Troubleshooting Website Errors: A Comprehensive Guide

Preface

Website errors can be frustrating, but understanding how to troubleshoot them is a crucial skill for anyone managing a website. Whether you’re a beginner just starting with WordPress or an experienced developer, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to diagnose and fix common website errors like 404, 503, and more. Let’s dive in and turn those error messages into opportunities for learning and improvement!

Understanding Common Website Errors

Before we jump into troubleshooting, it’s essential to understand what these errors mean.

404 Not Found

The 404 error is one of the most common errors you’ll encounter. It means the server can’t find the requested resource. In simpler terms, the page doesn’t exist at the URL you’re trying to access.

Causes:

• Incorrect URL: A user might have typed the URL wrong.
• Broken Link: The link on your website or another site might be outdated or incorrect.
• Page Moved or Deleted: The page might have been moved or deleted without a proper redirect.

How to Fix:

1. Check the URL: Make sure you’ve typed the URL correctly.
2. Update Internal Links: If you’ve moved or deleted a page, update all internal links pointing to the old URL.
3. Set Up Redirects: Use a 301 redirect to forward traffic from the old URL to the new one. In WordPress, you can use plugins like Redirection to manage redirects easily.
4. Create a Custom 404 Page: A well-designed 404 page can help users find what they’re looking for. Include a search bar, links to popular pages, or a contact form.

503 Service Unavailable

The 503 error indicates that the server is temporarily unable to handle the request. This is often due to server maintenance or high traffic.

Causes:

• Server Maintenance: The server might be undergoing maintenance.
• High Traffic: The server might be overloaded with requests.
• Plugin or Theme Issues: A faulty plugin or theme can sometimes cause a 503 error.

How to Fix:

1. Check Server Status: Contact your hosting provider to ensure the server is running correctly. For example check out /go/bluehost, /go/dreamhost or /go/hostgator.
2. Deactivate Plugins: Deactivate all plugins to see if one is causing the issue. If the error disappears, reactivate them one by one to identify the culprit. Learn how to install wordpress plugins if you need a refresher.
3. Switch to a Default Theme: Change to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three to rule out theme-related issues.
4. Increase Server Resources: If high traffic is the issue, consider upgrading your hosting plan to increase server resources.
5. Check your .htaccess file: A corrupted .htaccess file can cause a 503 error. To check, rename your current .htaccess file (e.g., to .htaccess_old) and then try accessing your site. If the site works, generate a new .htaccess file by going to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and clicking Save Changes.

      # BEGIN WordPress
      <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
      RewriteEngine On
      RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]
      RewriteBase /
      RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
      RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
      RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
      RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
      </IfModule>
      # END WordPress
      

500 Internal Server Error

A 500 error is a generic error indicating that something went wrong on the server, but the server couldn’t be more specific.

Causes:

• Plugin or Theme Issues: Similar to 503 errors, a faulty plugin or theme can cause a 500 error.
• .htaccess Issues: Incorrect configurations in the .htaccess file can lead to this error.
• PHP Memory Limit: Your website might be exceeding the PHP memory limit.
• Corrupted WordPress Files: Sometimes, WordPress core files can become corrupted.

How to Fix:

1. Deactivate Plugins: As with the 503 error, deactivate all plugins and reactivate them one by one.
2. Switch to a Default Theme: Change to a default theme to rule out theme issues.
3. Check .htaccess: Look for errors in your .htaccess file. You can temporarily rename it to see if that resolves the issue.
4. Increase PHP Memory Limit: You can increase the PHP memory limit by adding the following code to your wp-config.php file:

   define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );
   

5. Re-upload WordPress Core Files: If all else fails, you can re-upload the WordPress core files. Make sure to back up your website first!

Other Common Errors

• 403 Forbidden: This error means you don’t have permission to access the page. Check your file permissions and .htaccess file.
• 502 Bad Gateway: This often indicates a problem with the server’s ability to communicate with another server. It could be a temporary issue, but if it persists, contact your hosting provider.

General Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some general tips that apply to most website errors:

• Enable Debugging: In WordPress, you can enable debugging mode by adding the following code to your wp-config.php file:

  define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
  

  This will display error messages, which can help you identify the source of the problem.

• Check Error Logs: Your hosting provider usually provides access to error logs, which can contain valuable information about what’s going wrong.

• Clear Cache: Sometimes, cached data can cause errors. Clear your browser cache and any caching plugins you’re using.

• Backup Regularly: Always back up your website regularly. This makes it easier to restore your site if something goes wrong. Consider using plugins like UpdraftPlus for automated backups.

• Update Everything: Keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated to the latest versions. Updates often include bug fixes and security patches.

• Consult Documentation: Refer to the documentation for your themes and plugins. They often provide solutions to common issues.

Hint: Before making any major changes to your website, such as deactivating multiple plugins or switching themes, it’s essential to back up your website. This ensures that you can restore your site to its previous state if something goes wrong during the troubleshooting process.

Preventing Future Errors

Prevention is better than cure. Here are some steps you can take to minimize the occurrence of website errors:

• Choose a Reliable Hosting Provider: A good hosting provider will ensure your server is stable and well-maintained.

• Use Reputable Themes and Plugins: Choose themes and plugins from reputable developers. Read reviews and check for updates.

• Monitor Your Website: Use tools like Google Analytics or uptime monitoring services to keep an eye on your website’s performance.

• Implement a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A CDN can help distribute your website’s content across multiple servers, reducing the load on your main server and improving performance. Cloudflare is a popular option.

• Optimize your Images: Large, unoptimized images significantly slow down a website and can contribute to errors, especially under high traffic. Use plugins like Smush or tools like TinyPNG to compress images without losing quality. Regularly audit your media library to remove unused or oversized images. See how to quickly make high-resolution screenshots in base 64/

Conclusion

Troubleshooting website errors can seem daunting, but with a systematic approach and the right tools, you can resolve most issues efficiently. Remember to stay calm, follow the steps outlined in this guide, and don’t hesitate to seek help from your hosting provider or the WordPress community. By understanding common errors and how to fix them, you’ll be well-equipped to keep your website running smoothly. Happy troubleshooting!