How to Fix WordPress Errors (Step-by-Step)

If you’ve ever opened your WordPress site and seen a white screen, a scary error message, or a site that just refuses to load, welcome to the club. I’ve broken WordPress more times than I care to admit. The good news? You can fix most WordPress issues yourself. This how to fix WordPress errors (step-by-step) guide walks you through the exact process I use every time things go sideways.

Take a breath. Your site isn’t cursed. Let’s fix it.

First Rule: Don’t Panic (Seriously)

I know the feeling. Your heart drops, traffic stops, and you start blaming the last plugin you installed.

Ever noticed how WordPress errors always appear at the worst time? Yeah, rude.

What I Do Immediately

Before touching anything, I:

Note the exact error message

Check if the admin dashboard still loads

Remember what I changed last

That info saves time later.

Enable WordPress Debug Mode

WordPress errors hide details by default. Debug mode forces WordPress to talk.

How to Turn on Debug Mode

Open your wp-config.php file and set:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);

define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);

Debug mode shows you where things break. Knowledge beats guessing every time.

https://wordpress.org/support/article/debugging-in-wordpress/

Fix the White Screen of Death

Ah yes, the classic blank screen. No message. No mercy.

What Causes It

In my experience, the white screen comes from:

Plugin conflicts

Theme issues

Memory limits

Step-by-Step Fix

I fix it like this:

Disable all plugins via FTP

Refresh the site

Re-enable plugins one by one

When the site breaks again, you’ve found the culprit. Simple and effective 🙂

For safe plugin choices, read:
https://techwavegh.com/best-wordpress-plugins-for-ghana-websites

Fix Plugin & Theme Conflicts

Most WordPress errors start with “I just installed this one plugin…”

Sound familiar?

How I Identify Conflicts

I:

Switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four

Disable all plugins

Activate them one at a time

This method never fails. It feels slow, but it saves hours.

https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/how-to-deactivate-all-plugins-when-not-able-to-access-wp-admin/

Fix Internal Server Error (500 Error)

This error looks scary, but it’s very fixable.

Common Causes

Corrupt .htaccess file

PHP memory limit issues

Plugin conflicts

Step-by-Step Solution

I usually:

Rename .htaccess to test it

Increase PHP memory limit

Disable plugins

Nine times out of ten, .htaccess causes the issue.

Fix Database Connection Error

This one makes people panic fast. I get it.

Why It Happens

Wrong database credentials

Corrupt database

Server issues

How I Fix It

I check:

Database name

Username

Password

Hostname

All inside wp-config.php. If credentials match, I repair the database from cPanel.

https://wordpress.org/support/article/error-establishing-a-database-connection/

Fix Slow or Broken Pages After Updates

Updates improve security, but they sometimes break stuff. Love that for us :/

My Update Recovery Process

After updates, I:

Clear cache

Regenerate permalinks

Check error logs

Speed issues often show up here too.

👉 Speed guide:
https://techwavegh.com/how-to-speed-up-wordpress-site-2026-guide

Fix Image, CSS, or Layout Issues

If your site loads but looks weird, don’t panic yet.

What Usually Causes This

Mixed content issues

Cache problems

CDN delays

How I Fix Layout Problems

I:

Clear browser and plugin cache

Disable CDN temporarily

Check console errors

Most visual issues disappear after cache cleanup.

Prevent Future WordPress Errors

Fixing errors feels good. Preventing them feels better.

My Golden Rules

I always:

Back up before updates

Use trusted plugins only

Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated

Avoid nulled plugins (never worth it, IMO)

For free WordPress theme safety, read:
https://techwavegh.com/free-wordpress-themes-for-business-websites

Tools I Always Keep Installed

These tools saved me more times than I can count:

UpdraftPlus (Backups)

Wordfence (Security)

WP Fastest Cache (Stability)

Prepared sites break less often. Facts.

Final Thoughts

WordPress errors feel scary, but they rarely mean disaster. When you follow a step-by-step process, you fix problems faster and with less stress. I’ve fixed white screens, database errors, and broken dashboards—and you can too.

So next time WordPress throws a tantrum, smile and ask yourself: “Which step am I starting with?”