WordPress is a good Content Management System (CMS) with many possibilities. With plugins, you can make your website as extensive as you want.

However, it often happens that the codes of plugins clash with each other or stop working after an update. Programmers do not always coordinate the plugins with each other, which means that each plugin loads its own jQuery Library or may use the same function names.

You might think that your website is hacked, but that may not be the case at all.

Various problems can arise, so we have described the most common questions and problems along with their solutions.

Problems & solutions: Installation

I need to fill in database details, what are they?

Database details during installation are used to give WordPress access to the MySQL database.

The database stores most settings, including:

1. The text of pages and posts.
2. The settings of plugins and your theme.
3. The users

You might have received the MySQL database details from your hosting provider when you received the information about your hosting package.

Alternatively, you may need to create the database yourself, which can often be done through the panel of your hosting provider or via Cpanel or DirectAdmin.

The database details themselves are self-explanatory. You have a database name, a user/username (of which you can create multiple within a database), and a password. Additionally, there’s the table prefix like WP_ (it’s recommended to change the default wp_ prefix to a unique prefix for security reasons!).

Where are my pages, and how do I set a static page as the homepage?

You need to create pages after installation.
Don’t worry; you don’t need to upload pages anymore—that’s the advantage of a CMS!
You can create new pages with just a few clicks within the page management in the WordPress Admin system. The main page or home page is often a blog page that collects and organizes articles by date. Many people want a static page so they can customize it.

To set a static homepage, create a page and go to Settings > Reading in your admin panel, then select the created page as the static homepage.

Problems & solutions: Texts & Pages

The whitespace between my lines disappears after saving my page, why does my “enter” formatting disappear?

This is a typical problem that every blogger and website administrator experiences. It happens because there is a self-protection mechanism within the system that encourages you to use the formatting that the internet prefers. This means using titles and other formatting instead of line breaks. You can solve this by installing the Tiny MCE Advanced Editor plugin and indicating in its settings that WordPress should stop removing breaks and paragraph spaces. However, sometimes you might still need to style the spaces between paragraphs. You can do this by going to the CSS and modifying or creating the p { tag with a Margin-bottom: 10px; attribute. Padding-bottom can also be used if margins don’t work within your theme.

Why are the images in my articles/posts not visible after uploading?

“I can’t add images to my articles; after uploading, the image does not appear, or I see a red cross in Internet Explorer.” This is a common issue and relatively easy to fix. It is related to the missing “uploads” folder or the missing write permissions. First, check if the uploads folder exists: ROOT>wp-content>”uploads”. If the uploads folder is not present, create it manually using an FTP program. If the uploads folder is already there, right-click on the folder and choose “CHMOD or WRITE PERMISSIONS” and set it to 777. It may be set to 664, causing image uploads to fail.

Problems & solutions: Themes

WordPress is a unique system that generates many different pages with a standard set of PHP theme files. The graphic files that provide the output for text and information are summarized in a “theme” folder. The key files you need or want to edit when making changes to a website are:

1. Header.php: Contains the doctype declaration, meta tags, and pre-Javascript/jQuery code. It also includes visual elements of the website, such as the navigation menu, logo, and sometimes a slogan (H1).
2. Page.php: Generates the overall page by calling the header.php and footer.php. This file serves as the basis for pages after the index/home page. It retrieves the content, sidebar, etc., for each page.
3. Style.css: Contains the stylesheet, with all the formatting, colors, fonts, and dimensions.
4. Index.php: Similar to page.php, but used to generate only one page—the homepage. Often, it differs from page.php by displaying different information in the sidebar or showing summaries of the latest posts.

Problems & solutions: Admin

My admin is not accessible anymore?

If you see a white page or an error, you can sometimes get more information by setting the debug_mode to TRUE in your wp-config.php file, as it will display more complete error messages, allowing you to identify which file or plugin is causing the issue.

Admin not accessible after updating plugins: It often happens that a plugin causes errors after an update. In this case, you can deactivate the specific plugins that you updated via FTP by changing the folder name. After that, the admin panel should work again.

Admin not accessible after updating WordPress: WordPress updates don’t always go smoothly, and if files are not fully replaced during the update, your website may encounter errors. In this case, manually upload the new WordPress update to the server (make a complete backup of all files and the database before proceeding). You should upload the following folders:
– wp-includes
– wp-admin <- Especially this one!
And the base files from a new WordPress download.

Note: You should NOT overwrite some files and folders, such as Htaccess, wp-config.php, and the wp-content folder, as they contain unique information not present in your new WordPress installation.

Problems & solutions: I have been hacked

If your website contains unwanted ads or sends spam, you are likely hacked—usually not by a person but by an automated script. In that case, you can contact us or directly request a restoration & security to resolve the issue.

As the Dutch saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure.” Therefore, we recommend installing a preventive security plugin for WordPress.

We receive many messages stating that the WordPress admin panel is not working. One common description is a white page displaying in the admin panel. Unfortunately, this issue can also affect the entire website, making it inaccessible.

There are several possible problems that can cause your WordPress admin panel or website to become inaccessible.

We will discuss some common issues and provide the corresponding solutions:

1. Admin problem caused by Plugins

Errors such as “the white page” or “headers already sent” are often caused by plugins. This can happen if the plugins are poorly coded or if they are no longer compatible with your latest WordPress update.

