Real Reasons Behind Common WordPress Bugs

WordPress is a powerful and flexible platform trusted by millions of users, from bloggers to businesses. However, it’s not without its challenges. Many users face WordPress common errors, such as mysterious glitches, broken layouts, or the dreaded white screen — and if you have too, you’re definitely not alone.

While themes often get blamed for WordPress bugs, they’re rarely the root cause. The actual reasons are far more technical and often preventable.

This in-depth guide covers the most common WordPress bugs, their real causes, and step-by-step ways to fix them even if you’re not a developer.

1. White Screen of Death (WSOD)

What it is: You load your site, and it’s just a blank white page — no content, no error message, nothing.

What causes it?

• PHP code errors
• Plugin or theme conflicts
• Exhausted memory limit
• Faulty custom functions

How to fix it:

• Enable debugging by editing wp-config.php and adding:
  define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
• Increase memory limit:
  define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );
• Rename the plugins folder via FTP to deactivate all plugins at once.
• Switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.

Pro tip: Always test plugins and themes on a staging site before deploying them live.

2. 500 Internal Server Error

What it is: A generic error page from your server.

What causes it?

• Corrupted .htaccess file
• Incompatible plugins or themes
• PHP timeout or memory limit reached

How to fix it:

• Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old to reset it
• Re-save permalinks from the WP dashboard
• Check server error logs for specifics

3. Plugin Conflicts

What it is: Site layout breaks, the dashboard becomes inaccessible, or features don’t work.

What causes it?

• Two plugins are trying to perform the same task
• Outdated plugins
• Poorly coded third-party plugins

How to fix it:

• Deactivate all plugins
• Reactivate one by one
• Replace problematic plugins with better alternatives

Prevent it: Only install plugins that are regularly updated and have high ratings.

4. Theme Issues After Update

What it is: Your site looks broken, or layout elements disappear after a theme update.

What causes it?

• Direct changes to parent theme files
• Incompatibility with new WordPress versions
• Deprecated code

How to fix it:

• Use a child theme to protect custom code
• Revert to a previous theme version (if backed up)
• Consult the theme documentation or support forums

Backup tip: Use tools like UpdraftPlus or BlogVault before any update.

5. Broken Permalinks

What it is: Clicking on links leads to 404 errors, even though the content exists.

What causes it?

• Improper permalink structure
• Plugin updates that affect routing
• Missing or corrupt .htaccess

How to fix it:

• Go to Settings > Permalinks and click “Save Changes.”
• Manually update .htaccess with correct rules
• Disable conflicting plugins

6. Media Upload Failures

What it is: Can’t upload images or get “HTTP error” during upload.

What causes it?

• Incorrect file permissions
• Upload folder path issues
• PHP max file size is too low

How to fix it:

• Set proper folder permissions (755 for folders, 644 for files)
• Check Settings > Media for the correct upload path
• Increase max upload size in php.ini or via hosting panel

7. Login Redirect Loop

What it is: You log in but keep getting redirected back to the login screen.

What causes it?

• Incorrect siteurl and home values in the database
• Corrupted cookies
• SSL misconfiguration

How to fix it:

• Update URLs in the database (via phpMyAdmin)
• Clear cookies/cache
• Add these to wp-config.php:

define('WP_HOME','http://yoursite.com');
define('WP_SITEURL','http://yoursite.com');

8. WordPress Not Sending Emails

What it is: Contact forms or notifications never reach your inbox.

What causes it?

• The hosting server blocks the PHP mail function
• Incorrect email headers
• Spam filters

How to fix it:

• Install the WP Mail SMTP plugin
• Use SMTP with Gmail, SendGrid, or Mailgun
• Test using mail-tester.com or similar tools

9. Failed Updates (Core, Themes, Plugins)

What it is: Updates fail mid-way or show “Update Failed” messages.

What causes it?

• File permission errors
• Timeout during update
• Low server resources

How to fix it:

• Set proper ownership (usually www-data on Linux)
• Increase max execution time in php.ini
• Manually update via FTP if auto fails

10. Error Establishing a Database Connection

What it is: The most dreaded error screen — your site can’t connect to the database.

What causes it?

• Wrong DB credentials in wp-config.php
• Corrupt database
• The database server is down

How to fix it:

• Double-check the DB name, username, and password
• Repair DB via /wp-admin/maint/repair.php
• Contact your hosting provider

11. Too Many Redirects Error

What it is: Browser error: “The page isn’t redirecting properly.”

What causes it?

• Misconfigured SSL settings
• Conflicting redirect rules in .htaccess
• HTTPS and HTTP both enabled

How to fix it:

• Check WordPress Address and Site Address
• Remove extra redirect rules from .htaccess
• Use a redirect plugin instead of manually editing

12. Admin Dashboard Not Loading Properly

What it is: The backend is unstyled, missing menus, or not responsive.

What causes it?

• Broken CSS/JS due to blocked requests
• CDN conflicts
• Plugin that modifies admin styles

How to fix it:

• Disable CDN or clear cache
• Inspect with browser console to find blocked scripts
• Disable any plugin modifying the dashboard

13. Slow Website Performance

What it is: Your site loads very slowly or times out.

What causes it?

• Heavy plugins or a bloated theme
• No caching
• Shared hosting limitations

How to fix it:

• Install caching plugins (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache)
• Optimize images with Smush or ShortPixel
• Move to better hosting (like managed WordPress hosting)

Final Thoughts

WordPress bugs are common, but they’re also fixable. The key is not to panic. With the right troubleshooting steps, most issues can be resolved without needing to hire a developer.

Here’s what you can do to avoid common bugs altogether:

• Always back up before making changes
• Test plugins and themes before going live
• Keep everything updated
• Use a child theme for customization
• Invest in good hosting

Understanding what causes bugs, rather than guessing, is what separates beginner users from pros. And now that you know what to look for, you’re well on your way to smoother WordPress management.