WordPress is a popular content management system with annoying errors like the Site is experiencing technical difficulties which may cause inconveniences in the functionality and general experience of using a particular site. This mistake normally occurs when there is something that goes wrong with your WordPress site, and it fails to load. It comes side by side with the email alert to the site administrator saying, Your site is suffering technical problems. Instructions are all yours to find in your site admin email inbox.”This is a serious issue, I can tell you that it is very important to have this problem solved as soon as possible to not lose the performance of the site, the users’ trust, and search engine rankings.
What Causes the “Site is Experiencing Technical Difficulties” Error?
It is necessary to have an insight into what causes this error before delving into solutions. That message is a generic error notice, which was added with WordPress 5.2 as part of their Notices feature, which is to help with a critical error, usually something to do with a PHP problem or a fatal error that took down your site. And here are the most popular ones:
- Plugin Conflict: The poor coding or incompatible plugins may conflict with each other or even with your WordPress core, resulting in your site crashing.
- Theme Problems: A problematic or old theme would cause errors, particularly after updating WordPress.
- Syntax errors in your site’s code, such as a syntax error in custom functions or in custom plugins.
- Obsolete Core of WordPress: Use of the obsolete Core of WordPress may lead to incompatibility of the program with plugins or themes.
- Server Problems: Your hosting environment may have problems like a lack of memory or the wrong PHP version, which may cause this error.
- Bad Files: A bad WordPress core file, a theme, or a plugin can interfere with the normal functioning of the site.
- Database Problems: Problems in the database, a stagnant or damaged database, may be in the way of your website being loaded.
Learning these causes will assist you in identifying the problem and utilizing the right solution. Now it is time to get into solutions.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fix the Error
You may fix the error of the type, Site is experiencing technical difficulties, following the regular path of troubleshooting that is given in these steps. Always create a backup of the site before altering its contents in order to prevent loss of data.
Step 1: Check Your Admin Email for Error Details
Upon occurrence of this error, WordPress sends an email to the site manager about the problem. The email usually has:
- The type of plugin, theme, or file that resulted in the error.
- Step-by-step procedures to put it in recovery mode.
Action Steps:
- Go to your admin email account and check out whether there is an email coming through in WordPress that has the subject line of, Your site is experiencing technical difficulties.
- Save the details of the errors, including a troublesome plugin/theme.
- In case the email contains the stage of recovery mode, you should click on it and go to your WordPress dashboard in recovery mode. This mode would also enable you to disable troublesome or misbehaved plugins or themes without entering the entire dashboard.
The email is not on hand? Have a look at your spam or make sure that the admin email address in WordPress (Settings > General) is correct.
Step 2: Enable WordPress Debug Mode
You may not get the email or want to get more information regarding what went wrong; in that case, activating WordPress debug mode should point you to the problem. The debug mode logs errors, warnings, and notices, and gives an idea about what is wrong.
Action Steps:
- Access your WordPress files via FTP/SFTP (using tools like FileZilla) or your hosting file manager.
- Locate the wp-config.php file in your WordPress root directory.
- Back up the file before editing.
- Open wp-config.php and find the line that says:
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, false);
Replace it with:
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);
- define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false);
- WP_DEBUG: Enables debugging.
- WP_DEBUG_LOG: Saves errors to a log file (wp-content/debug.log).
- WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY: Prevents errors from displaying on the front end to avoid exposing sensitive information.
- Save the file and upload it back to your server.
- Reload your site to trigger the error, then check the debug.log file in the wp-content folder for error messages.
The debug log will often point to a specific plugin, theme, or file causing the issue. Use this information to guide your next steps.
Step 3: Deactivate All Plugins
One of the main reasons for this error is the conflict with the Plugins. To help determine the existence of a guilty plugin, all plugin deactivations can be done.
If You Have Recovery Mode Access:
- Hit the recovery mode and log in to your WordPress post.
- Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
- Hit the checkbox to select all of your plugins, then on the bulk actions section, select Deactivate in the menu, then hit Apply.
If You Don’t Have Recovery Mode Access:
- Have WordPress file access using either FTP access or server file manager.
- Go to the directory of wp-content/plugins.
- Rename the plugins folder to plugins-backup. This will disable all downloaded plugins, but leave them still intact.
- Error: Refresh your site to see whether it is fixed.
When the mistake becomes invisible, it can probably be a plugin. In the search for the faulty plugin:
- A restoration should be done by renaming the plugins-backup folder to plugins.
- Turning off the plugins one by one, changing the name of the folder of each one (e.g., plugin-name-backup), and see what happens on your site.
- When the error is back again, the recently reactivated plugin is the one responsible.
Next Steps:
- Upgrade the issue-plagued plugin to the recent version.
- In case the problem remains and the plugin developer is reached, you may contact the developer or substitute the plugin with one having the same functionality.
Step 4: Switch to a Default Theme
This error may also be caused by an improper theme or an incompatible theme. To know whether it is a theme, you can switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-five).
If You Have Recovery Mode Access:
- Enter your dashboard through the recovery mode.
- Go to appearance > themes.
- Enable one of the default themes, such as Twenty Twenty-Five.
If You Don’t Have Recovery Mode Access:
- Go to your WordPress files using FTP or a file manager.
- Search the folder wp-content and the themes folder.
- Change the name of the folder of your active theme (e.g., my-theme to my-theme-backup). WordPress will also default to a default theme.
- Error: Refresh your site to see whether it is fixed.
Step 5: Check PHP Version and Server Settings
An outdated or incompatible PHP version can cause this error, especially after a WordPress update. WordPress recommends PHP 7.4 or higher for optimal performance.
Action Steps:
- Check your current PHP version:
- Log in to your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel, Plesk).
- Look for a “PHP Version” or “MultiPHP Manager” section.
- Alternatively, create a file named info.php in your WordPress root directory with the following content:
<?php phpinfo(); ?> - Access yourdomain.com/info.php to view your PHP version, then delete the file for security.
- If your PHP version is outdated (e.g., below 7.4), update it:
- In your hosting control panel, select a newer PHP version (e.g., 8.0 or 8.1).
- Test your site for compatibility after updating.
- Increase PHP memory limit:
- Edit wp-config.php and add:
define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’); - Alternatively, edit your server’s php.ini file (if accessible) to increase memory_limit to 256M or higher.
- Edit wp-config.php and add:
- Contact your hosting provider if you’re unsure how to update PHP or increase memory limits.
Step 6: Reinstall WordPress Core Files
Corrupted WordPress core files can cause this error. Reinstalling the core files can resolve the issue without affecting your content.
Action Steps:
- Download the latest WordPress version from wordpress.org.
- Extract the ZIP file and delete the wp-content folder and wp-config.php file from the downloaded package to avoid overwriting your content and settings.
- Upload the remaining files to your WordPress root directory via FTP, overwriting the existing core files.
- Reload your site to check if the error is resolved.
Alternatively, use the WordPress dashboard (if accessible):
- Navigate to Dashboard > Updates.
- Click “Reinstall Now” to reinstall the current WordPress version.
Step 7: Check and Repair Your Database
A corrupted database can also cause this error. WordPress provides a built-in database repair tool, or you can use a plugin like WP-DBManager.
Action Steps:
- Enable the database repair tool:
- Edit wp-config.php and add:
define(‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true);
- Edit wp-config.php and add:
- Visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php.
- Click “Repair Database” or “Repair and Optimize Database.”
- Remove the WP_ALLOW_REPAIR line from wp-config.php after repairing.
If the issue persists, contact your hosting provider to check for deeper database issues or restore a recent database backup.
Step 8: Restore a Backup
If none of the above steps work, restoring a recent backup may be your best option. Most hosting providers offer automated backups, or you may have a backup from a plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy.
