How to Fix WordPress Compatibility Issues with Themes and Plugins

Is your WordPress website experiencing compatibility issues with themes or plugins? This is more common than you might imagine. Don’t worry though because I have you covered with a quick rundown of WordPress troubleshooting steps to get your site back on track.

NOTE: If you find that your theme or plugin isn’t compatible with your WordPress version, consider looking for alternatives that are, or reach out to the developer for updates. It’s crucial to use software that’s designed to work seamlessly with your WordPress setup.

Compatibility Issues Can Be Common

Compatibility issues can often arise when you’re integrating WordPress with various themes and plugins. This is because WordPress is an ever-evolving platform, with frequent updates to its core software. Themes and plugins, on the other hand, may not always keep pace with these updates. When they fall out of sync, you can encounter compatibility problems that show up as errors, broken features, or even site crashes.

Before we dive into these tips, it’s crucial to start with a crucial precaution:

Make a Full Site Backup

Before attempting any WordPress troubleshooting, safeguard your website by creating a full backup. This step is like having an insurance policy for your site, ensuring you can always return to a stable version if anything goes wrong during the troubleshooting process. You can use reliable plugins like UpdraftPlus or Akeeba Backup to automate this backup process.

I will touch base on this a bit later about website backups; this is the priority.

Now, let’s explore the first troubleshooting tip in detail:

1. Check for Compatibility Issues

It’s crucial to be aware of the prevalent challenge WordPress users often face—compatibility issues. They can rear their heads when integrating WordPress with third-party themes and plugins.

Problem: Sometimes, WordPress themes and plugins can misbehave due to compatibility issues with your WordPress version.

Solution: Start by checking the compatibility of the theme or plugin with your current WordPress version. This information can usually be found on the developer’s website or in the WordPress plugin repository. Using incompatible themes or plugins can lead to unexpected errors and functionality problems.

2. Update WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins

By regularly updating your WordPress core, themes, and plugins, you not only ensure optimal performance but also enhance your site’s security, keeping it protected from potential threats.

Compatibility issues can often be a security threat.

Problem: Keeping your WordPress website and its components up to date is crucial. Updates provide bug fixes, security enhancements, and new features, helping your site run smoothly.

Solution: Regularly updating WordPress core, themes, and plugins is essential for a healthy website. Outdated software can expose your site to security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues. Start by updating WordPress itself. When a new version is available, you’ll typically see a notification in your dashboard. Just click ‘Update Now’ to keep your core files current.

For themes and plugins, navigate to the ‘Themes’ and ‘Plugins’ sections in your WordPress dashboard. Outdated themes and plugins will be marked with an update notification. Remember to make another backup before proceeding with updates. Once backed up, update themes and plugins one by one, checking your site’s functionality after each update. If a specific update causes issues, you can revert to the previous version using backup files while reaching out to the theme or plugin developer for assistance.

3. Review Error Messages

Problem: Error messages can be cryptic and intimidating, but they’re your website’s way of communicating problems. Ignoring them might lead to unresolved issues.

Solution: When your WordPress site encounters issues, it often generates error messages that provide valuable insights into the problem. Instead of panicking, use these messages as clues to identify and resolve issues effectively.

To access error messages, navigate to your WordPress dashboard. If you see a message like “Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance,” it means that a plugin or theme update might have been interrupted. This can typically be resolved by deleting a “.maintenance” file in your WordPress root directory.

For more specific error messages, consider using Google to your advantage. Copy the error message and search for it online, along with the terms “WordPress” or “solution.” You’ll often find forum threads or blog posts where others have encountered the same problem and shared solutions. Some sites even specialize in common compatibility issues that relate to plugins (and themes).

Additionally, make use of debugging tools. WordPress has a built-in debugging feature that can be enabled in your site’s wp-config.php file. Once enabled, it provides detailed error logs that can help pinpoint issues with themes or plugins. Remember to disable debugging after troubleshooting to prevent clutter in your logs.

Reviewing error messages might require a bit of research and patience, but it’s a powerful way to tackle problems head-on and ensure the long-term stability of your WordPress website.

4. Deactivate Conflicting Plugins

Before diving into the specifics, it’s important to note that deactivating plugins is a common recommendation when troubleshooting issues on your WordPress site. Plugins, while incredibly useful for enhancing functionality, can sometimes clash with one another or with your theme. In such cases, temporarily deactivating plugins can be a strategic step to identify the source of the problem and work toward a solution.

