It is quite normal to get stuck with errors while working with codes and programming languages. Whether it is a syntax error or an error from the server side, you will get to see them quite often during the process of website development and even after that. Same with the most loved and most used CMS, WordPress, despite it being the easiest to use, it is nothing different from other code-based platforms in the case of errors. Though for the past decade, WordPress is only moving towards improvement, it has still got a list of its own common errors, that every WordPress website user may encounter at least once. Resolving errors can be easy for a professional WordPress development company, but for an individual or the owner of the website, it can be quite frustrating.

But again, since WordPress is an open source platform and has got the support of millions of developers, the solutions for these errors are already there.

Six Most Common WordPress Errors

1. Error Establishing a Database Connection: A database is the most important component of every website, as it contains all website related details, like the user information, posts, pages, etc. So, when this error is found, it becomes difficult for the website to run. The mentioned error is quite common in WordPress, and it occurs when the connection between the website and its database is lost.

Resolving the Error: The database error is mostly connected with the wp-config.php file of the website, located in the root directory. This file contains all the database related information, including the username and the password of the database.

Here you need to check those credentials as if they are correct or not. If not, simply replace the credentials with the correct ones and voila, you are good to go.

But if the error is still there, you need to activate WordPress’s automatic database optimization tool for resolving it. For that, just include the following line in the wp-config.php file:

define( ‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true );

After that, save the file and upload to the server. Then, you need to go to the following URL:

https://websiteurl.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php

The URL will redirect to the screen shown in the image, where you need to press either of the buttons, and you will get rid of the error.

2. WordPress Parse or Syntax Error: Writing codes is quite a sensitive process, and here, if you even miss a bracket, the website can become a mess. The WordPress Parse or the Syntax error is the result of such missed brackets or a line of codes. Most commonly, the error is found in the function.php file as it is common to add the code snippet to this file after the pages are already created.

Resolving the Error: This error is the simplest to resolve, as when the error occurs on the browser, it even shows the number of the line where you have made the mistake and has originated this error. You just need to go to the mentioned file through the SFTP (say FileZilla) and correct the code in the file. Save the file and select ‘Yes’ when FileZilla will ask you if you want to replace the existing file or not.m

3. Internal Server Error: The internal server error, or the 500 error, is the most common one, but without having a particular reason. The known three reasons that may be causing this error includes exhausted PHP memory limit, functions of the used theme or the plugins, or a corrupted .htaccess.
Resolving the Error: The prime reason for the occurrence of the error can be the .htaaccess file. So, before trying with another reason, you need to access the .htaccess file.

Just go to the SFTP and rename the .htaccess file. After that, check the website, and if the error is resolved, create a new .htaccess file. For that, you need to go the WordPress admin dashboard, and from the Settings option click on Permalinks. On the screen without making any changes to the settings, just click on ‘Save Changes’, and the new .htaccess file is created.

If still there is the same error, do the following:

• Increase the Memory Limit: This is in the case of exhausted PHP memory. For this, you need to contact your host in order to increase the memory limit. After you get the permission, you will need to open the wp-config.php file and write the following code in it:

define( ‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘64’);

This way, you will be able to increase the memory limit to 64MB.

• Deactivate all the Plugins: The 500 error can also occur because of one of the plugins you have installed, as there is the possibility that any of those plugins are not compatible with the other plugins. For this, you need to deactivate all the plugins from the SFTP server. You need to go to wp-content, under which you will find the plugin folder. Rename the folder to deactivate all the plugins at once. After checking on the website as if it is working fine, you need to rename the folder back to plugins and re-activate all the plugins one-by-one. Now you will easily be able to find out which of the plugins was originating the conflict.

• Re-uploading Core Files: The WordPress core files include the wp-admin and wp-includes folder. You need to upload fresh wp-admin as well as the wp-includes folder and replace the old folders through the SFTP. To get fresh wp-admin and wp-include folders, you need to install the updated version of WordPress.

And if none of these methods would work, just contact your hosting provider.

4. 404 Page Not Found Error: This error mainly is caused by the permalinks. This error indicates that the server was not able to find the requested page. The prime reason for the error is the change in a particular permalink.

Resolving the Problem: If there is a change in the permalink, then you can simply change it back to the previous one or change the URL for the hyperlink.

If that too doesn’t resolve the problem, go the Permalinks option in the Settings under the WordPress admin panel. Here you just need to click on the ‘Save Changes’ button, and soon after, you will stop seeing this error.

Again if the problem is still not resolved with the above method, go to .htaccess file from the SFTP and change the permissions from 660 to 666 in the file. After that, you need to repeat the previous method, and this will surely remove the error.

5. White Screen of Death (WSoD): White Screen of Death or WsoD is the error when the website is all gone, and the browser is showing a white screen only (not even an error message over it). This error can be due to various reasons, including the exhausted memory limit or sometimes the plugin conflict.

Resolving the Error: The error can be removed by extending the PHP memory limit or plugin deactivation, through the methods discussed before. If the issue is not resolved, you can try resolving it by setting the default theme or by enabling the debug mode. Enabling the debug code helps in finding the right cause of the error.

To enable debug mode you need to go to the wp-config.php file and insert the following code in it:

define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true);

6. Connection Timed Out: You might have seen this error a few times. The error occurs when the server is unable to establish a connection to your website. This mostly happens to the websites that use a shared server.

Resolving the Error: Resolving this error includes similar methods as of a few earlier discussed errors:

• Increase the memory limit.
• Deactivating all the plugins.
• Switching to the default theme.

So this was a summarised list of the errors that, being a WordPress website owner, you may face often. These errors do look frustrating but are simple to resolve with the discussed methods.