Running a WordPress website should feel simple. But almost every week, I help site owners fix the same problems again and again: slow loading pages, broken checkout, form emails not arriving, plugin conflicts, layout issues, and more.
The good news?
Most of these problems are fixable, often with a few steps.
Below are the 7 most common WordPress issues I fix every week, how you can identify them, and how you can solve them yourself.
1. Slow Website (Takes Too Long to Load)
A slow website affects everything: user experience, Google ranking, and even sales. When your homepage takes 5–10 seconds to load, people won’t wait.
✅ How to Identify It
Use tools like:
If loading time is above 3 seconds, you need optimization.
✅ Why It Happens
- Large images
- Too many plugins
- No caching
- Slow shared hosting
- Heavy external scripts
✅ Step-by-Step Fix
1. Enable caching
Install one plugin:
Turn on:
- Page caching
- Browser caching
- Minification
2. Compress images
Use:
Aim for images under 200 KB.
3. Remove heavy plugins
Examples:
- Slider Revolution (used everywhere)
- Jetpack modules
- Broken Link Checker
4. Improve hosting
Switch to faster hosts like:
- Cloudways
- WPX
- SiteGround
5. Delay external scripts
Fonts, YouTube embeds, and analytics slow down the page.
Most caching plugins offer “load delay” options.
✅ Real example
A client’s homepage went from 18 seconds to 2.6 seconds after we compressed images and enabled caching.
👉 Need help improving speed? Get the help here
2. Broken Layout After Updates
Theme and plugin updates sometimes break parts of the site: sections shift, fonts change, or the header disappears.
✅ How to Identify
- Pages look different after an update
- Mobile layout becomes messy
- CSS styles not loading
- Builder sections overlapping
✅ Why It Happens
- Plugin conflicts
- Outdated theme
- Page builder changed its structure
- Custom CSS no longer matches
✅ Step-by-Step Fix
1. Clear all caches
Plugin, hosting, CDN, browser.
2. Roll back recent updates
Use WP Rollback to return to a stable version.
3. Check custom CSS
Go to: Customizer → Additional CSS
Check if any rules break your layout.
4. Disable conflicting plugins
Test by deactivating plugins one-by-one.
5. Use a staging site
Always update safely in staging.
✅ Real example
An update to a gallery plugin once broke a client’s entire Elementor homepage. Rolling back and clearing cache fixed it instantly.
👉 Need help with broken layouts? Fix Your Site Layout Here
3. Contact Forms Not Sending Emails
This one causes the most panic: leads aren’t coming in, even though the form shows a “success” message.
✅ How to Identify
- Form says “sent”, but no email in inbox
- Hosting email logs show errors
- Emails arrive in spam folder
✅ Why It Happens
- WordPress uses weak PHP mail
- Hosting blocks mail
- No SMTP setup
- SPF/DKIM missing
✅ Step-by-Step Fix
1. Install WP Mail SMTP or Fluent SMTP
Set it up with:
- SendGrid
- Mailgun
- Gmail SMTP
2. Verify domain
Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to your DNS.
3. Test email
Use the “Test Email” tool in WP Mail SMTP.
4. Avoid spam triggers
Don’t use all caps, strange subjects, or suspicious links.
✅ Real example
A client lost two months of form messages because Hostinger blocked PHP mail silently. SMTP fixed everything.
👉 Need help fixing email & forms? Fix Your Email Delivery Here
4. WooCommerce Checkout Issues
Checkout problems mean lost money. This is one of the most urgent issues I fix.
✅ How to Identify
- “Place Order” does nothing
- Shipping options not loading
- Wrong totals
- Payment method missing
- Endless loading spinner
✅ Why It Happens
- Caching checkout pages
- Plugin conflicts
- Bad payment gateway plugin
- Outdated WooCommerce
- Heavy optimization plugins
✅ Step-by-Step Fix
1. Disable caching for checkout pages
Exclude:
- /checkout/
- /cart/
- /my-account/
2. Switch to Storefront theme temporarily
This helps confirm if the theme is the cause.
