WordPress is the first choice of web development for a large number of people. Even owners of existing interfaces convert PSD to WordPress or migrate from other platforms to the CMS. However, all users must know how to restore WordPress websites after an issue. A crash can occur on all kinds of interfaces and those made with the popular CMS are no different. There can be various reasons for the problem ranging from a malfunctioning plugin to hacking. The popularity and open source nature of WordPress allow hackers to try their hands at gaining unauthorized entry to interfaces. In spite of this, the CMS remains a robust and secure platform for website development. The following steps can be taken to fix the problem by people whose websites have crashed.
1. Try To Identify The Cause Of The Problem
The first step is to identify the reason which caused the problem. Most of the time, the crash occurs not because of a hacking attempt but due to actions taken by the administrator. Jog back your memory and think whether the glitch happened after you made a change to the installation. Issues can arise because of a newly-installed theme or plugin. Even the updates made to existing plugins and theme can easily lead to such situations. The open source nature of WordPress encourages people to experiment with coding. The changes made to the PHP file by an owner can also make the website malfunction. In most cases, reversing the changes can solve the issue. However, if the problem persists, move to the next step.
2. Remove And Reinstall All The Plugins
In case, you cannot pinpoint a specific reason, you will have to check all vital elements of the website. This is the only way to find the root cause of the issue. Start with the plugins installed on the interface. Use the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to gain access to your web hosting account. Most hosting services provide their subscribers with FTP information through the welcome emails. You will require these details along with an FTP client to access the core installation files on the hosting server. Go to “wp-content/plugins” which is the plugins directory. If you think that a new plugin or a recently-updated tool is causing the issue, delete its directory. However, if you cannot think of a specific plugin as the culprit, then you must disable all of them. This may set things right. Follow this by reactivating the plugins one by one. The malfunctioning tool will show itself by crashing the interface again. Delete it immediately to resolve the issue.
3. Switch To The Default Theme
If the interface is still down, then it is clear that plugins are not causing the error. People looking to restore WordPress websites must shift their attention to the website’s themes. These pre-built templates are one of the most helpful features of the CMS. They provide users with a readymade layout with essential features which can be used to build an interface quickly. However, not all themes are efficiently coded. This can lead to issues on interfaces. The best solution is to switch back to the default theme. All WordPress installations come with a pre-loaded template. This default layout is completely synchronized with the CMS and will not cause any issue. Go to “wp-content/themes” and delete the directory of your template. This will automatically make the installation revert to the pre-installed theme. If you are still facing the problem, go to the next step.
4. Restore Using Website’s Backup
You must restore the interface with a backup if the issue is still unresolved. Most WordPress users are aware of the importance of creating and storing backups. They use a plugin for the purpose or their hosting service provides them the required facility. All such plugins enable website restoration through easy processes. They require users to download the backup files and then delete all existing files from the WordPress root folder. This is followed by uploading the backup files to the root folder. You can also use the cPanel for the same purpose. Log in to your account and you will see the “Backup” option in the files section. Click on it and then upload backup files from your system’s hard disk.
5. Reinstall WordPress Core Files
This last step will be required if the problem refuses to go away. Make sure you have a backup of the website and then create a copy of the “wp-config.php” file. Access the core files of the interface through an FTP client. Select all the files in the WordPress root directory and delete them. Go to the official WordPress website and download a fresh installation. Use the FTP client to upload the files and then the “wp-config.php” file. Follow this by uploading the backup files. Check the website and you will find that it is working fine.
Conclusion
All users must know about this procedure to restore WordPress websites. This will be helpful in recovering their interfaces after a crash caused by an unknown error or a hacking attempt.
About Author:
Brandon graves has been workina g as professional Web Developer at HIreWPGeeks Ltd. Which provides HTML WordPress service within the given time frame. She loves to share excellent stuff on WordPress. You can also follow her company on various social media platforms such as: Twitter, Facebook and GooglePlus.
