Has your WordPress site broken after an update? Don’t worry—you’re not alone.
Many WordPress users experience this, but the good thing is that fixing it is often easier than you think. Whether something looks weird and the site just can’t load or any error messages pop up after an update or two, this resource will help get your website back online immediately and with as little stress as possible.
Updates are meant to make WordPress becoming faster, more secure, and even more feature-rich. But sometimes things go wrong. Let us walk you through the most common reasons for your WordPress site going down after updating and how to fix it.
Why Do WordPress Updates Break Your Site?
WordPress requires updating the site for security and performance, but such updates sometimes bring problems. Here are a few reasons why your site might break after an update:
- Plugin Conflicts: WordPress plugins help extend the functionality of your site. However, sometimes, such plugins do not work well with the latest WordPress updates, leading to a crash or malfunction.
- Theme Issues: Themes control the way your site looks. Therefore, if your theme is not compatible with the latest version of WordPress, your site might also look broken and misplaced.
- Core Files Corruption: WordPress has core files that make WordPress run. If something went wrong during the update such as an interruption then these files might get corrupted, and this causes problems.
- Outdated PHP Version: WordPress uses a programming language called PHP. If your hosting server is running an outdated version of PHP, it may cause compatibility issues with the new WordPress version.
- Interrupted Updates: In case your update got interrupted, it can be because of a bad internet connection, some issues on the server side, or due to some plugin conflicts, leaving your site in a broken state.
But no worries—fixing the problem usually boils down to solving it. So let’s jump into those steps on getting your site back in shape.
Step 1: Try to Restore the WP Backup
If you have been doing regular backups of your site (and please say that is true!), restoring your site to the last working version will quickly fix any issues caused by the update.
How to Restore Your Backup?
- Using Backup Plugins: Popular plugins like UpdraftPlus, BackWPup, or VaultPress make restoring backups easy. Simply log into your WordPress dashboard, go to the backup plugin section, and follow the steps to fix your site to the latest backup.
- Contact your hosting provider: If you don’t use a backup plugin, you might have backups available through your hosting provider. Most hosting companies like SiteGround, Bluehost, and WP Engine offer automated backups. Reach out to their support team to restore WordPress backup.
Tip: Regular backups are crucial! If you don’t already use a backup plugin, now is a great time to set one up to prevent future issues.
Step 2: Deactivate Plugins and Themes
Sometimes, an update may cause one of your plugins or themes to malfunction with the latest WordPress version. Here’s how to diagnose the problem:
How to Deactivate Plugins and Themes?
Deactivating Plugins:
- Log into your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
- Click Deactivate next to all plugins.
- Refresh your site. If it works, reactivate the plugins individually to identify the culprit.
If plugins aren’t the issue, try switching to the default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Three) to see if the theme is causing the problem.
Switch to the Default Theme:
- Go to Appearance > Themes.
- Activate the default theme.
- Check if the site loads correctly. If it does, the problem may be with your theme.
Step 3: Update Your WordPress Core and PHP Version
If WordPress fails to update correctly or isn’t running the latest version, reinstalling it manually can help fix broken files.
Reinstalling WordPress Core:
- Go to Dashboard > Updates in the WordPress admin panel.
- Click the Reinstall Now button to reinstall the core files.
WordPress recommends using PHP version 7.4 or higher. To check or update PHP, contact your hosting provider or use your hosting account’s control panel (often found in cPanel or a similar dashboard).
Tip: If you need help updating PHP or reinstalling WordPress, your hosting provider’s support team can assist. Also, consider upgrading to a WordPress dedicated server if you want more stability and better control over your site’s performance.
Step 4: Clear Your Browser and WordPress Cache
Sometimes, the issue isn’t with your site—it’s just a caching problem. Both WordPress and your browser store cache to speed up site loading. The outdated cache can make it seem like your site is still broken.
How to Clear Your Cache?
- Clear Browser Cache: Clear your browser’s cache through it’s settings (look for “Clear browsing data”).
- Clear WordPress Cache: If you use a caching plugin like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache, clear the cache by going to the plugin settings and selecting the option to clear it.
Step 5: Disable or Reinstall WordPress Updates
If your site is still broken, temporarily turn off automatic WordPress updates. This step is helpful if you know an update caused the issue and want to avoid more updates while troubleshooting.
To turn off automatic updates, edit your wp-config.php file (this file controls WordPress configuration settings). Add the following line:
define(‘WP_AUTO_UPDATE_CORE’, false);
This will stop auto-updates. Remember to turn them back on once the issue is resolved.
Step 6: Check Your Site’s Error Logs
Sometimes, tracking the problem requires looking at your site’s error logs. These logs record issues while running WordPress and can provide clues about what’s causing the problem.
How to Check Error Logs:
- You can access your error logs through your hosting account’s control panel (cPanel) or contact your hosting provider for help.
- Alternatively, you can enable WordPress’s debug mode to get detailed error messages. To do this, add this line to your wp-config.php file:
define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );
This will display more detailed error messages, helping you pinpoint the issue.
Step 7: Contact Your Hosting Provider
If none of the above steps fix the issue, contact your hosting provider’s support team. They are experts in server-side problems and can handle server errors, file corruption, and outdated software. You can restore wp backup to recover your site to it’s previous working state if necessary.
Prevent Future WordPress Update Issues
Once your site is back online, here are some tips to avoid future problems:
- Back-Up Your Site Regularly: Use a reliable backup plugin to protect your site before any update. A WP backup and restore solution can be a lifesaver if something goes wrong.
- Test Updates on a Staging Site: Many hosting providers offer staging sites where you can test updates before applying them to your live site.
- Keep Everything Updated: Regularly update WordPress, themes, and plugins to avoid compatibility issues.
- Use Reliable Hosting: Choose a hosting provider with strong support and regularly updates server-side software to minimize compatibility issues. WP hosting from a reliable provider can make a huge difference in site stability and performance.
Conclusion
WordPress site issues after an update can be frustrating, but they are often easier to fix than they seem. Whether you restore from a backup of a WordPress site, deactivate conflicting plugins or reinstall core files, these steps can help you quickly get your site back online and running smoothly.
To prevent future issues, always backup WordPress sites regularly and ensure all plugins, themes, and core files are updated to their latest versions. A proactive approach to maintenance can save you from unexpected downtime and security risks.
With WeWP, you get seamless WordPress management, reliable backup solutions, expert support, and a hassle-free website experience, ensuring your site remains secure, optimized, and always available to visitors.
Get your WordPress site back on track with our reliable support and hosting solutions!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I restore my WordPress site from a backup?
Use backup plugins like UpdraftPlus or contact your hosting provider for assistance with restoring backups.
Why is my WordPress site down after an update?
Common causes include plugin conflicts, theme issues, corrupted core files, or outdated PHP versions.
How can I identify which plugin is causing the issue?
Deactivate all plugins, then reactivate them individually to find the culprit causing the issue.
How do I update my PHP version for WordPress?
Contact your hosting provider or use your hosting account’s control panel to update PHP to version 7.4 or higher.
Can I prevent future WordPress update issues?
You should regularly back up your site, test updates on a staging site, and keep WordPress, themes, and plugins up to date.