A website’s downtime can cause its business in several ways, primarily traffic, leads, and even credibility. Whether your website is down for a few hours or a few days, it can be a nightmare.
If you are wondering about the exact cause of a website going down, you may be discouraged to learn that there is no specific reason. In this blog post, we have shared a few common causes of WordPress websites going down, along with how developers can assist you in fixing your website.
#1 Server or Hosting Issues
Your web hosting server plays a massive role in keeping your website live. It won’t be wrong to say that your server can make or break your website.
Below are some of the situations when your website may go down due to the server:
- Server overload due to high traffic spikes
- Poor-quality or shared hosting plans
- Scheduled maintenance or downtime from the host
Why do you need the assistance of a web developer?
- To monitor uptime using tools like Pingdom.
- To move the website to a more reliable hosting provider.
- To configure caching and CDN (Content Delivery Network) to reduce server load.
- Set up alerts for immediate action when downtime occurs.
2. Plugin Conflicts
Conflicts between plugins and the theme of a WordPress site can also cause downtime. Perhaps this is one of the most common reasons for a website going down.
Website downtime, due to a plugin issue, may be caused by:
- Plugin updates that conflict with themes or WordPress core
- Using outdated or unsupported plugins
- Installing unverified third-party plugins
How can a WordPress developer assist you?
- Deactivate all plugins, then reactivate one by one to identify the culprit.
- Replace buggy plugins with secure, regularly updated alternatives.
- Set up a staging site to safely test plugin updates before applying them live.
3. Theme Errors
Another very common reason for a WordPress website to go down is a corrupted or incompatible theme.
How can a theme cause your website to go down?
- Broken theme files after an update
- Compatibility issues with WordPress core or plugins
- Using nulled or pirated themes
You need the assistance of a WordPress developer to:
- Switch temporarily to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four)
- Check the error logs to identify the cause.
- Update or reinstall the theme safely.
- Recommend premium, secure themes from trusted sources.
4. Hacked or Compromised Website
Just like any other CMS, WordPress can also be vulnerable and compromised. This could happen due to weak passwords, outdated software, or poor security on your hosting provider, making your site vulnerable.
How to identify if your website is down because of a security issue:
- Unexpected redirects
- Website showing malware warnings
- Complete site crash or “This site is temporarily unavailable” messages
How can a web developer assist in resolving the issue?
- Scan the website for malware using tools like Wordfence or Sucuri.
- Remove infected files and clean up the database.
- Update all plugins, themes, and WordPress core.
- Strengthen security with firewalls, SSL, and login protection plugins.
- Use a security plugin like ‘All in One WP Security‘ to minimize the security risks.
5. DNS or Domain Issues
Sometimes your website may be perfect and secure, but DNS misconfigurations can cause downtime.
How can DNS/domain issues make your website go down?
- Incorrect DNS settings after a hosting change
- Domain expiration or registrar issues
- DNS propagation delays
Hire a website technician who can:
- Check DNS records to ensure they are accurate.
- Assist you in renewing or verifying the domain registration.
- Correct the DNS settings and wait for propagation.
- Use reliable DNS management services, such as Cloudflare.
6. PHP or Database Errors
Outdated PHP versions or PHP errors can also cause your website to go down. An unoptimized database can also make your website stop working.
Common problems related to PHP/Database include:
- Corrupted database tables
- Incompatible PHP versions
- Memory limit exhaustion
How can a website builder assist you with this problem?
- Repair or optimize the database using phpMyAdmin
- Update PHP to the recommended version for WordPress.
- Increase memory limits in wp-config.php
Errors or problems on a WordPress site are not uncommon. Still, the key is to hire a professional WordPress developer who can repair your website immediately and regularly monitor it to prevent or minimize further downtime.