Action Steps:
- Access your hosting control panel or backup plugin.
- Select a backup from before the error occurred.
- Follow the provider’s or plugin’s instructions to restore your site.
- Test your site thoroughly after restoration.
Step 9: Contact Your Hosting Provider
If you’re still unable to resolve the error, your hosting provider can assist. They can check server logs, identify resource limitations, or detect server-side issues like misconfigured .htaccess files or security restrictions.
Action Steps:
- Provide your hosting provider with details from your debug log and any error messages.
- Ask them to check server resources, PHP configurations, and error logs.
- Request assistance with restoring a backup if needed.
Preventing the Error in the Future
Once you’ve resolved the error, take these steps to prevent it from recurring:
- Keep Everything Updated:
- Regularly update WordPress core, themes, and plugins to avoid compatibility issues.
- Enable automatic updates for minor WordPress releases in wp-config.php:
define(‘WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE’, ‘minor’);
- Choose Reliable Plugins and Themes:
- Use well-reviewed, frequently updated plugins and themes from trusted sources like the WordPress repository.
- Avoid nulled or pirated plugins/themes, as they often contain malicious code.
- Monitor Your Site:
- Use monitoring tools like Jetpack or UptimeRobot to get alerts about downtime or errors.
- Regularly check your debug log for potential issues.
- Maintain Regular Backups:
- Use a reliable backup plugin or your hosting provider’s backup service to create daily or weekly backups.
- Store backups off-site (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox) for added security.
- Optimize Your Database:
- Use plugins like WP-Optimize to clean and optimize your database regularly.
- Avoid storing unnecessary data, such as post revisions or spam comments.
- Choose a Quality Hosting Provider:
- Opt for a reputable host with WordPress-optimized servers, sufficient resources, and reliable support.
- Avoid shared hosting plans with limited resources for high-traffic sites.
- Enable Error Monitoring:
- Keep WP_DEBUG_LOG enabled to log errors without displaying them on the front end.
- Use error-tracking plugins like Query Monitor to identify issues early.
SEO Best Practices for WordPress Error Recovery
As a search engine optimization specialist, I understand that downtime and errors may influence your ratings in the search engines. These are the ways to lessen the damage caused by SEO when this error is resolved and when it is still in the process of being overcome:
- Minimize Downtime:
- So that your site is not affected by a significant downtime, it is important to correct the error as soon as possible.
- Monitor Google Search Console:
- Check for crawl errors or indexing issues in Google Search Console after resolving the error.
- Submit your sitemap to ensure search engines re-crawl your site.
- Update Content:
- Once the mistake is corrected, publish a new blog post or alter some of the existing material to indicate to the search engines your website is active.
- Check Site Speed:
- With the help of such tools as Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix, you can guarantee that the site will become active following repairs.
- To boost speed, optimize images, turn on caching (such as WP Rocket), and apply a CDN.
- Fix Broken Links:
- Run a check to find and repair all the broken links that the error may have made using a tool such as Broken Link Checker.
- Communicate with Users:
- In the event that the error resulted in high downtimes, make a post on social media or inform the subscribers through email on what the problem was and how it was solved.
Conclusion
The site is experiencing technical difficulties. Error in WordPress may be intimidating, but using the right method, managing it can be done effectively. Your site can be back online by checking the admin email, switching to debug mode, deactivating plug-ins, changing themes, upgrading PHP, re-installing core files, repairing the database, or restoring a backup. Such precautionary steps as frequent updates, the use of well-developed plugins/themes, and effective backups will allow you to evade this kind of problem in further work.
Using this guide, you will be able not only to debug the error but also to protect the SEO popularity and user experience on your site. When you are in a pickle and still can not resolve this issue, contact your hosting provider or WordPress developer for professional help.
WordPress website optimisation services provide performance analysis and implement onpage and technical SEO strategies to boost visibility and site performance. Wpclerks malware removal service aims to secure your website from phishing, SQL Injections and Viruses.
