WordPress Common Errors
White Screen of Death
Cause: PHP error, usually from a plugin or theme
Fix:
- Access files via FTP or File Manager
- Rename wp-content/plugins to plugins_disabled
- If site works, rename back and enable plugins one by one
- The last one that breaks it is the problem
Error Establishing Database Connection
Fix:
- Check wp-config.php has correct DB name, user, password
- Verify database exists in cPanel > MySQL Databases
- Check if MySQL server is running (contact support)
500 Internal Server Error
Fix:
- Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old
- If site works, go to Settings > Permalinks > Save (regenerates .htaccess)
- Check PHP version compatibility
Memory Limit Exhausted
Add to wp-config.php:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
Login Page Redirect Loop
- Clear browser cookies
- Rename plugins folder via FTP
- Try incognito/private browsing