WordPress Troubleshooting Decision Tree (Step-by-Step Guide) - Knowledgebase

This guide helps you diagnose and resolve common WordPress issues using a decision-tree approach.
Start at the section that best matches your problem and follow the steps in order.

If at any point you feel unsure, stop and contact support via:

https://www.a7host.com/billing

START HERE: What Problem Are You Experiencing?

Choose one of the following and jump to that section:

Website does not load at all
Website loads but looks broken
Cannot log in to WordPress admin
White screen or critical error
Website is very slow
Errors after installing a plugin or theme
SSL / HTTPS issues
Website was working before, now suddenly broken

1. Website Does Not Load at All

Question 1: Do you see an error message or just a blank page?

Error message visible → Go to Question 2
Blank page or browser error → Go to Question 3

Question 2: Does the error mention DNS, domain, or “site not found”?

Yes → This is likely a DNS or domain propagation issue
- Check if your domain was recently connected or changed
- Wait up to 24 hours for DNS propagation
- Confirm nameservers are correct
No → Go to Question 4

Question 3: Does the site load using a temporary URL?

Yes → Domain DNS is not fully propagated yet
No → Hosting or application issue → Contact support

Question 4: Does the error mention “database” or “connection failed”?

Yes → Possible database issue → Contact support
No → Continue to Section 4 (White Screen / Critical Error)

2. Website Loads but Looks Broken

Question 1: Are images missing or layout distorted?

Yes → Go to Question 2
No → Go to Question 3

Question 2: Did you recently enable SSL (HTTPS)?

Yes → Mixed content issue
- Ensure WordPress Address and Site Address both use HTTPS
- Clear cache
No → Go to Question 3

Question 3: Did this happen after a theme change?

Yes → Theme compatibility issue
- Switch back to previous theme
No → Plugin conflict likely → See Section 6

3. Cannot Log In to WordPress Admin

Question 1: Are you using the correct login URL?

Correct URL is:
https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin

Yes → Go to Question 2
No → Use correct URL

Question 2: Does it say “incorrect password”?

Yes → Reset password using “Lost your password?”
No → Go to Question 3

Question 3: Are you redirected repeatedly or blocked?

Yes → Possible plugin or .htaccess issue
- Disable security plugins via control panel
No → Contact support

4. White Screen of Death / Critical Error

Question 1: Do you see “There has been a critical error on this website”?

Yes → Go to Question 2
No (completely white page) → Go to Question 3

Question 2: Did this happen after installing or updating something?

Yes → Plugin or theme conflict
- Disable recently changed plugin or theme
No → Go to Question 3

Question 3: Can you access wp-admin?

Yes → Disable plugins one by one
No → Restore from backup or contact support

5. Website Is Very Slow

Question 1: Is the site slow for you only, or for everyone?

Only you → Clear browser cache and test in incognito
Everyone → Go to Question 2

Question 2: Are you using many plugins?

Yes → Disable unnecessary plugins
No → Go to Question 3

Question 3: Are images large or unoptimized?

Yes → Optimize images
No → Hosting resource limit or traffic spike → Contact support

6. Errors After Installing a Plugin or Theme

Question 1: Did the issue appear immediately after installation?

Yes → Go to Question 2
No → Go to Section 8

Question 2: Can you access WordPress admin?

Yes → Deactivate the plugin/theme
No → Disable via hosting control panel

Question 3: Does disabling fix the issue?

Yes → Plugin/theme incompatibility confirmed
No → Restore backup or contact support

7. SSL / HTTPS Issues

Question 1: Do you see “Not Secure” in the browser?

Yes → Go to Question 2
No → SSL is working

Question 2: Was SSL enabled recently?

Yes → Wait for DNS + SSL propagation
No → Go to Question 3

Question 3: Do you see mixed content warnings?

Yes → Update WordPress URLs to HTTPS
No → Contact support

8. Website Was Working Before, Now Suddenly Broken

Question 1: Did WordPress auto-update?

Yes → Possible compatibility issue
No → Go to Question 2

Question 2: Did hosting or DNS change recently?

Yes → Check DNS, SSL, and cache
No → Go to Question 3

Question 3: Do you have a recent backup?

Yes → Restore backup
No → Contact support immediately

When to Stop Troubleshooting and Contact Support

Stop and open a ticket if:

You cannot access wp-admin and frontend
Errors persist after disabling plugins/themes
You see database or server-level errors
You are unsure about making changes

Support tickets can be opened at: