Knowledgebase

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems in the world, powering over 40% of all websites. While it is user-friendly and flexible, issues can arise due to hosting environments, plugin conflicts, or misconfigurations. For Nairahost users, understanding how to identify, troubleshoot, and fix common WordPress hosting problems is essential to maintaining a smooth, functional website. This guide is designed to help beginners and intermediate users solve common WordPress issues efficiently, reducing downtime, improving performance, and minimizing the need for customer support intervention.

Why Troubleshooting WordPress Hosting is Important

WordPress websites rely heavily on hosting environments. Even a small misconfiguration on the server or within WordPress can cause errors that affect accessibility, speed, and security. By knowing how to troubleshoot these issues, website owners can:

• Reduce downtime and improve visitor experience

• Prevent security breaches and data loss

• Maintain website performance and SEO rankings

• Minimize reliance on customer support

Proactive troubleshooting is the key to maintaining a stable and fast website, especially if you run a business or manage multiple client sites.

Common WordPress Hosting Issues and How to Identify Them

1. Error Establishing Database Connection

Symptoms:

• Your website shows “Error Establishing Database Connection” instead of loading content.

• Admin dashboard is inaccessible.

Causes:

• Incorrect database credentials in wp-config.php

• Database server is down

• Corrupted database

Solution:

1. Verify your database name, username, password, and host in wp-config.php.

2. Check your MySQL server status via cPanel → MySQL Databases.

3. Repair your database using phpMyAdmin:

   • Log in to cPanel → phpMyAdmin

   • Select your WordPress database

   • Click “Check Tables” → Repair if needed

4. If the problem persists, contact Nairahost support.

2. White Screen of Death (WSOD)

Symptoms:

• A blank white page appears with no error message.

• Admin dashboard may be inaccessible.

Causes:

• Plugin or theme conflicts

• PHP memory limit exceeded

• Syntax errors in code

Solution:

1. Deactivate all plugins by renaming the plugins folder via FTP or File Manager.

2. Switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three.

3. Increase PHP memory limit in wp-config.php by adding:

4. Check error logs in cPanel → Metrics → Errors to identify issues.

3. Slow Website Performance

Symptoms:

• Pages take too long to load.

• High bounce rates and poor user experience.

Causes:

• Unoptimized images

• Excessive plugins

• Poor caching or server configuration

Solution:

1. Install a caching plugin (e.g., WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache).

2. Optimize images using compression plugins or online tools.

3. Minimize plugins, removing unnecessary ones.

4. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to serve static files faster.

5. Enable GZIP compression via cPanel → Optimize Website.

4. 500 Internal Server Error

Symptoms:

• Website returns a generic server error message.

Causes:

• Corrupted .htaccess file

• PHP errors or plugin conflicts

Solution:

1. Rename the .htaccess file in the root directory to .htaccess_old.

2. Log in to WordPress → Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes to generate a new .htaccess.

3. Disable all plugins to check for conflicts.

4. If the error persists, contact Nairahost support for server-level issues.

5. WordPress Admin Login Issues

Symptoms:

• Cannot access /wp-admin

• Forgotten password or email issues

Causes:

• Incorrect login credentials

• Corrupted user account

• Email delivery problems

Solution:

1. Use “Lost Password” link to reset credentials.

2. Manually reset password via phpMyAdmin:

   • Go to wp_users table

   • Edit the admin account and update user_pass using MD5 encryption

3. Verify your email configuration is correct in Settings → General.

4. Clear browser cache or try incognito mode.

Essential WordPress Hosting Maintenance Practices

Maintaining a WordPress site isn’t only about fixing problems; it’s also about preventing them. Follow these practices to ensure long-term stability:

1. Regular Backups

• Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or Jetpack to schedule automatic backups.

• Store backups on remote storage such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or AWS.

• Test backups periodically to ensure they work.

2. Update WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins

• Keep WordPress updated to the latest version for security and performance.

• Update themes and plugins regularly but ensure compatibility first.

• Avoid outdated plugins, as they may introduce vulnerabilities.

3. Monitor Website Uptime and Performance

• Use tools like UptimeRobot or Pingdom to monitor site uptime.

• Analyze page load times using Google PageSpeed Insights.

• Address slow-loading pages by optimizing images, scripts, and server settings.

4. Secure Your Website

• Install security plugins such as Wordfence or Sucuri.

• Use strong passwords and unique usernames.

• Enable SSL for encrypted connections (HTTPS).

• Limit login attempts and use two-factor authentication (2FA).

5. Optimize Database

• Clean up unnecessary revisions, spam comments, and transient options.

• Use plugins like WP-Optimize or WP-Sweep for database maintenance.

• Schedule database optimization monthly to improve performance.

How to Reduce WordPress Hosting Support Issues

By educating yourself and implementing the right practices, you can reduce the frequency of support requests:

1. Provide clear installation and configuration guides to users.

2. Maintain an internal knowledge base with step-by-step troubleshooting articles.

3. Enable automated alerts for server performance issues.

4. Educate clients on best practices for plugin installation and theme updates.

5. Regularly review hosting logs to detect early signs of errors.

Advanced Troubleshooting Tips for Nairahost Users

Enable Debugging

• Add the following to wp-config.php for detailed error messages:

• Check /wp-content/debug.log for error details.

Check File Permissions

• Ensure WordPress files have correct permissions:

  • Folders: 755

  • Files: 644

• Incorrect permissions can cause plugin errors or security risks.

Review Server Configuration

• Ensure PHP version is compatible (Nairahost supports PHP 8.1+ for WordPress).

• Enable required PHP extensions: cURL, GD, mbstring, OpenSSL.

• Adjust memory limits and execution time in cPanel → Select PHP Version → Options.

Resolve Email Delivery Issues

• Use SMTP plugins like WP Mail SMTP to ensure reliable email sending.

• Verify DNS records for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.

• Test email notifications after plugin or theme changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How often should I back up my WordPress website?
A: For active websites with daily content updates, daily backups are recommended. For static or low-traffic websites, weekly backups may suffice.

Q2: What is the safest way to update WordPress plugins?
A: Update plugins one at a time and check your website after each update. Backup your site before making major updates.

Q3: How can I know if a plugin is causing my website to slow down?
A: Use the Query Monitor plugin or perform plugin conflict testing by disabling all plugins and enabling them one by one while monitoring performance.

Q4: What do I do if my website is hacked?
A: Restore a clean backup, change all passwords, remove unauthorized users, scan with security plugins, and contact Nairahost support for assistance.

Q5: Can I improve my website speed without changing my hosting plan?
A: Yes, optimizing images, enabling caching, using a CDN, minimizing plugins, and optimizing your database can significantly improve speed.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting WordPress hosting issues is a critical skill for any website owner. By understanding common problems, implementing preventative measures, and knowing how to resolve errors, you can ensure your website remains secure, fast, and fully functional. Nairahost provides a reliable hosting environment, but even the best servers require proper maintenance and monitoring.

This guide equips you with practical solutions, step-by-step instructions, and advanced tips to reduce downtime, prevent errors, and enhance your WordPress experience. By following these practices, you can focus on growing your website or business rather than worrying about technical problems.