WordPress 24-Hour Trainer, 3rd Edition

AppendixTroubleshooting WordPress

This book includes the occasional troubleshooting tip. In this appendix, the goal is help you think through the troubleshooting process.

Addressing every particular problem is impossible in a few pages, but following are a few common issues that illustrate some general strategies for solving problems. They also provide some ideas for getting more information online.

Site Visible but with an Error Message

If you can see your site, but an error message displays at the top of the screen, it's likely that you've changed something.

You Just Added a Plugin or Theme

In situations like these, there's an easy initial test:

• If you just added a plugin, unplug it.
• If you just changed themes, switch back.

If the problem is fixed, check to see if any updates are needed on your site. If there are, do a backup and then do the updates. At that point you can try reactivating the plugin or theme.

If the error message returns, the quick answer is to not use that plugin or theme. If you absolutely need them, your next step would be to go to the plugin or theme's page (at the WordPress.org directory or for the commercial makers, their web page) and see if anyone has mentioned problems with the current version of WordPress. If so, hopefully some solutions are offered.

If you cannot find answers, you need to do some detective work on your own site, as discussed shortly.

You Just Did an Update

What's important here is the nature of the update. If it were one plugin ...