I had troubles with another theme recently and chanced across their troubleshooting page. They had some good advice that I’d like to share with some added wisdom of my own. If your theme isn’t working try the following techniques.
Theme Version
Check if you are running the latest version of your theme.
- The latest version may have already fixed the problem you are experiencing.
WordPress Version
Check if you are running the latest version of WordPress.
- Go to the WordPress.com site – check out the WordPress.com forum to see if the latest version is playing nicely for others before upgrading.
Plugins
Try deactivating your plugins by renaming your “plugins” folder inside the wp-content folder.
- Rename it “plugins-off” for example.
- Check if the problem still exists and if not, then you are going to have to work out which plugin is the culprit the hard way by deactivating all of your plugins in your dashboard and reactivating them one at a time.
Before doing this I usually google my error code or the problem and see if anyone has fixed it another way.
Check you have upgraded your plugins to the latest versions and get rid of any that yo don’t use anymore. Just deactivate them first and if you really don’t need them – delete them. You can always get them again.
Reinstall your theme
You might have lost a file in download, upload, copy and paste or some other unexplained happening that is so common.
- For some reason, a fresh installation, even of just a component of your theme can fix a problem
- Google and your theme’s support forum are your friends.
Reinstall WordPress
This is pretty drastic for some people. Make sure you know what you are doing, have site backups and really need to do it.
Finally, if all else fails …
Export Your Posts and Setup a Fresh Installation of WordPress
I didn’t know about this tip. I’m sure there are lots of other good ones as well.
[Inspiration: http://www.squeezetheme.com/members/troubleshooting/ ]
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice tips, I normally backup my database and then can always restore it if need be. I also backup my theme folder so that I can also revert back to older version.
If all fails then I can overwrite the entire WP folder, but that is my last resort. I would first check which plugins I installed last and disable them.
.-= George Serradinho´s last blog ..Serious Monday Roundup #19 =-.
Hi, I’ve been using wordpress themes for around two years and I never knew about the last tip. I wish I had, it would have saved me a lot of trouble early on in my blogging career. Thanks fot the troubleshooting tips and tricks! Very helpful.
Andy.
.-= How To Find Happiness´s last blog ..I’m Still Grateful =-.
Wow these trouble shooting steps are very useful. I have been using wordpress themes but I never knew how to fix these issues. Thanks a ton I will send this article to my friends too. Thanks again and happy holidays!!
Many customers come to us because they find a certain functionality missing and we do this on a regular basis for our customers.
.-= Peter@PSD to HTML´s last blog ..The Ultimate image optimizing guide! =-.
Your tips are really helpful.I have developed a sports site which was having the same problems but finally here i have got the solution.I usually have a back of my whole database but sometimes when the new sports events comes up i find it difficult to add them automatically..
Super Bowl Hotel
I was also trying some themes and was facing some problems in uploading them . But now I think I can fix it up. You have just made things easier and the re-installation of the themes will surely give me the way out. I think i am more safe than earlier, now. Thanks for your useful tips.
Hotels in Augusta GA
I was really in search of word-press installation guide and its features. This posting was helpful to install the word-press using plug-in & various theme. I used above mentioned guidelines to develop my own website & got benefited.
Merry Go Rounds
Great tips. I have had this issue before but too bad i did not read your post. I will keep this i mind for next time.
Thanks. I’m also going to post about exceeding your server’s cpu usage in the coming week. Another issue that many WordPress users come across once their site starts to get a fair amount of traffic.
I had the same problem some time ago and I did a research and found out that the problem was that I didnt run the newest wordpress version(your second point) If I had seen this post then I would have solved the problem much much faster. A great post for people who are struggling with the same problem.
David Sims – Promoting Renewable Fuel Energy
Your sites are a snazzy design – even if they aren’t Thesis.
Good tips. Love the tigers as a thesis mod. On my spyware site I am actually playing around with thesis. I like the theme – I haven’t got anything elaborate on it though.
Really a great features for the user end as well. hid conversion
.-= hid conversion´s last blog ..Automotive HID Headlight Kit =-.
The tips look great to me. I have a page on word press for indie filmmaking too. I wanted to make it more attractive. Will use these themes personal on the word press to enhance them. By the way interestingly i saw new designs on blogger.com too. :) they are also great.