Do you encounter problems using WordPress? Are your posts not aligning correctly, or are you unable to leave comments on certain blogs? What’s causing these problems? Is it WordPress, or are you or your device causing them?
Like any online website, the WordPress platform experiences problems. Bugs occur. They can often cause havoc for users. Sometimes, things don’t go to plan when new updates are released.
But what causes these problems, and how can they be fixed?
Case 1 – Your posts are not displaying correctly.
A few years ago, a reader informed me that my blog posts were not displaying correctly.
I checked my blog and couldn’t see any problems. I used another device and couldn’t see any issues.
I contacted the WordPress Happiness Engineers. They assured me that from what they saw, there were no problems with how my blog posts were displaying. They even sent me screenshots and some short video clips showing me what they were seeing at their end.
But I was still not happy.
I decided to write and publish a post about the problem.
I asked my followers to check some of my blog posts and let me know if there were any problems with how they were displaying. Over 100 people came to my call for help. Only one person said there was a problem with how my posts were displayed, and this was the person who reported the problem to me.
It turned out that the problem wasn’t my blog or WordPress. The problem was the device belonging to the reader who reported the issue.
I asked them to make sure their device had the latest updates. They never informed me that my blog was displaying incorrectly again.
Case 2 – I can’t leave comments on certain blogs.
I recently saw a post from a blogger who said he had problems leaving comments on certain blogs.
He named the blogs so they knew who they were and apologised, saying that his comments were being cut off as he wrote them.
He asked if anybody else was having the same problem when leaving comments.
By the time the responses came in (and all were saying ‘No’), he’d gone to another device. He tried leaving comments on the same blogs. They all worked, and he came back and apologised.
The problem was caused by the device he was using. He updated the device’s software and also tried using another internet browser, and his comments worked.
Case 3 – When was the last time you cleaned your house?
Some of my WordPress data and stats were not displaying. ‘Have you tried clearing your browser history, cookies and cache on your computer?” somebody asked?
I did the clear-out, and the data all showed up.
Like your home, your blog device needs some housekeeping to keep it working correctly.
Case 4 – Have you tried the most popular advice when things go wrong?
A user contacted me saying they could not leave comments or ‘likes’ on any blog posts. She was using the Jetpack app on her mobile phone.
I told her to try signing out of the Jetpack app, delete it, reinstall it and sign in again.
Problem solved.
Case 5 – Has the blog theme you’re using been retired?
Another WordPress user was experiencing many problems with her blog. Her posts were not aligning correctly, and some readers contacted her to say they couldn’t leave comments. The sharing buttons at the end of her posts were also not working. There were also other issues like certain tools no longer working.
She contacted WordPress, which informed her that her blog theme was retired and was no longer supported. The advice was to change her theme. She didn’t want to change the theme; she liked it. She tried working around the problems. That worked for a while. Then, the issues worsened, and she eventually gave up on her blog.
The WordPress platform wasn’t the problem. The device she was using wasn’t the problem. She was the problem for refusing to change to a theme that WordPress supported.
If your theme has been retired, you will find this notice on the theme’s info page:
When a theme is retired, it no longer appears in the list of themes at Appearances – Themes or at Appearance – Theme Showcase if using the Classic Editor.
But, if the theme is already active on your site, you can continue to use it. Some retired themes will usually stay available for the lifetime of your site or blog without any issues. However, if you continue using a retired theme, you should note the following:
- A retired theme no longer receives WordPress updates or new features. This includes security updates that protect your blog from spammers and hackers.
- A retired theme should continue functioning on your site. However, WordPress does not guarantee that it will always work well with its ever-evolving software.
- You may lose access to certain features like sharing and reblog buttons, blocks, writing tools and clicking the ‘like’ button.
If you still use a retired theme, you will likely encounter problems at some point. Visitors to your blog may also experience problems viewing it correctly or engaging with you.
How do I change my WordPress theme?
Some bloggers are terrified of changing the theme of their WordPress blog. It can seem like a daunting task.
Once upon a time, changing your WordPress blog theme was a nightmare. I recall the first time I changed the theme of my blog. It took a whole weekend to finish.
But changing the theme of your WordPress blog is now easy and quick. WordPress provides full details on how to do it on the ‘Change your theme‘ page.
Have you checked the WordPress forum?
A user experiencing problems with their WordPress blog does not necessarily mean that other users are experiencing the same problems. Sometimes, problems can be exclusive to one blog (as in some of the above cases).
The WordPress forum page is great for determining if problems affect other users. Here, you can report issues and check what other issues users are experiencing.
