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Capabilities & Engineering

Something broke on your WordPress site, and it's not a hack, just broken.

A white screen error, a plugin conflict, a layout that stopped working after an update, diagnosed and fixed at the root cause, distinct from our dedicated security and malware services for compromise-related issues.

A laptop screen displaying application code being reviewed

Photo: Lukas Blazek / Pexels

Founder-Led
Every diagnosis run directly by Elvis Ekoigiawe
15+ years
Operating since 2011
90+
Clients served
Fit Check

Who WordPress Troubleshooting & Bug Fixes Is Actually Built For

  • A business with a white screen error, broken layout, or failed update, not a security compromise, just broken
  • A business whose site broke right after a plugin, theme, or WordPress core update
  • A business on a site built by a previous developer or agency, with no clear record of what's actually installed
  • A business that wants the actual root cause fixed, not a quick fix that masks the symptom and lets it resurface
Delivery Framework

How We Deliver WordPress Troubleshooting & Bug Fixes

A structured, milestone-driven execution methodology, not a generic checklist reused across every service.

01

Symptom Assessment

We start by understanding exactly what's broken, when it started, and what changed around that time (a plugin update, a theme change, a hosting migration) since this context usually points directly at the likely cause before any deep diagnosis begins.

02

Root Cause Diagnosis

Rather than applying generic fixes and hoping one works, we identify the actual cause, a plugin conflict, a PHP version mismatch, a corrupted database table, a theme function error, through direct investigation of error logs and site behavior.

03

Fix & Verification

The specific issue gets fixed and verified working across the affected functionality, not just the one symptom you originally reported, since a root-cause issue often affects more than the single visible symptom that prompted the report.

04

Prevention Recommendation

Where the root cause suggests a broader risk (an outdated plugin prone to conflicts, no staging environment to test updates safely), we flag it directly, connecting to our WordPress Security or Development services if a more structural fix is warranted.

What's Included

Every WordPress Troubleshooting & Bug Fixes Engagement Includes

Symptom assessment

What's broken, when it started, and what changed around that time, context that usually points directly at the likely cause.

Root cause diagnosis

Identified through direct investigation of error logs and site behavior, not generic fixes applied on the hope one happens to work.

Fix & verification

Verified working across the affected functionality, not just the single symptom originally reported.

Prevention recommendation

Where the root cause suggests a broader risk, we flag it directly and connect to Security or Development services if a structural fix is warranted.

WordPress troubleshooting, for the bugs that aren’t a security issue

A plugin update broke your checkout page. A theme conflict is throwing a white screen. A contact form silently stopped sending emails three weeks ago and nobody noticed. That’s the kind of problem this page exists for: something functionally broken on your WordPress site that isn’t necessarily a security compromise, just a bug getting in the way of running your business.

This is the clear destination for that kind of issue, distinct from our dedicated Security and Malware Removal services, which handle compromise and vulnerability-specific situations. If you’re not sure which category your issue falls into, describe the symptom when you reach out and we’ll point you to the right service rather than making you guess.

Why root-cause diagnosis matters more than a quick fix

A common but costly pattern in WordPress troubleshooting is applying a generic fix that happens to make the visible symptom go away without actually understanding what caused it, deactivating plugins one by one until the error disappears, for instance, without determining exactly why that particular plugin conflict occurred. This can work as a stopgap, but it often leaves the underlying cause unaddressed, meaning the same or a related issue resurfaces later, sometimes in a different, harder-to-diagnose form.

We diagnose from actual evidence, server error logs, the specific timing of when the issue started relative to any changes made, and direct investigation of the affected functionality, rather than trial-and-error guessing.

Common issues we fix

A handful of patterns account for most of what we’re asked to diagnose.

Plugin conflicts after an update

Two plugins that worked fine independently suddenly interfering once one of them updates its underlying code, among the most frequent causes of sudden breakage.

White screen errors

Typically a PHP error, memory limit issue, or plugin conflict, the screen shows nothing useful, but server error logs usually reveal the actual cause clearly.

Broken contact forms

A visitor submits the form, sees a success message, and the message never arrives, silently costing leads for weeks before anyone thinks to check.

