WordPress Errors: A Complete Guide to Fixing Them Now (500, 403, White Screen)

🔹 Errore 500 Internal Server Error

The 500 WordPress error is one of the most common and indicates a server-side problem. 👉 In some cases, the 500 WordPress error can also be caused by incorrect server configurations, PHP execution timeouts, or resource limits imposed by the hosting provider.

Most common causes:

• corrupted .htaccess file
• conflicting plugins
• PHP memory out of order

How to fix WordPress error 500:

1. Access via FTP
2. Rename the plugins folder (to deactivate them all)
3. Regenerate the .htaccess file
4. Increase PHP memory

👉 This is one of the most typical cases of a WordPress site not working.

🔹 WordPress white screen

The so-called White Screen of Death shows a completely blank page.

In some cases, the WordPress white screen can also be caused by PHP memory errors or corrupted core files.

Cause:

• PHP errors
• faulty plugins
• incompatible theme

Solution:

• enable WordPress debugging
• deactivate plugin
• try a default theme

If your WordPress site is blank, it's almost always due to an internal technical issue. 👉Find out what to do if your WordPress site won't open.

🔹 WordPress Critical Error

Message: “A critical error has occurred on your website”

Cause:

• PHP incompatibility
• poorly updated plugin

incorrect code

This error may also appear after automatic updates that are not compatible with the installed plugin or theme.

How to fix WordPress critical error:

• access via FTP
• rename the plugins folder
• check administrator email

👉 This is one of the most searched WordPress errors on Google.

If you see this error and your site is blocked, read the complete guide on how to fix a broken WordPress site.

🔹 WordPress Database Connection Error

Message: “Error establishing a database connection”

Cause:

• incorrect credentials
• database unreachable
• server down 👉 This can also occur if the MySQL server is overloaded or the database is experiencing temporary crashes.

Solution:

• check wp-config.php file
• Verify database name, user and password
• contact hosting

👉 This is a classic case of a broken WordPress site that requires urgent intervention.

🔹 Error 403 Forbidden

The WordPress 403 error blocks access to pages or files.

Cause:

• incorrect permissions
• security plugin
• file .htaccess

Solution:

• permit tax 644/755
• disable security plugin
• regenerate .htaccess

🔹 Errore 404 WordPress

The pages exist but are not found.

Solution:

Go to: 👉 Settings → Permalink → Save

This regenerates the URLs.

🔹 Too Many Redirects

Infinite redirect loop.

Cause:

• http/https conflict
• plugin redirect

Solution:

• verify site URL
• clear cache
• check plugin

🔹 Memory Limit Exhausted

WordPress has run out of memory.

Solution:

Add to wp-config.php:

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

👉 Typical problem on sites with many plugins.

🔹 Unable to log in to wp-admin

You can't log in to your WordPress dashboard.

Solution:

• deactivate plugin via FTP
• verify login URL
• check security

🔹 Maintenance mode locked

Message: “Site under maintenance”

Solution:

Elimina he's off. Maintenance

🔹 Check if the problem is server-side

The first check to do is to understand whether the site is actually offline or if it is a temporary server problem.

• check if the site is responsive
• verifica uptime hosting
• test from different devices

👉 If your site doesn't open, it could be a 500 WordPress error or a hosting issue.

🔹 Check for recent plugins and updates

In most cases, a WordPress error is caused by recent changes.

• updated plugins
• new plugins installed
• theme update

👉 If your WordPress site isn't working after an update, this is almost always the problem.

🔹 Find errors using WordPress debugging

To understand what is actually not working, it is useful to enable debugging:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);

👉 This allows you to view hidden errors and determine whether it is a critical WordPress error or a PHP problem.

🔹 Check database connection

If you get a WordPress database error:

• check credentials
• verifica server MySQL
• check wp-config.php file

👉 This is one of the most serious problems because it completely blocks the site.

🔹 Analyze site behavior

The site's behavior can help you understand the problem:

• white screen → PHP error
• Infinite redirect → URL problem
• slow site → server resources

👉 Correctly interpreting the symptoms is essential to resolving a WordPress error.

🧩 Other common WordPress problems

🔹 WordPress Image Loading Error

• check /uploads folder
• check permits

🔹 Errore REST API WordPress

• problem with the Gutenberg plugin
• check permalink

🔹 SSL Error / Mixed Content

• forza HTTPS
• update database URL

🔹 Fatal error WordPress

• serious PHP error
• check debug

🔹 Parse error / syntax error

• error in the code
• fix indicated file

🔹 Plugin update failed

• update manually via FTP

🔹 Slow WordPress site

• optimize cache
• reduce plugins
• improve hosting

👉A slow WordPress site may be due to a poorly optimized structure or inefficient code. In these cases, it may be worth considering building an optimized WordPress site.

Have you encountered an error on your WordPress site and don't know how to fix it? In this section, you'll find answers to frequently asked questions and solutions to common problems, such as white screens, 500 errors, 403 errors, and login issues.

Our FAQs will guide you step-by-step through the issue, so you can get your site back online quickly.