WordPress outage
Your site is broken after an update
An update to a plugin, the theme or the WordPress core, and the site no longer works as before. It is common, almost always reversible, and a reminder of why serious updates are tested first.
The symptoms
- A feature stopped working right after an update.
- The site shows an error, a white screen or a broken layout since the update.
- A plugin deactivated itself or reports an incompatibility.
The likely causes
- A conflict between two plugins after one of them was updated.
- A plugin or theme incompatible with the new core or PHP version.
- A major update that changes how a plugin works.
- An interrupted update (network, quota) that left incomplete files.
What you can try yourself
Identify what was updated
The update log or the plugin history shows what changed and when.
Re-enable plugins one by one
Disable everything, then re-enable one at a time to find the one that breaks the site.
Roll back to the previous version
A rollback tool restores the stable version while you investigate. Failing that, reinstall the old version from a backup.
Restore a backup
If you have a backup from before the update, it is the safest way back. Hence the importance of having one.
Check PHP compatibility
A recent plugin may require a newer PHP version, or the other way around.
When to call a professional
If the conflict persists, if several plugins are involved, or if you do not want to break more by working in production: a professional reproduces the problem in a test environment, applies the update cleanly, and restores the site with no loss. This is exactly what the tested updates of a maintenance plan prevent.
Frequently asked questions
How do I roll back after a WordPress update?
By restoring a backup from before the update, or by reinstalling the previous version of the plugin or theme involved. A rollback tool makes it easier.
Why does an update break a site?
Because a new version can be incompatible with another plugin, with the theme, or with the PHP version. Testing the update before applying it avoids these surprises.
How do I stop it happening again?
By testing every update in a staging environment and keeping recent backups. It is included in the Relax by Yumea plans.
We look at your site.
If we can recover it, we send you a clear price and a payment link. If we cannot, we tell you plainly, we charge nothing for that, and we can offer you a brand new site. Either way, you are never stuck.
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