How I Fix a Broken WordPress Site (and Find Out Why It Broke)

A broken site always seems to happen at the worst time. Here's how I fix a broken WordPress site, in the order I actually do it, and why the cause matters as much as the fix.

First, don't make it worse

Before touching anything: take a full backup of the files and the database, broken as they are. If a fix goes wrong, there's a way back. Then turn on error logging so the site tells us what's wrong instead of showing a blank page.

Read the error, don't guess

Most WordPress problems leave a trail. The error log usually names the file and the line. The common causes:

• A plugin or theme update that clashes with something else
• An old PHP version on the server, or a new one the site isn't ready for
• Hosting limits: memory, disk space, or the host blocking something
• A hack: injected code, spam pages, redirects to other sites
• A database problem: corrupted tables or a failed migration

Guessing (deactivate everything, reinstall everything) sometimes works, but you don't learn why it broke, so it breaks again.

A real example: the store with errors

A store selling rare cinema photographs, KissMeMonster, had errors that looked like a WooCommerce problem. The real cause was the hosting underneath. The fix was a clean migration to a server that handled the store properly, and the errors stopped. Fixing the plugin would have been fixing the wrong thing.

Hacked sites need a different fix

If the site shows spam, sends visitors elsewhere, or Google warns people away, it's been hacked. Cleaning it means:

1. Finding and removing the injected code, not just the visible spam
2. Replacing WordPress core files with clean copies
3. Checking every plugin and theme, removing anything abandoned
4. Resetting all passwords and keys
5. Asking Google to review the site once it's clean
6. Adding protection so it doesn't happen again

Keep it from happening again

• Daily backups that are tested
• Updates done carefully, with a check afterward
• Fewer plugins, all maintained
• Decent hosting with a current PHP version
• Someone watching for problems

My managed hosting covers all of that.

Questions people ask

Why is my WordPress site showing a white screen?

Usually a PHP error from a plugin, theme or update. Turning on error logging shows the exact cause.

Can a broken WordPress site be fixed without losing content?

Almost always. Your content lives in the database, which usually survives. A backup before any fix keeps it safe.

How do I know if my WordPress site was hacked?

Spam pages in Google results, redirects to strange sites, new admin users you didn't create, or a browser warning.

Can you fix my site?

Tell me what's happening on the start a project page.