Successful Troubleshooting Techniques for WordPress Developers

Check the most successful troubleshooting techniques & strategies for WordPress developers, the top tips to solve website problems

By Claudio Pires
Updated on February 28, 2024
Successful Troubleshooting Techniques for WordPress Developers

WordPress is an incredible platform that assists developers in establishing their online presence. As it powers over 40% of the web due to its adaptability and versatility, it makes it a prime choice for everyone. However, issues and hitches are inevitable with the numerous themes and customizable options. Check the most successful troubleshooting techniques & strategies for WordPress developers, the top tips to solve website problems.

For developers, troubleshooting these issues is an essential skill. Hence, this article will delve into some of the most effective techniques tailored towards WordPress developers. Remember, learning these techniques is a vital part of ensuring you attain smooth operation of your website, and it guarantees optimal user experience. 

Preventive Measures: Setting the Groundwork for Fewer Issues

Taking proactive measures to prevent issues in the first place is as important as learning to troubleshoot. The first thing to focus on is exploring how to reclaim Mac memory, allowing your website to run more efficiently. You can explore all about it through the Backlight blog, where you can also learn editing skills and iPhone 13 troubleshooting methods.

Learn about the means of developing a Mac leaner and how it helps you build a solid foundation for your WordPress processes. You can also access protection in one app through the blog, ensuring you maintain security and safety. 

However, other means exist to conduct preventive measures before troubleshooting issues. First and foremost, backups are your safety net. You can always restore your website to its previous state with a recent backup. For instance, if your website is high-traffic, ensure you backup your website daily.

Second, before installing any theme or plugin, review its ratings and feedback. Moreover, ensure it is compatible with your version of WordPress to avoid unexpected conflicts and errors. 

Initial WordPress Diagnosis: Pinpointing the Issue

What is a troubleshoot? The word refers to the process of diagnosing and resolving problems. Hence, it is an integral part of ensuring the system functions correctly.

Before diving into troubleshooting methods, this section will dive into how to conduct a diagnosis to figure out the core issue you are encountering. Check the most successful troubleshooting techniques & strategies for WordPress developers, the top tips to solve website problems.

Accessing error logs

Error logs record events and issues as they occur on your website. They provided detailed information about the problem, allowing you to trace the origin of your errors. To access it, look for the “Error Logs” or “Logs” sections in your hosting dashboard.

Another option is using a plugin like WP Log Viewer to access and view your site’s error logs directly from your WordPress dashboard. So, how do you spot an error? Focus on the date and time of the error, the specific path mentioned, and any associated error messages for WordPress developers troubleshooting techniques. 

The role of debug mode in WordPress

WordPress has a built-in debugging system designed to simplify finding errors and other internal WordPress functions. To activate it, edit your wp-config.php file and set WP_DEBUG to true: define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);. Once activated, WordPress will start displaying PHP errors on the front end.

Identifying Common Warning Signs

So, what are some of the most common WordPress issues you might face? Here are some common problems:

  • White Screen of Death (WSoD): A blank screen without an error message is often caused by PHP memory limit exhaustion, faulty themes, or plugin issues.
  • Database Connection Errors: Your website cannot communicate with your database. Some problems that cause this include incorrect login credentials or corrupted databases.
  • 500 Internal Server Error: This generic message suggests something went wrong without specifying what. 
  • 403 Forbidden Error: This error message indicates permission issues. This is often caused by server settings or file permissions that restrict access to what you’re attempting to access. 

Core WordPress Troubleshooting Techniques

Now, we will discuss how to troubleshoot some core issues on WordPress. With the myriad of themes and plugins available, they can become sources of conflict. Hence, this section will investigate basic troubleshooting steps addressing potential conflicts. 

Themes can be the culprit behind various visual and functional problems. Determining whether the active theme is the cause helps isolate the problem. To do so, navigate to the WordPress dashboard. Then, go to “Appearance” and click “Themes.” Activate one of the default WordPress themes. 

If you find the issue disappears, it is evident that it resides in the original theme you used. Once you confirm this, consider contacting the theme developer with the specifics of the issue. However, ensure it is updated before doing so, as it might resolve the problem using the successful developers troubleshooting strategies.

2. Plugin conflicts: the deactivation technique

Plugin problems with WordPress are a frequent source of conflict. The basic WordPress troubleshooting method for plugins is heading to “Plugins” from the dashboard. Then, deactivate all the plugins.

After doing so, check if the issue you have persists. Then, reactivate your plugins individually, checking the site after each activation. Once you identify the plugin causing the problem, check for recent updates to fix it. 

3. Reverting to previous versions: WordPress troubleshooting techniques

Sometimes, updating to a novel version of WordPress might introduce issues. Hence, a common WordPress troubleshooting technique is to revert to an older version of your website. First, always backup your site to avoid data loss. Then, use plugins like WP Rollback or manually download and install the previous version of the problematic software. If the issue is solved this way, wait for a subsequent update that might address the problem before updating again.

Conclusion

Hence, troubleshooting WordPress can be a straightforward process. However, it is essential first to optimize your environment for WordPress to ensure things run smoothly and quickly. Then, you should conduct some basic steps that allow you to pinpoint the problem, making the solution easier.

That said, troubleshooting solutions are often ones related to themes or plugins. Once you figure out what is causing an issue, it becomes easier to eliminate the problem. For instance, turning off plugins lets you realize whether they’re the issue. That said, always use these troubleshooting techniques to resolve WordPress complications.

Claudio Pires

Claudio Pires is the co-founder of Visualmodo, a renowned company in web development and design. With over 15 years of experience, Claudio has honed his skills in content creation, web development support, and senior web designer. A trilingual expert fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, he brings a global perspective to his work. Beyond his professional endeavors, Claudio is an active YouTuber, sharing his insights and expertise with a broader audience. Based in Brazil, Claudio continues to push the boundaries of web design and digital content, making him a pivotal figure in the industry.