Common WordPress problems and how to fix them

In short: a wp-admin lockout is almost always a plugin, and renaming its folder switches it off. Inner pages returning 404 are fixed by saving the permalinks again. Plugins that refuse to install can be uploaded as a zip file, and a stuck demo import usually needs higher PHP limits.

Gather the facts first

• Copy the exact error message or take a screenshot.
• Think about the last change: an update, a new plugin, a settings tweak.
• Make a backup if you do not have a recent one. Daily JetBackup copies are also kept on the hosting and can be restored (see restoring with JetBackup 5).

You are locked out of wp-admin

The usual causes are an outdated plugin, a plugin that clashes with something you just updated, or a security plugin blocking your login.

Identify the plugin. WordPress e-mails the site administrator about a "technical issue", naming the plugin and including a recovery mode link that lets you disable it. No e-mail? In cPanel, open Metrics, then Errors; a path such as wp-content/plugins/plugin-name/ gives it away. More on this in How to read error_log and turn off the plugin that causes an error.

Switch it off.

1. In cPanel, open File Manager and browse to the wp-content/plugins folder.
2. Give the plugin folder a new name, for example plugin-name to plugin-name.off. WordPress then treats it as inactive.
3. Sign in to wp-admin, update or replace the plugin, then restore the folder name and activate it again.

Not sure which plugin it is? Rename the whole plugins folder to plugins.off, sign in, rename it back and reactivate plugins one at a time. Their settings stay in the database, so nothing is lost.

The home page works but other pages return 404

The rewrite rules in .htaccess are missing or damaged.

1. In WordPress, go to Settings, then Permalinks, and click Save Changes without changing anything.
2. Still broken? Open .htaccess in the site folder and put back the standard WordPress rules from Setup .htaccess file for popular CMS.
3. If the file keeps getting damaged, a plugin is rewriting it. Test SSL, security, SEO, caching and redirect plugins one by one.

Plugins will not install or update

A plugins_api() error or a message about not reaching WordPress.org is often temporary.

1. Try again after a few minutes.
2. Make sure the account still has free disk space (disk usage in cPanel).
3. Download the plugin as a .zip file from wordpress.org/plugins.
4. Upload it under Plugins, then Add New, then Upload Plugin.

WP Toolkit in cPanel can also update plugins, and it does not depend on the WordPress dashboard.

The theme's demo import never finishes

1. Confirm the theme licence is active and every plugin the demo needs is installed.
2. Look up the recommended PHP values in the theme's documentation. The usual ones are memory_limit, max_execution_time, upload_max_filesize, post_max_size and max_input_vars.
3. Set them in cPanel as described in How to change php.ini settings in cPanel.
4. Check that WordPress sees them under Tools, then Site Health, Info tab, Server section.
5. Run the import again. If the theme allows it, import only the parts you need.

A large import can also hit your plan's CPU or memory limits. The Resource Usage page in cPanel shows whether limits were reached while it ran.

Asking support for help

Open a ticket with the site address, the exact message or a screenshot, your last change and, for demo imports, the theme name and the PHP values it asks for. Never put passwords in the ticket text.

Related articles

• Setup .htaccess file for popular CMS
• Raising WP_MEMORY_LIMIT in WordPress the safe way
• Errors 500 and 503: what they mean and how to fix them
• How to restore a website or specific files using JetBackup 5