15 Common WordPress Issues and How to Fix Them
WordPress is a popular website builder and content management system, but like any platform, it has its share of frustrations. In this article, we’ll discuss 15 common issues that WordPress users encounter and provide practical solutions to resolve them.
1. Lack of Built-in Backup System
Without a built-in backup system, it’s important to take matters into your own hands and create regular backups of your WordPress website. Luckily, there are free and paid backup plugins like Duplicator that allow you to schedule backups effortlessly. Don’t risk losing all your hard work!
2. Default “Uncategorized” Posts
By default, WordPress assigns new posts to the category “Uncategorized,” which may not look very professional. To fix this, you can navigate to the Post Categories section in the WordPress dashboard and either rename the category or select a different default category under the Writing settings.
3. Inability to Change Usernames
Changing usernames in WordPress is not as straightforward as one might hope. If you need to change your username, your best options are either creating a new user with the desired username or using a plugin or manual method to update the username in the WordPress database.
4. Limited Formatting Options (Pre-Gutenberg)
Before Gutenberg, WordPress had limited formatting options that required knowledge of HTML and CSS. However, there are plugins available that offer custom fonts and additional formatting options, bridging the gap and allowing you to create visually appealing content without coding knowledge.
5. White Screen of Death
Encountering the white screen of death can be frustrating and confusing. This error usually occurs when a script exhausts the memory limit. To troubleshoot this issue, you can try checking other websites to ensure it’s not a server problem, increasing the memory limit, disabling plugins, and clearing the cache. There are detailed guides available to help you fix the white screen of death.
6. Locked Out of the Admin Area
Getting locked out of the WordPress admin area can happen for various reasons. Whether it’s a forgotten password or an error with code or plugins, there are ways to regain access. You can follow a comprehensive guide that will walk you through the steps of regaining control of your admin area and getting back to managing your website.
7. Deactivating Plugins without Admin Access
Sometimes, troubleshooting requires deactivating all plugins. If you don’t have access to the admin area, you can use an FTP client to navigate to the /wp-content/ folder and manually deactivate plugins. Another option is accessing the phpMyAdmin settings in your web hosting service’s cPanel to disable plugins. Just be cautious and create a backup before making any changes.
8. Common WordPress Errors
As with any platform, WordPress has a learning curve, and beginners often encounter common errors such as syntax errors or issues with image uploads. It’s useful to familiarize yourself with these errors and their solutions by following comprehensive guides. This empowers you to troubleshoot and resolve problems independently.
9. Plugin Conflicts
Plugins can greatly enhance your website’s functionality, but they can also cause conflicts and issues if not managed properly. To avoid conflicts, make sure to deactivate and delete any unused plugins. This not only resolves conflicts but also improves security and page load times.
10. Displaying Full Posts Everywhere
Displaying full posts on the homepage, archives, and category pages can lead to duplicate content and frustrate users. To optimize user engagement, consider displaying post excerpts instead. You can customize your WordPress excerpts without the need for coding by following user-friendly guides.
11. Full Articles in RSS Feed
Having full articles in your RSS feed may discourage users from visiting your website. To encourage traffic and engagement, you can change the RSS feed settings to display excerpts rather than full articles. You can easily make this adjustment in the Reading settings of WordPress.
12. Dealing with Spam Comments
Avoid the annoyance of spam comments overwhelming your WordPress site. While WordPress offers built-in comment moderation, spam comments can still pile up. To combat this, utilize plugins like Akismet that can catch most spam comments and keep your moderation queue clean. Additionally, there are other tools and tips available to effectively combat comment spam.
13. Improving WordPress Search Functionality
The default search feature in WordPress may not meet the specific requirements of certain websites. To enhance your WordPress search functionality, you can use plugins like SearchWP. These plugins allow customization of the search algorithm and enable the inclusion of elements such as tables, custom fields, documents, and taxonomies. There are detailed guides available to help you improve your WordPress search experience.
In conclusion, while WordPress may have its frustrations, there are always solutions available to address them. By resolving common issues, you can optimize your WordPress experience and create a more user-friendly website.