Problem: Sometimes, installing a new plugin or updating an existing one can lead to conflicts with other plugins, causing unexpected errors or crashes on your WordPress site.

Solution: When you encounter issues after adding or updating a plugin, one effective troubleshooting step is to deactivate or temporarily disable the plugin to check if it’s the root cause of the problem.

To do this, access your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the “Plugins” section. Find the plugin that you suspect might be causing the issue and click on the “Deactivate” link beneath its name. After deactivation, refresh your website and see if the problem persists. If it doesn’t, the deactivated plugin is likely the culprit.

Now, you have a few options:

1. Contact the Plugin Developer: If you believe the plugin is essential to your site’s functionality, reach out to the developer or support team. They can provide guidance on resolving the conflict or offer updates that address the issue.
2. Look for Alternative Plugins: If the problematic plugin is not crucial, consider searching for alternative plugins that provide similar functionality but don’t conflict with your existing setup.
3. Update or Reinstall: In some cases, the issue might be due to an outdated or corrupted plugin. Check if there are updates available for the problematic plugin, or try uninstalling and reinstalling it to see if that resolves the issue.

Remember to reactivate any other plugins you deactivated during the WordPress troubleshooting process, one at a time, to ensure they’re not causing conflicts either. This systematic approach can help you pinpoint the specific plugin causing problems and compatibility issues while keeping your website running smoothly. If there are compatibility issues, it’s more likely a plugin.

5. Switch to a Default WordPress Theme

While plugins are often the first suspects when troubleshooting WordPress issues, it’s essential to recognize that it’s not always plugins that can cause a problem. Your theme, despite its role in shaping your website’s appearance and functionality, can also be a source of issues. When you’ve made theme-related changes and suspect that they might be behind your troubles, switching to a default theme can be a smart diagnostic step.

Problem: If you’ve encountered issues after updating your theme or installing a new one, it’s important to determine whether the problem lies with the theme itself. This is where switching to a default WordPress theme can be valuable.

Solution: WordPress comes bundled with a default theme like “Twenty Twenty-One.” When you suspect that your current theme might be causing issues, temporarily switch to the default theme to see if the problem persists. Here’s how to do it:

1. From your WordPress dashboard, go to “Appearance” and then “Themes.”
2. Activate the default theme (e.g., “Twenty Twenty-One”) by clicking the “Activate” button.
3. Visit your website to see if the issue still exists.

If the issue disappears with the default theme, it’s likely that your previous theme was the source of the problem. Here are your next steps:

• Update or Contact the Theme Developer: If you’ve identified a specific theme-related issue, check if there are updates available for your theme. If not, or if the problem persists even after updating, consider reaching out to the theme developer for assistance or looking for alternative themes that better suit your needs.
• Test with Your Theme’s Latest Backup: Before making changes to your live website, it’s a good practice to test theme updates or modifications in a staging environment. Use a plugin like “WP Staging” to create a copy of your site, where you can safely experiment without affecting your live site.

Switching to a default theme temporarily helps you isolate and identify theme-related issues efficiently. If the problem persists with the default theme, you can explore other WordPress troubleshooting steps to pinpoint the source of the problem, whether it’s a plugin conflict, database issue, or something else entirely. Compatibility issues can result from depreciated code too.

6. Check for JavaScript Errors

When it comes to troubleshooting WordPress issues, understanding how to check for JavaScript errors is a valuable skill. These errors can have a significant and nasty impact on your website’s functionality. What’s more, identifying JavaScript errors can be crucial for effective communication with theme and plugin developers. When you encounter these errors, providing detailed information to developers can expedite the troubleshooting process, enabling them to release updates.

Problem: JavaScript errors can occur when scripts used on your WordPress website encounter issues or conflicts. These errors can lead to unexpected behaviour, broken features, or even site unresponsiveness.

Solution: To identify and resolve JavaScript errors effectively, follow these steps:

1. Access Browser Developer Tools: Open your website in a web browser, and right-click anywhere on the page. Select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element” to open the browser’s developer tools. Alternatively, you can press F12 on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to the Console Tab: In the developer tools, locate and click on the “Console” tab. This is where JavaScript errors and messages are displayed.
3. Check for Errors: While on the Console tab, browse your website and pay attention to any error messages that appear in the console. These messages will often describe the issue and provide the file and line number where the error occurred.
4. Take Note of the Errors: Make a note of any JavaScript errors you encounter. The error messages will help you identify which script or plugin is causing the problem.
5. Troubleshoot the Error: Once you’ve identified the source of the JavaScript error, you can proceed with troubleshooting. This might involve updating or disabling the problematic plugin or theme, or seeking assistance from the plugin or theme developer.
6. Clear Your Cache: After making changes, remember to clear your browser cache to ensure you’re viewing the latest version of your site without cached resources potentially causing issues.