Possible Solution:

To identify the problematic plugin, you will need to disable them one by one. This can be done if you can still access the plugin page in your admin.

If you can’t access the admin, use FTP software like Filezilla to navigate to the directory: httpdocs > wp-content > plugins.

Temporarily remove all plugins from the directory or only the one you suspect is causing the issue. With the plugin removed from the directory, it will be deactivated, and your WordPress admin should be accessible again. Afterward, you can place the plugins back in the folder. Some plugins may need to be reconfigured after this process.

2. Admin problem after changing the theme

The theme is somewhat separate from the WordPress admin. Therefore, making changes in the theme files usually won’t directly affect the admin. However, there’s one file you need to be careful with, which is the Functions.php file. A code error in this file can render your entire admin inaccessible.

Possible Solution:

If you made changes to the Functions.php file and now experience issues, you can access it via FTP in the httpdocs > wp-content > themes directory. You can try replacing the Functions.php with a correct version if you have a backup or restore the section you were working on in the text editor. It’s preferable to use Notepad++ for this, as it indicates syntax elements with colors and helps spot syntax errors.

3. Admin problem after installation

If you encounter an error immediately after installation instead of the regular wp-admin login page:

• Check if the database is connected since WordPress runs on MySql.
• Download WordPress again and manually upload it to ensure that all files are properly transferred to the server.
• Verify if your hosting server is up-to-date. It’s essential that they have the latest PHP and MySql versions and the mod_rewrite Apache module.
• Try accessing your admin from another computer or using a different browser. Also, clear your browser’s history (cache) to avoid loading an old page.

If you’re still facing issues…

We have been working with WordPress since 2007 and can help you resolve any issues. It may take 30-60 minutes, but we’ll get your WordPress up and running again in no time!

Contact us if you’d like us to assist you – The average cost is around 25-45 euros, and it’s a no-cure-no-pay service!

Issues with WordPress Admin and Possible Solutions

WordPress users often encounter problems with their admin area, especially after updates or activating plugins or themes. If you face such issues, here are some common problems and possible solutions if you want to fix the website on your own.

If Your Admin Is Not Accessible After Activating a Plugin:

Sometimes, plugins can cause issues when they conflict with other components, resulting in a white screen or an unresponsive admin area. If you can’t deactivate the plugin normally, follow this possible solution:

Possible Solution: Use an FTP editor like Filezilla to navigate to the “Plugins” folder (wp-content > plugins). Rename the recently activated plugin folder. This will automatically deactivate the plugin.

If Your Admin Stops Working After a WordPress Update:

Always create a complete data backup before updating!

WordPress updates can sometimes lead to an inaccessible admin area. This may be due to a conflicting plugin that can’t handle the latest update, or the update itself might not have been applied correctly, causing missing code or files.

Possible Solution: Use an FTP editor like Filezilla to manually upload the WordPress core files to the server. Update the following folders: wp-admin, wp-includes, and the root files. However, avoid overwriting the wp-config file, theme, and plugin folders. Refer to the image below to see which files to keep and which ones to update.

Do not overwrite these files: wp-content (contains plugins and themes), wp-config.php (contains database connection information), and .htaccess (contains permalink structure).

Overwrite the other files with those from a new WordPress release.

If your website still doesn’t work after manually updating the files, it might be necessary to revert to an older version of WordPress. This is not an ideal solution but could be necessary for plugins with outdated code.

Remember, it’s always best to keep your WordPress installation, plugins, and themes up to date to minimize the chances of encountering such issues. If you are unsure or find the process too complex, seeking professional assistance is recommended to ensure a smooth and secure website.

If you receive a notification from your hosting provider or Google indicating that your website is sending spam, it means that your website has been infected with a file that is sending unauthorized emails to a list of addresses. This can lead to your website being blacklisted, and all email communication from your IP address might be blocked, causing significant issues, especially if you use your email for business purposes.

To address the issue and prevent further spamming, follow these steps:

1. **Check if you are on a blacklist**: You can use websites like `mxtoolbox.com` to check if your IP address is blacklisted. This will give you an indication if your email communications are affected.

2. **Identify and remove the spam file**: To find and remove the spam file, you need some background knowledge. Spam files are usually PHP scripts and are often encoded using `eval` or `base64`, making them difficult to recognize when opened in a code editor. Compare your current website files to a fresh WordPress installation to identify suspicious files. Look for files with unusual names or those added at a different time than the rest of your files.

3. **Fix the root cause**: Simply removing the spam file is not enough. You need to address the vulnerability that allowed the spam script to be uploaded to your server in the first place. Common ways spam scripts are uploaded include exploiting vulnerabilities in plugins, injections, or FTP access. Take steps to secure your WordPress website, such as updating plugins, using strong passwords, and following best security practices.

4. **Request de-listing**: Once you are confident that the spam file is removed and your website is secure, you can request de-listing from the blacklist. The de-listing process may take a few hours.

5. **Prevent future spam**: Implement security measures to prevent future spam attacks. Enhance your WordPress website security by following best practices and avoiding common security pitfalls.

Remember that maintaining the security of your WordPress website is an ongoing process. Regularly update plugins, themes, and WordPress core to patch vulnerabilities and regularly perform security checks to ensure your website remains secure and spam-free.