{"id":40104,"date":"2025-01-21T19:07:07","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T19:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/business\/internet-business\/how-to-fix-wordpress-if-an-update-broke-your-site\/"},"modified":"2025-01-21T19:07:07","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T19:07:07","slug":"how-to-fix-wordpress-if-an-update-broke-your-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=40104","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix WordPress If an Update Broke Your Site"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

The WordPress update broke your site, leaving you with a blank screen instead of your homepage. Now, your site is down, and visitors are facing error messages instead of your content.<\/p>\n

This is, in fact, a very common scenario for WordPress website owners. But don\u2019t worry just yet, as we\u2019re here to help.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In this guide, we\u2019ll show you how to fix your WordPress site after an update issue. We\u2019ll walk you through identifying the problem and provide step-by-step instructions on how to restore your site.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t want to further prolong your broken site so let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n

Understanding the Problem<\/span><\/h2>\n

First, you need to figure out what\u2019s wrong with your website. When WordPress updates its core software, it can sometimes cause issues with compatibility, leading to problems on your site. Here\u2019s why this happens:<\/p>\n

Themes and Plugins<\/h3>\n

When you update WordPress or PHP, problems can arise if your themes and plugins are outdated. These themes and plugins are often designed to work with specific versions of WordPress and PHP only.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During a major update, new features may be added, or old ones removed, causing compatibility issues. As a result, outdated themes and plugins might not function properly with the new code, leading to errors or even site crashes.<\/p>\n

Database Conflicts<\/h3>\n

Sometimes, when WordPress updates, it changes how the database is structured, which is how your site stores data. If your plugins or custom code are set up to work with the old structure, they might not work properly after the update.<\/p>\n

This can lead to problems like data not showing up correctly or errors when trying to get information from the database.<\/p>\n

Server Configuration Mismatches<\/h3>\n

When updating WordPress, you need to make sure your server is set up correctly<\/a>. WordPress suggests using the latest PHP versions<\/a> for the best performance and security. If your server is running an older version of PHP, you can run into problems because it may not work well with the new WordPress updates.<\/p>\n

Also, some hosting setups have specific settings, like memory limits or how long a process can run. These settings might not match what the updated WordPress or its plugins need, which could cause errors and even take your site offline.<\/p>\n

In reality, memory limits in WordPress are often the culprit after an update breaks a site.<\/p>\n

Identifying the Scope of the Problem<\/h3>\n

Next, we need to figure out how big the problem is. If your entire website is down, that\u2019s usually a sign of a serious issue, like a major compatibility problem, a plugin conflict, or even something wrong with your hosting.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, it\u2019s probably a smaller issue if only certain parts of your site aren\u2019t working.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to know whether the issue is with the front end (what visitors see) or the back end (your admin area). If the site looks strange or elements are missing, it\u2019s likely a front-end issue related to your theme, CSS, or JavaScript.<\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t log in to the WordPress dashboard, see error messages, or can\u2019t update content, the problem is possibly on the back end of your site.<\/p>\n

Pre-Troubleshooting Steps<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before jumping into the technical steps to fix your WordPress website, there are a few important things you need to do:<\/p>\n

1. Backup Your Site<\/h3>\n

This step is often ignored but is very important, especially if a WordPress update broke your site.<\/p>\n

Backing up means saving a copy of everything on your site. To make sure you have a complete backup, it\u2019s best to include all key parts of it. This includes the files that create your site\u2019s structure and appearance, like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget about your databases<\/a>. They store important data like user info and settings. Also, remember to back up your media files like images and videos, as they are part of your content and user experience.<\/p>\n

The reason for doing a website backup<\/a> is simple: prevention is better than cure<\/strong>. If an update to WordPress breaks your site, having a backup allows you to quickly recover and avoid major problems like file loss, server crashes, or malware attacks.<\/p>\n

How to Backup Your Website in cPanel<\/h4>\n

If you\u2019re using GreenGeeks as your website host, you can back up your website via cPanel by following the steps below.
First, log in to your GreenGeeks account and click on the cPanel button<\/strong> beside your account of choice.<\/p>\n

\"cpanel\"cpanel<\/figure>\n

Next, under the Tools section, click on the Backup button<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"cpanel\"cpanel<\/figure>\n

Now, you can choose between having a full backup or a partial backup<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"cpanel\"cpanel<\/figure>\n

Backups created in cPanel and stored in your home directory will be automatically removed after 48 hours. To avoid losing your data, download the backup to your local computer right after generating it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to take note that cPanel backup is only applicable for accounts that are less than 10 GB in size. For larger accounts exceeding 10 GB, please refer to the backup instructions provided in this tutorial<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Enable Debugging Mode<\/h3>\n

Debugging in WordPress is the process of identifying and fixing errors or issues within your website.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can enable debug mode in WordPress either manually or by using a plugin. Here\u2019s a simple step-by-step guide for both methods:<\/p>\n

Method 1: Using a Plugin<\/h4>\n
    \n
  1. In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"use\"use<\/figure>\n
      \n
    1. Type the \u201cdebug\u201d keyword on the search bar to look for plugin options. Or if you have a specific plugin to use, you type the name of the plugin directly. In the example below, we will try the WP Debugging plugin.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \"use\"use<\/figure>\n
        \n
      1. Click the Install Now<\/strong> button, then activate the plugin.<\/li>\n
      2. Go to Dashboard > Tools > WP Debugging<\/strong>, and check the box next to \u201cSet WP_DEBUG to true\u201d. Then, click Save Changes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Method 2: Manual Method<\/h4>\n
          \n
        1. Before making any changes, create a backup of your site to avoid losing data.<\/li>\n
        2. Use an FTP client like FileZilla, or your hosting provider\u2019s file manager, to locate the wp-config.php file in your website\u2019s public_html folder.<\/li>\n
        3. Download the file and open it with a text editor (e.g., Notepad++). Add the following lines just before the line that says \u201c\/* That\u2019s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. *\/\u201d:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \"manually\"manually<\/figure>\n
            \n
          1. Save the changes and upload the modified file back to your server.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            With debug mode enabled, WordPress will log all errors into a debug.log file, which you can find in the wp-content folder. You can then review this log to troubleshoot the issues.<\/p>\n

            Remember:<\/strong> After you\u2019re done debugging, it\u2019s crucial to disable debug mode to prevent exposing error messages to your site visitors. You can do this by changing true to false in the wp-config.php file or by deactivating the WP Debugging plugin.<\/p>\n

            Common Issues and How to Fix Them<\/span><\/h2>\n

            Here are the most common problems that happen when a WordPress update breaks your site:<\/p>\n

            White Screen of Death (WSOD)<\/h3>\n

            The White Screen of Death (WSOD) in WordPress is a frustrating issue where your website only displays a blank white screen, making both the front end and the back end of your site inaccessible.<\/p>\n

            This often happens after a WordPress update broke the site or when there\u2019s an issue during WordPress website repair.<\/p>\n

            Common Causes of WSOD<\/h4>\n