Layout breaks after an update

Visual elements break, disappear, or render incorrectly on some but not all pages, often a CSS or JavaScript conflict affecting only specific browsers or devices.

The value of telling us what changed

The single most useful piece of information in any troubleshooting request is what changed right before the issue started, a plugin update, a new plugin installed, a theme change, a hosting migration, or even something as small as a settings change in an admin panel. A vague “it just stopped working” report takes meaningfully longer to diagnose than “it broke right after I updated this specific plugin yesterday,” since the second version points diagnosis directly at the most likely cause.

Tell Us What’s Broken

Describe the symptom, when it started, and anything that changed around that time, that’s the fastest path to an accurate diagnosis, even if it seems like too small a detail to mention.

The Real Difference

What Makes This Different From a Generic WordPress Troubleshooting & Bug Fixes Package

Root-cause diagnosis, not symptom-masking

Deactivating plugins one by one until an error disappears can work as a stopgap, but leaves the underlying cause unaddressed, the issue resurfaces later, often in a harder-to-diagnose form.

Honest about when a backup restore isn't the right move

Restoring rolls back any content or orders added since the backup, and if the issue was already present in the backup, it just comes back too. We assess whether it's genuinely the right tool, not a reflexive default.

A documented explanation, not just "it's fixed"

What was actually wrong and what changed to resolve it, written in plain language, and a direct flag if the same category of issue is likely to recur.

Transparent Scoping

How We Price WordPress Troubleshooting & Bug Fixes

We don't publish a flat package price, because a flat price for every client would mean either overcharging the simple engagements or underscoping the complex ones. What we do instead: a free audit first, then a written quote based on what your site and market actually require. No cookie-cutter tiers, no hidden fees added after you've signed.

Cost depends on the issue's complexity, a straightforward plugin conflict is quicker to resolve than a deeper database or server-configuration issue. We communicate expected cost after symptom assessment, before starting deeper diagnostic work.

Issue complexity

A plugin conflict is a different scope than a corrupted database table or a deeper server-configuration issue.

Urgency

A site that's completely down gets prioritized faster than a minor cosmetic issue on a low-traffic page.

One-time fix vs. ongoing support

A single resolved issue is a different arrangement than proactive, ongoing support for a site that runs into problems regularly.

Get a Free Audit & Written Quote No obligation. No sales script.

Outside Nigeria?

We deliver wordpress troubleshooting & bug fixes for international clients too

English-fluent, senior-led delivery for businesses in Europe, North America, and beyond, backed by real platform builds for clients in Geneva, Amsterdam, and London.

See International Client Work →
Direct Answers

Frequently Asked Questions: WordPress Troubleshooting & Bug Fixes

How It Works

My WordPress site shows a white screen with no error message, can you fix this?

Yes, a white screen (often called the 'white screen of death') is typically caused by a PHP error, plugin conflict, or memory limit issue, and while it shows no visible error to you, server error logs usually reveal the actual cause clearly. We diagnose from those logs rather than guessing at generic fixes.

How is this different from your WordPress Security or Malware Removal services?

This service covers functional bugs and breakages that aren't security-related, a plugin conflict, a broken layout, a failed update, while Security and Malware Removal specifically address compromise and vulnerability issues. If you're not sure which applies, describe the symptom and we'll direct you to the right service rather than guessing.

Can you fix a broken WordPress site without losing my content?

In the large majority of cases, yes, fixing a functional bug (plugin conflict, theme error, configuration issue) doesn't typically involve touching your actual content or data. We'd flag directly if a specific fix carried any risk to your content before proceeding, rather than assuming it's always risk-free.

Can you fix issues on a site you didn't originally build?

Yes, we regularly diagnose and fix issues on sites built by previous developers or agencies, starting with the same symptom-assessment and root-cause diagnosis process regardless of who originally built the site, since understanding the actual current state matters more than the site's build history.

Can a bad WordPress fix make things worse?

Yes, which is exactly why root-cause diagnosis matters more than applying quick generic fixes, a fix that addresses a symptom without understanding the actual cause can sometimes mask a deeper problem or introduce a new conflict elsewhere. We verify fixes across the broader affected functionality, not just the single reported symptom.

