Emergency WordPress Website Repair

How I debug your website and get it back up and running

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) used by millions of websites around the world. It is user-friendly, easy to use, and flexible. However, like any other software, it is not immune to errors, glitches, and issues. A broken WordPress website can be frustrating and stressful for website owners and users alike. In this article, we will discuss the process of diagnosing and fixing a broken WordPress website.

Step 1: Identify the Problem

The first step in fixing a broken WordPress website is to identify the problem. There can be various reasons why a WordPress website may break or malfunction. Some common issues include:

• Website not loading
• White screen of death
• Error messages
• Broken links
• Database connection issues
• Plugins or themes not working

To identify the problem, you need to investigate and diagnose the issue. Start by checking the website’s error logs or debug messages. These logs can provide valuable information about the cause of the problem. If you are unable to access the website, you can use an FTP client to access the server and check the logs.

Step 2: Backup Your Website

Before attempting any fixes or changes to your website, it is essential to back up your website. Backing up your website ensures that you have a copy of your website’s data and files in case anything goes wrong during the fixing process. Once you have a backup of your website, you can proceed with the fixing process.

Step 3: Deactivate All Plugins and Switch to Default Theme

One of the most common causes of a broken WordPress website is a faulty plugin or theme. To determine if a plugin or theme is causing the issue, you need to deactivate all plugins and switch to the default theme. To do this, access your website’s files using an FTP client and go to the “wp-content/plugins” folder. Rename this folder to “plugins_old.” This action will disable all your plugins. Next, go to the “wp-content/themes” folder and rename your active theme to “theme_old.” This action will switch your website to the default theme. Once you have deactivated all plugins and switched to the default theme, check your website to see if the problem is resolved.

Step 4: Update WordPress, Plugins, and Theme

If deactivating all plugins and switching to the default theme does not fix the issue, you may need to update your WordPress, plugins, and theme. Outdated versions of WordPress, plugins, and themes can cause compatibility issues and break your website. To update your WordPress, log in to your WordPress dashboard and click on the “Updates” option. From here, you can update your WordPress version, plugins, and theme.

Step 5: Check for Database Connection Issues

If your website is still broken after updating WordPress, plugins, and theme, you may need to check for database connection issues. WordPress uses a database to store all the website’s data. If there is a problem with the database connection, your website may not function correctly. To check for database connection issues, open the “wp-config.php” file located in the root folder of your WordPress installation. Check that the database details in this file are correct.

Step 6: Troubleshoot with WordPress Debugging

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to troubleshoot with WordPress debugging. WordPress debugging is a tool that helps a WordPress developer find and fix issues in their code. To enable WordPress debugging, add the following code to the “wp-config.php” file:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );

The above code will enable WordPress debugging and log all errors to a debug console.

Fill Out the Form Below to get Emergency WordPress Website Repair

Please fill in as much information as you can. After you do, I’ll reach out shortly to get any more information I need to diagnose and fix your website. Have your hosting information (user, login, url, etc.) ready to go so we don’t need to waste time figuring out where the site is hosted & managed. DO NOT SEND USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS IN THIS FORM.