintenancefile in the main WordPress directory.
Your site should return immediately.
6. “Allowed Memory Size Exhausted” Error
This typically looks like:
Fatal error: Allowed memory size of X bytes exhausted…
This happens when WordPress needs more memory than the server allows.
Fix It
Increase the memory limit:
If you still see the error, your host may need to increase memory server-side—open a support ticket.
7. Problems After Updating WordPress Core
Sometimes updates change internal code that themes or plugins rely on.
Fix It
- Update all plugins and themes to their latest versions
- Restore a recent backup if the issue is major
- Enable debug mode to pinpoint what part broke
If you don’t have backups already—start today.
8. Slow or Unresponsive Website
A slow website isn’t an error, but it is a problem.
Common Causes
- Too many heavy plugins
- Slow or shared hosting
- Unoptimized images
- No caching
Fix It
- Install a cache plugin (e.g., WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache)
- Optimize images with a tool like Smush or TinyPNG
- Consider upgrading to a better host (managed WordPress hosting makes life easier)
Pro Tips for Debugging WordPress Like a Pro
| Task | Best Practice |
|---|---|
| Make major changes | Always back up your site first |
| Debugging | Use WP Debug + server error logs |
| Updating | Update core → plugins → themes (in that order) |
| Choosing plugins | Use reputable plugins with recent updates |
| Security | Use strong passwords + 2FA + security plugins |
Final Thoughts
WordPress errors can be frustrating, but they’re rarely permanent. With the steps above, you can diagnose and fix most issues—from the White Screen of Death to database connection problems—without needing to hire a developer.
Reference
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I prevent WordPress errors from happening in the first place?
The best way to prevent errors is to keep everything updated regularly—this includes WordPress core, plugins, themes, and PHP versions. Additionally, use reliable hosting, remove unused plugins, and create regular backups so you can quickly restore your site if something goes wrong.
What should I do if I can’t access the WordPress dashboard at all?
If you’re locked out of your dashboard, connect to your site using FTP or your hosting File Manager. From there, you can disable plugins, switch themes manually, or enable debug mode to identify the issue. Most errors can be fixed without needing dashboard access.
How do I enable WordPress debug mode to find errors?
Open your wp-config.php file and add the following line:
To display errors directly on your website, add:
Remember to turn it back off once troubleshooting is complete.
Is there a plugin that can help me diagnose WordPress problems faster?
Yes! The Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin (by WordPress.org) allows you to test themes and plugins without affecting your live website. It’s extremely useful for identifying conflicts safely.
When should I contact my web hosting support team?
Contact your host if the issue involves memory or server limits, database connection problems, or any situation where your website files seem intact but the server isn’t responding correctly. Hosting support has access to server-level logs that you don’t.