Another way to find out if other users are experiencing the same problems with their WordPress blog is to ask them (as I did in Case Number One). Sometimes, issues can be theme-related. Once reported and provided the theme has not been retired, WordPress quickly fixes theme-related problems.
Let’s Wrap It Up!
- Like any website, the WordPress platform will suffer from bugs and problems.
- While some problems are widespread, many problems can be caused by a user’s device when blogging, especially if the device is old and does not have the latest updates installed.
- If you can access another device, try using it to determine whether the problem is only related to one device or a certain web browser.
- Some problems are related to themes. If a theme has been retired, consider changing to one WordPress support.
- Changing your blog theme is now easier and quicker.
- You can check if other bloggers are experiencing the same problems you’re having with your blog by asking them, posting on the WordPress forum, or doing both.
- Consider that any issues lie outside of WordPress first before blaming them solely.
- Ensure all devices you use to blog have the latest updates.
- Report issues and problems to WordPress. They may not know about issues unless you report them.
Are you experiencing any problems using WordPress? Have you checked if the issues are sitewide or only affecting you? How do you deal with issues using the WordPress platform?
Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.
More blogging tips posts from Hugh
Blogging Simplified: Adding Images From Your Phone To A WordPress Post
You can now add images to WordPress posts directly from your phone using the Jetpack app, with simple resizing options.
Read my posts for all the details.
Keep reading
Blogging Simplified: Engagement. Am I Doing It Right?
How do you engage with your readers and other bloggers? Are you taking full advantage of the comments you leave?
Keep reading
Blogging Simplified: It’s Easy, Isn’t It? Things I’ve Learned
Do you like talking about blogging? I do, and I’ve lots to say about it. What about you?
Keep reading
Click the buttons below to follow Hugh on Social Media
Copyright @ 2024 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.
Discover more from Hugh's Views & News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Hugh's Views & News 
thanks for this Hugh, it’s definitely the device I use! But sometimes it’s the only one available at the time. Anyway as you point out there’s definitely ways around it
There usually is, Alison. I had the same problem a few weeks ago with leaving comments (being asked to sign in when I already was). After clearing the cache and cookies, the problem disappeared. Some websites seem very sensitive to too much cache and cookies on a device.
Thanks, Hugh. Very wise advice, as usual. I’m bookmarking this one, as I’m bound to need it at some point in the future. ♥
I hope you do not have to refer to it, Olga. But glad it’s helpful. Often, we are the cause of problems but will blame something or somebody else.
Your post has so much helpful advice, Hugh. I’m going to go through the blogs I subscribe to and cancel some. Getting notifications every day causes me stress so I will turn that off. There are a few blogs that post several times a day! That might not bother some people but it gets me irritated. Five blogs to follow is enough for me at this time.
I really appreciate this comment of yours. “Like your home, your blog device needs some housekeeping to keep it working correctly.”
Do you think WordPress hosted blogs are better than self-hosted blogs? I’ve been on WP for about six years and always had a regular blog with them. Last year, I switched to a hosting service. Now I’m not sure if that’s the best option. Thanks Hugh.
Too many notifications of new posts can be overwhelming and cause blog guilt when somebody can not keep up with reading and commenting on all those posts, Kay. It’s a good reason to turn notifications off, especially on blogs that publish more than once daily. However, you can also set notifications to come in weekly, so you can then choose which posts to read at your leisure.
Blog housekeeping is not just a task, it’s a responsibility that many bloggers overlook. Neglecting it can result in outdated, dull, and boring blogs, often full of broken links that frustrate readers and may lead them to unfollow. By committing to regular housekeeping, you can keep your blog fresh and engaging.
I’ve read many posts about the pros and cons of self-hosted v’s WordPress.com. While self-hosted gives a blogger a lot of freedom to do what they want with their blog, a WordPress.com blog offers users security without worrying about updates. I’ve always been a WordPress.com user, and I prefer to have the security of knowing that WordPress is taking care of everything for me. Plus, they are there should I require any help.
Thanks for replying, Hugh. I have blog guilt as you say. I went through my list of blogs I follow. There were several that Ì don’t remember following. A few hadn’t posted anything in years so I deleted them. I set weekly notifications for most blogs. Only 5 have daily notifications. I will see how that works out! 🙂
Good luck with it all, Kay. At least you’ve given it a try and already unsubscribed from a few blogs that are no longer publishing posts.