3. Disable recent plugins
Especially:
- Checkout field editors
- Payment add-ons
- Optimization plugins
4. Clear WooCommerce transients
WooCommerce → Status → Tools → Clear Transients
5. Update payment gateway
Stripe, PayPal, PayHere need constant updates.
✅ Real example
Stripe stopped working for one shop because an optimization plugin delayed its script. Once removed, checkout worked instantly.
👉 Need help fixing checkout? Fix Your Checkout Issue Here
5. Mobile Layout Breaking
Mobile traffic is about 70 – 80% on many sites, so a broken mobile view hurts badly.
✅ How to Identify
- Text overlaps
- Buttons too small
- Images cut off
- Menu not opening
✅ Why It Happens
- Fixed-width designs
- Missing responsive settings
- Wrong breakpoints
- Custom CSS issues
✅ Step-by-Step Fix
1. Check mobile view in builder
Fix spacing, padding, and alignment using:
- Elementor mobile view
- Divi responsive editor
- Gutenberg column settings
2. Use flexible units
Replace px with:
- %
- em
- rem
- vw
3. Fix menu issues
Check z-index, toggle visibility, and header settings.
4. Hide complex desktop sections
Replace with cleaner mobile-friendly sections.
✅ Real example
A 1200px fixed-width photo destroyed an entire mobile design. Replacing it with a responsive image fixed everything.
6. Plugin Conflicts & White Screen of Death
This is one of the scariest issues for beginners – a blank screen or a 500 error.
✅ How to Identify
- Blank screen
- Fatal error
- Unable to login to wp-admin
- Site crashes after plugin update
✅ Why It Happens
- Plugin with bad code
- Theme not updated
- PHP version mismatch
- Corrupted .htaccess
✅ Step-by-Step Fix
1. Access your site via FTP
2. Rename the “plugins” folder
This disables all plugins.
3. Rename the theme folder
WordPress switches to a default theme.
4. Increase memory limit
Add to wp-config.php:
define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M' );
5. Regenerate .htaccess
Go to Settings → Permalinks → Save.
✅ Real example
A coupon plugin once caused a fatal PHP error. Renaming the plugins folder brought the site back instantly.
7. Database Bloat & Memory Problems
This issue grows slowly and quietly but eventually slows everything down.
✅ How to Identify
- Admin dashboard takes long to load
- Website behaves “heavy”
- Backup file size too large
- Random errors
✅ Why It Happens
- Too many post revisions
- Spam comments
- Old plugin tables
- Unused transients
✅ Step-by-Step Fix
1. Install WP-Optimize
Clean:
- revisions
- spam
- transients
2. Increase memory limit
Same as above.
3. Remove old plugin tables
Use Advanced Database Cleaner.
4. Disable unused cron jobs
Use WP Crontrol.
✅ Real example
One site had 65,000 expired transients.
Cleaning them improved backend speed by 40%.
✅ FAQ: WordPress Problems (Simple Answers)
Why does my website break after an update?
Usually plugin conflicts or outdated themes.
How do I find a bad plugin?
Deactivate all plugins, then activate them one by one.
Why are my form emails not reaching me?
You need SMTP – hosts often block PHP mail.
Why is my checkout broken?
Most of the time: caching, payment gateway issues, or plugin conflicts.
How often should I clean my database?
Every 1 to 3 months.
✅ Conclusion: Don’t Fight WordPress Issues Alone
These seven problems are the most common issues I fix every single week for site owners around the world.
And while many of them can be solved with the steps above, sometimes the problem is deeper – and guessing can make things worse.
If you ever feel stuck, stressed, or unsure what to click next, I’m here to help.
✅ Fast replies
✅ Simple English explanations
✅ Any WordPress or WooCommerce issue
✅ Human support – no bots, no outsourcing
✅ One subscription covers all your plugins and themes
👉 Get reliable WordPress support here: WordPress Support Hero
Let me handle the technical problems so you can focus on running your website and growing your business.