WordPress Site Broken After an Update? Here’s How to Fix It ⚠️

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We’ve all been there – you click that update button feeling confident and ready to embrace the latest and greatest WordPress features.

But then BAM! Your website goes down leaving you staring at a blank screen and wondering what went wrong.

It’s a common experience especially for those who haven’t yet mastered the art of managing WordPress updates.

Fear not my fellow website warriors! This is where I come in armed with years of experience and a love for all things WordPress.

Tired of fighting the WSOD? 😫 This blog post has all the answers! Learn how to master WordPress updates and keep your site running smooth

The Dreadful White Screen of Death: A Common WordPress Foe




Tired of fighting the WSOD? 😫 This blog post has all the answers! Learn how to master WordPress updates and keep your site running smooth

Ah the dreaded white screen of death (WSOD) – a sight that sends shivers down the spine of any website owner.

It’s like a digital ghost haunting your screen and whispering tales of lost content and broken functionality.

Usually the WSOD appears after an update but it can also be triggered by a poorly written plugin or theme.

The root cause lies in a fatal error usually a code conflict that stops your WordPress website from loading correctly.

To make matters worse the WSOD is quite cryptic.

It doesn’t provide detailed error messages to guide you towards a solution.

You’re left in the dark wondering what to do and where to start.

Unmasking the Culprit: Diagnosing the Source of the Problem

Before we jump into fixing the WSOD we need to pinpoint the culprit.

Think of it like a digital detective – we need to gather clues and piece together the story to find the guilty party.

Here are some key suspects:

  • Plugins: Plugins add functionality to WordPress but they can also clash with core updates or other plugins leading to errors.
  • Themes: Like plugins themes can also become incompatible after an update leading to the WSOD.
  • Core WordPress Updates: Sometimes core updates cause conflicts with existing plugins or themes resulting in a dysfunctional website.
  • PHP Version: Upgrading your PHP version can lead to compatibility issues with plugins or themes even if your host supports it.

The “Disable and Conquer” Strategy: Unmasking the Guilty Party

The most effective way to find the problematic plugin or theme is through a process of elimination.

We’ll start by disabling all plugins and switching to a default WordPress theme.

Here’s the breakdown:

1. Deactivating All Plugins: If you have access to your WordPress dashboard navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins and deactivate each one. This ensures that no plugin is interfering with your website’s functionality.

2. Switching to a Default Theme: Head to Appearance > Themes and choose one of the default WordPress themes like Twenty Twenty-Three.

3. Testing in Incognito Mode: Open your website in an incognito browser window to ensure there’s no cached data influencing the outcome. If your website loads correctly you’ve successfully identified that either a plugin or theme was causing the issue.

4. Identifying the Culprit: Now it’s time to activate your plugins one by one carefully testing the website after each activation. If the WSOD appears the plugin you just activated is the problem.

5. Theme or Plugin? The Final Verdict: If you’ve reactivated all your plugins and your website still loads without errors then the theme is the culprit.

6. Troubleshooting Theme and Plugin Conflicts: If you updated your theme and plugins simultaneously it’s essential to test whether the issue is caused by the theme itself or a conflict between the theme and a plugin.

7. Resolving the Conflict: Once you’ve identified the troublesome plugin or theme you have a few options:

  • Rollback to a Previous Version: Try reverting to a previous version of the plugin or theme.
  • Disable Until an Update: Disable the plugin or theme until a future update resolves the issue.
  • Find an Alternative: Explore other plugins or themes that provide similar functionality.

When You Can’t Access Your WordPress Dashboard: SFTP to the Rescue

If the WSOD prevents you from accessing your WordPress dashboard you can use SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) to disable plugins and themes.

  1. Connecting to Your Server: Use an SFTP client like FileZilla to connect to your WordPress server. Your hosting provider will provide the necessary connection details.

  2. Navigating to the Plugins and Themes Folders: Locate the wp-content/plugins and wp-content/themes folders.

  3. Renaming the Folders: Rename the plugin folders. For example change wp-content/plugins to wp-content/plugins1. Do the same for the theme folders.

  4. Testing in Incognito Mode: Test your website in an incognito browser window. If it loads correctly you’ve successfully identified that either a plugin or theme was causing the issue.

  5. Re-enabling Plugins and Themes: If your site is now accessible rename the folders back to their original names. This will make the plugins and themes appear in your WordPress dashboard but they will be inactive.