I scrolled through some of your comments, Hugh. First of all your advice is spot on, as usual! Aside from a few glitches when the jetpack app launched, most issue have been resolved. I still get anonymous comments, (which I believe are also theme-related) and I agree that dealing with Blogger is a pain. I have one blogger friend who uses it. I encouraged her to migrate to WordPress, but I guess not. I just noticed the last commenter before mine came up as anonymous, too ;)
Another blogger has had issues with her theme and though I encouraged her to make the change, telling her its super easy than it was 2 years ago, I noticed she hasn’t changed it. I know this because I used the same theme several years ago and recognize the layout.
I’m sorry to read a blogger threw in the towel because she couldn’t bear to make changes. It’s funny how many bloggers dislike change when it comes to their blogs. I’ve enjoyed the block editor and other changes. I really like using my mobile phone for reading posts/links for Sunday Stills and its rare that I can’t read from it. We’ve been busy and sitting by a computer on road trips is impossible!
Anonymous comments can also be left if you’ve turned off the settings that require visitors to be logged into WordPress or have a WordPress account, Terri. I have that setting turned off on my blog because I want to make it as easy as possible for visitors to comment. Nobody should have to jump through lots of hoops to engage. Switching the setting off can mean lots of spam comments, but WordPress takes care of those comments, and I see very few.
I concluded that fighting WordPress changes is pointless. It only raises stress levels, so it is better to adopt change and see it as a good thing. Some bloggers also seem to go into hysterics when something goes wrong instead of stepping back and taking a closer look at what is actually causing a problem. It’s not always WordPress. It’s sad when somebody publishes a post blaming WordPress for problems, and many others join in the comments section when those problems may be being caused by somebody’s device, a web browser, a retired theme, or even the WiFi. The worst comments I see are, ‘Oh, WordPress is a mess at the moment. There are so many problems with it…’ yet they don’t go into what those problems are or whether they’ve reported them.
I’d forgotten that allowing anyone to comment might mean a anonymous comment. I’ll have to check my settings. I have a few neighbors that read my blog and are not bloggers. I might have been one of these complainers for a bit, Hugh. There was a point last winter? when the problems were pretty acute on the WP end of things. But I reached out to HE, time went by and most everything worked out. Your posts are always so helpful. so keep them coming!
I searched on WordPress today for ‘WordPress Problems,’ Terri. No surprise that I found many posts complaining about how bad WordPress is and how poor WordPress are at sorting out problems. The comments sections were all full of others complaining, saying how bad WordPress is and how bad they are at customer service. Yet, even though the person who published the post then goes on to say that WordPress helped them (in the comments section) and that all they had to do was clear the cache, browser history and cookies on their device and that the problems are now sorted out, people still left comments complaining. It was not long before I could see that it was the same people complaining. It makes me wonder why they continue to use WordPress if things are so bad for them.
Shaking my head, Hugh! I’ve suggested to several bloggers their old themes may be at fault. If blogging is important to all of us, shouldn’t we take the time to make appropriate adjustments? Old software on computers causes issues, I’m sure folks make sure their software is up to date.
I’m amazed at what WordPress does for us. Self hosting is for the birds 😁
Exactly, Terri. I do wonder why some of these complaining bloggers who dislike WordPress so much continue to use the platform. It makes me think that things are not as bad as they seem to tell us all.
We call all but try and help, but it seems some prefer to battle on than take some advice and blog happily.
Thank you so much for this post, Hugh. Your tips and highlights lead to interesting discussions which are also helpful. I’ve actually been problem free until yesterday and I had issues with my post titles. I have an FSE theme and what I like about it is it can be reset which solves most of the problems. Plus, you don’t have to reset the entire site but only the template that has problems.
When I travel, I use my own wifi gadget because I don’t trust public wifi’s. Also, if I have problems with my internet provider, I use my wifi gadget to report an outage. My internet provider and wifi gadget are with different companies so if one has issues, I can still operate my devices using the other company.
Hi Eugi, can you reset the theme, or does somebody at WordPress need to do it? Resetting a theme sounds like a great idea, but I don’t believe that can be done with the Classic themes.
I have two Wi-Fi channels at home. It’s strange that while using one of them, I can have problems accessing sites, yet everything works fine if I switch to the other Wi-Fi channel.
Hi Hugh, I can reset the theme myself or just a portion of it for example the header. FSE themes are like a puzzle with various templates and patterns conducive to that particular theme. I don’t know if you can reset the Classic themes.
How wonderful that you can reset FSE themes yourself, Eugi. I like that and see it as a big benefit of having an FSE theme. You can’t do that with the Classic themes.
It’s a big benefit, Hugh, especially for me since I sometimes mess up my theme when attempting to make changes.