Checking for JavaScript errors is a crucial step in troubleshooting WordPress theme and plugin problems, as many issues are related to scripts that enhance the functionality of your site. Addressing JavaScript errors promptly can help maintain a smooth user experience on your website.

7. Clear Browser Cache

Problem: After making changes or updates to your WordPress site, you might still encounter issues or see old content. This can be frustrating and misleading, as your browser’s cache might be storing outdated versions of your site’s resources.

Solution: To ensure you’re viewing the latest version of your website and to rule out any cache-related issues, follow these steps to clear your browser cache:

1. Open Your Browser Settings: Access your web browser’s settings menu. You can typically find this in the top-right or top-left corner of your browser window. It’s often represented by three dots or lines.
2. Find the Clear Browsing Data Option: Navigate to the “History” or “Privacy & Security” section of your browser settings. Look for an option like “Clear browsing data” or “Clear history.”
3. Select What to Clear: In the clearing data options, you’ll typically have checkboxes for various types of data to clear. Make sure to select “Cached images and files” or a similar option. You can also choose the time range for which you want to clear the cache, such as “Last hour,” “Last 24 hours,” or “All time.”
4. Clear Data: Click the button to clear the selected data. Depending on your browser, you might need to confirm this action.
5. Restart Your Browser: After clearing the cache, restart your browser to ensure the changes take effect.
6. Revisit Your Website: Finally, revisit your WordPress website to check if the issues have been resolved or if you’re now seeing the updated content.

Clearing your browser cache is a simple but essential step in the troubleshooting process. Cached resources can sometimes cause display or functionality problems that aren’t actually present on your website. By regularly clearing your cache, you can ensure that you’re always viewing the most current version of your site, minimizing potential confusion and issues. Sometimes compatibility issues can be solved with simple cache clearing.

8. Test in a Different Browser

Testing in a different browser helps you pinpoint whether the issue is related to your WordPress website or if it’s limited to a particular browser’s behaviour. If the problem appears only in a specific browser, you can investigate browser extensions or settings that might be causing the issue. Compatibility issues could even be the browser itself if has not been updated.

Problem: Sometimes, issues on your WordPress site may appear to be widespread, but they could actually be browser-specific problems. It’s important to rule out these possibilities to accurately diagnose and troubleshoot.

Solution: To determine whether the problem is browser-specific, try testing your website in a different browser. Here’s how:

1. Download an Alternate Browser: If you don’t already have multiple web browsers installed, download and install a different browser. Popular options include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Opera.
2. Access Your Website: Once you have the alternate browser installed, open it and visit your WordPress website. Browse through various pages and features to see if the issues persist.
3. Compare Results: Compare the behaviour of your website in the new browser with what you observed in your previous browser. If the issues are unique to one browser, it’s likely a browser-specific problem rather than a WordPress issue.

By performing this test, you can save time troubleshooting WordPress issues that may not be inherently related to your website’s themes or plugins but are instead tied to browser-specific factors.

9. Consult Online Communities and Utilize Google Search

Online WordPress communities and Google searches are invaluable resources for troubleshooting complex issues. They offer access to a wealth of knowledge and experiences, helping you find solutions to problems that might have stumped you on your own. I can almost guarantee that your compatibility issues (or other) happened to others. Hopefully, with solutions.

Problem: When you’re facing a challenging WordPress issue, it’s often helpful to seek guidance and solutions from the WordPress community, which is rich with experienced users and developers.

Solution: Consult online communities and forums for WordPress troubleshooting assistance, and don’t forget to utilize Google search for comprehensive results. Here’s how to make the most of these valuable resources:

1. WordPress.org Forums: Visit the WordPress.org support forums, which are a hub for WordPress users and developers. Navigate to the relevant category, such as themes or plugins, and describe your issue in detail. Be sure to include any error messages or symptoms you’ve observed.
2. Stack Exchange: WordPress Stack Exchange is another excellent platform for getting answers to specific WordPress-related questions. Ask your question, provide context, and tag it appropriately to reach the right audience.
3. Reddit WordPress Communities: Reddit has several WordPress-related subreddits, such as r/WordPress and r/webdev. Post your issue or question there to tap into the Reddit community’s knowledge and experience.
4. Facebook Groups: Join WordPress-related Facebook groups and ask for assistance. There are groups dedicated to various aspects of WordPress, and fellow members are often quick to offer help.
5. Google Search: Conduct a Google search with keywords related to your WordPress issue. Include details such as error messages, plugin or theme names, and a brief description of the problem. This can often lead you to blog posts, articles, or discussions where others have encountered and solved similar issues.
6. Be Descriptive: When posting your question in online communities or on Google search, be as descriptive as possible. Explain the problem, any steps you’ve already taken to troubleshoot, and the specific outcomes you’re experiencing. The more details you provide, the easier it is for others to help or for Google to provide relevant results.
7. Engage in Discussions: Engage with community members who respond to your question. Ask for clarification, provide additional information as needed, and be appreciative of the help you receive.
8. Give Back: Once your issue is resolved, consider giving back to the community by helping others with their WordPress issues. Sharing your knowledge and experiences can contribute to a supportive ecosystem.

10. Backup Your Site

Backing up your site is a fundamental step in WordPress troubleshooting, updating, and maintenance. It provides peace of mind knowing that your website’s data and content are safe, allowing you to explore troubleshooting options without the fear of data loss or site instability. Whether you do this for compatibility issues or other problems, backups are a saviour!

Problem: While you’re actively troubleshooting WordPress theme and plugin issues, it’s essential to safeguard your website in case something goes awry during the process.

Solution: Creating a backup of your site is your safety net, ensuring that you can restore your website to a stable state if anything unexpected happens. Follow these steps to back up your WordPress site:

1. Use a Backup Plugin: The simplest way to create a backup is by using a reputable backup plugin. Popular options include UpdraftPlus, BackWPup, and VaultPress (by Jetpack). Install and activate your chosen backup plugin from the WordPress dashboard.
2. Configure Backup Settings: After activation, configure the backup settings according to your preferences. Most backup plugins allow you to specify what to include in the backup, such as the database, themes, plugins, uploads, and more.
3. Perform a Manual Backup: Many backup plugins also offer the option to perform a manual backup on-demand. This is useful before making significant changes to your site, such as theme or plugin updates.
4. Set Up Automated Backups: For ongoing protection, set up automated backups on a regular schedule, such as daily or weekly. This ensures that your site is consistently backed up without manual intervention.
5. Store Backups Securely: Store backup files securely, preferably off-site or in a location separate from your hosting server. This prevents data loss in the event of a hosting server failure.
6. Test Backup Restoration: Periodically, test the restoration process using a backup copy to ensure it’s working as expected. This practice ensures that you can confidently rely on your backups when needed.

11. Seek Developer Support

Seeking support from the theme or plugin developer can be highly beneficial, especially when you’ve narrowed down the problem to their specific product. Developers are often experts in their own creations and can provide tailored solutions or updates to address issues efficiently.

Remember to take advantage of the support services included in your paid license.

Problem: If you’ve narrowed down the issue to either a problematic plugin or theme and you have an active paid license that includes support, reaching out to the developer can be an effective step in resolving the problem.

Solution: Here’s how to seek developer support for the specific theme or plugin that’s causing issues:

1. Check Your License: Ensure that you have an active and valid license for the theme or plugin in question. Paid licenses often come with access to developer support during the license period.
2. Visit the Developer’s Website: Go to the website of the theme or plugin developer. Look for a support or contact page, where you can initiate a support request or ticket.
3. Describe the Issue: When reaching out for support, provide a detailed description of the issue you’re experiencing. Include any error messages, steps to reproduce the problem, and information about your WordPress setup (such as the version of WordPress, theme, and other relevant plugins).
4. Attach Screenshots or Logs: If applicable, include screenshots or log files that can help the developer understand the problem more clearly.
5. Follow Their Guidance: Once you’ve submitted your support request, be patient and follow the guidance provided by the developer. They may ask for additional information or steps to troubleshoot further.
6. Implement Solutions: If the developer identifies the issue and offers a solution, implement their recommendations. This may involve updating the theme or plugin, adjusting settings, or making specific code changes.
7. Provide Feedback: After implementing the solution, provide feedback to the developer regarding whether it resolved the issue. This helps improve the product and support for other users.

Conclusion for Compatibility Issues and WordPress Troubleshooting

Remember that WordPress troubleshooting and other compatibility issues often involve a bit of trial and error. These quick tips should help you diagnose and resolve common theme and plugin problems efficiently.