  6. Testing in the Dashboard: Now that you have access to your dashboard follow the steps outlined in the “Disable and Conquer” strategy to identify the culprit and resolve the conflict.

Core Updates and PHP Version Compatibility: Beyond Plugins and Themes

Plugins and themes aren’t the only culprits when it comes to update-related issues.

Sometimes core WordPress updates or PHP version changes can cause havoc.

Rolling Back to a Previous WordPress Version: When Core Updates Go Wrong

If a core WordPress update breaks your website the most reliable solution is to roll back to a previous version.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Backup Backup Backup: Always take a backup of your website before making any significant changes especially when dealing with core updates.

  2. Using the WordPress Updater: If you’re using a recent WordPress version (4.7 or later) you can use the WordPress Updater feature to roll back to a previous version. Navigate to Dashboard > Updates and choose the desired version from the dropdown menu.

  3. Using SFTP: If you’re using an older WordPress version or the WordPress Updater doesn’t work you can revert to a previous version using SFTP.

  4. Downloading the Previous Version: Download the previous version of WordPress from the WordPress website.

  5. Uploading the Files: Using your SFTP client upload the downloaded files to your WordPress root directory replacing the current files.

PHP Version Compatibility: A Potential Source of Trouble

Upgrading your PHP version can significantly improve your website’s performance.

However it can also cause compatibility issues with plugins or themes.

  1. PHP Version Compatibility Check: Before upgrading check if your plugins and themes are compatible with the latest PHP version.

  2. Downgrading PHP: If your website breaks after upgrading PHP you’ll need to downgrade to a previous version.

  3. Contacting Your Hosting Provider: If you’re unsure how to downgrade your PHP version contact your hosting provider for assistance. They’ll be able to provide you with instructions or handle it for you.

Preventing Future Headaches: Proactive Measures for Update Success

Now that you’ve learned how to fix a broken WordPress site let’s discuss strategies for preventing future update disasters.

Staging Sites: Your Digital Playground

Staging sites are a website owner’s best friend.

They are essentially clones of your live website allowing you to test updates and changes in a safe environment without affecting your live website.

  1. Creating a Staging Site: Use your hosting provider’s tools or a plugin like WP Staging to create a staging site.

  2. Testing Updates: Install any new updates (core theme or plugin) on the staging site and test it thoroughly.

  3. Monitoring for Errors: Look for errors broken features or any issues that might arise from the updates.

  4. Deploying Updates: Once you’re confident that the updates are working correctly on your staging site you can deploy them to your live website.

Regular Updates: The Foundation of a Healthy Website

Skipping updates is a recipe for disaster.

Regular updates are crucial for ensuring the security and stability of your website.

They patch vulnerabilities improve performance and provide new features.

  1. Enabling Automatic Updates: Enable automatic updates for core plugins and themes. This ensures that your website is always running on the latest versions.

  2. Manual Updates: If you prefer manual updates check for updates regularly and install them promptly.

Backups: Your Safety Net

Backups are essential for any website but they are especially important when dealing with updates.

They provide a safety net in case something goes wrong.

  1. Choosing a Backup Solution: Select a backup solution that meets your needs. Consider options like Jetpack Backup UpdraftPlus or your hosting provider’s built-in backup features.

  2. Scheduling Backups: Set up regular backups ideally daily or weekly to ensure that you have a recent backup in case of an issue.

Jetpack Backup: Your Ultimate Update Shield

Jetpack Backup is a powerful tool that provides real-time backups for your WordPress website.

This means that your site is constantly backed up giving you peace of mind when you perform updates.

  1. Jetpack Backup: Install Jetpack Backup on your website.

  2. Real-Time Backups: Jetpack Backup automatically creates real-time backups ensuring that you have a snapshot of your site at any given moment.

  3. Instant Restoration: If an update causes an issue you can instantly restore your website from a Jetpack backup with just a few clicks.

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of WordPress Updates

Navigating the world of WordPress updates can be daunting but it doesn’t have to be.

By following these strategies you can minimize the risk of encountering problems and confidently update your website while maintaining its functionality.

Remember prevention is key.

By regularly updating your website using a staging site for testing and relying on a robust backup solution like Jetpack Backup you can protect your website and avoid the dreaded white screen of death.

So embrace updates with confidence! The latest features and improved security are waiting for you.

Remember a well-maintained WordPress site is a happy website and a happy website is a successful website.




Tired of fighting the WSOD? 😫 This blog post has all the answers! Learn how to master WordPress updates and keep your site running smooth

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