Can you fix WordPress issues remotely, or do you need physical access?

Remotely, in essentially all cases, WordPress troubleshooting is done through admin access, hosting control panel access, and server logs, none of which require physical access to any hardware. This applies regardless of where in Nigeria (or beyond) your business is located.

Cost & Timeline

How much does a WordPress fix cost?

Cost depends on the issue's complexity, a straightforward plugin conflict is quicker to resolve than a deeper database or server-configuration issue. We assess this during symptom assessment and communicate expected cost before starting deeper diagnostic work, rather than an open-ended hourly commitment with no estimate.

How quickly can you respond to a broken WordPress site?

Response time depends on how urgently the issue affects your business, a site that's completely down gets prioritized faster than a minor cosmetic layout issue on a low-traffic page. Describe the issue and its business impact when you reach out, and we'll assess urgency accordingly rather than a fixed generic queue.

Specific Situations

My site broke right after a plugin or WordPress update, is that related?

Very likely, yes, this is one of the most common causes of sudden WordPress breakage, since an update can introduce a new conflict with your existing theme or another plugin, or change default behavior your site was depending on. Telling us exactly when the issue started and what you updated around that time speeds up diagnosis significantly.

What's the most common WordPress issue you're asked to fix?

Plugin conflicts after an update are among the most frequent, two plugins that worked fine independently suddenly conflicting after one of them updates, producing anything from a minor display glitch to a full white-screen error, depending on what functionality the conflict actually affects.

My contact form stopped working, is this something you fix?

Yes, a broken contact form is a common and genuinely costly issue, since it can silently stop leads from reaching you without any obvious visible symptom on the page itself. We'd diagnose whether it's a plugin issue, a server configuration problem, or an email delivery issue specifically, since the fix differs depending on the actual cause.

Do you offer ongoing support, or is this only for one-time fixes?

This can be a one-time fix for a specific issue, or scoped as an ongoing support arrangement if your site experiences issues regularly or you'd prefer proactive monitoring, we'd discuss which fits your situation based on how often you're running into problems and your appetite for ongoing versus as-needed support.

My site's layout broke after I changed something myself, can you still help?

Yes, tell us exactly what you changed, since that context usually points directly at the cause and speeds up diagnosis significantly. We don't need the issue to have started 'mysteriously' to help; a known recent change is actually easier to diagnose than an issue with no clear starting point.

How do I know if my issue needs a fix or a full rebuild?

Most functional issues are fixable without a rebuild, a rebuild is rarely the right first response to a specific bug. We'd only recommend a rebuild if the underlying issue reflects a broader structural problem (severe accumulated technical debt, a fundamentally incompatible plugin stack) that a targeted fix genuinely can't resolve, and we'd explain why clearly if that's the case.

What information should I provide when reporting a WordPress issue?

What's broken specifically, when it started, what (if anything) changed around that time, and any error messages you've seen, even if they look like technical gibberish to you, screenshots are genuinely useful here. The more specific detail you provide upfront, the faster we can diagnose the actual root cause rather than starting from scratch.

Choosing a Provider

How do I know if I need a WordPress fix service versus a security service?

If your site has broken functionality, a plugin conflict, or an update that went wrong with no sign of hacking involved, that's a WordPress fix; if you're seeing unfamiliar redirects, unknown admin users, or a Google security warning, that's the malware removal service instead, the two are genuinely different problems.

Is Digital Elixir the right choice for a broken WordPress site?

We're a strong fit for diagnosing and fixing a specific broken feature or failed update without guesswork, we'll tell you plainly if what you're describing is actually a security issue in disguise rather than treating every WordPress problem as the same kind of fix.

Ready to talk through wordpress troubleshooting & bug fixes?

Schedule a direct 45-minute session with Elvis Ekoigiawe, not a salesperson reading from a script.

  • We'll ask about your actual current setup and goals, not run a generic sales script
  • You'll leave with a specific, honest read on whether this service actually fits your situation
  • No pressure to commit on the call. If it's not a fit, we'll tell you directly