Category: Blogs

  • 7 Best Mechanisms to Block Contact Form Spam in WordPress

    Are you getting spammy emails on your Gmail or Official business account when you use the WordPress website’s contact form, review form, feedback form, or any other type of form?

    Now, you want to know how to stop spam emails from your WordPress website.

    Right, Let’s go.

    In this blog, we will study seven quick mechanisms to block contact from spam forever.

    1 Featured image

    WordPress contact form is the best way to stay connected with users or customers. It allows them to ask questions through this communication form with prompt replies.

    Nevertheless, sometimes website operators experience headaches due to WordPress contact form spam, which can result in missing important emails from real users or customers.

    Why is there a need to reduce or block contact form spam?

    Before learning how to block form spamming, we must understand its need. In this section, we will learn about different dangerous factors due to which you have to stop spam on website.

    Here are some reasons why email spam is dangerous for your WordPress website.

    • If you want to send harmful links to any website, contact form spam is one of the best ways to do so. It can easily infect your website with any kind of virus, and you may lose your data or website.
    • Whenever you submit a new form, you get a new email notification. Contact form spam can create email deliverability issues due to bulk email generation if your forms are under attack.
    • Sometimes, the Denial of Service (DoS) bots send bulk emails to your inbox in a very short time span. It can slow down your website’s speed and generate a low user experience, decreasing their experience and upscaling your bounce rate.
    • Contact form spam can lead to a website or data hacking. Through these spam emails, you may lose your account credentials or may encounter confidential information leaks. It may also result in account takeovers within no time.
    • Whenever you get spam through the contact form, you will receive tons of emails. To read and filter important emails, you have to separate out important emails that may reduce the team productivity, resulting in a low brand reputation.

    These are some prominent reasons you should implement spam prevention measures on your WordPress website. You can perform WordPress contact form spamming with the best tools and techniques to safeguard your site from any threat.

    Several ways to perform WordPress contact form spam

    In this section, we will study different ways on how can you prevent spam emails from the WordPress website.

    Let us get started!

    There is no way to block email spam from your WordPress website manually; you need some of the best plugins in this business from the WordPress repository.

    To do so, either test the plugins individually on your WordPress website or watch YouTube videos of the plugins to check their functionality.

    OR

    View our suggested plugins in this blog post. Our experts have tested them on permanently blocking spam email through WordPress forms.

    1. Install WPForms Plugin

    You can add the WPForms plugin to your WordPress website to stop spam emails.

    It provides various in-built spam prevention options. WPForms is one of the best contact form plugins for WordPress. It will help you block contact form spam from your website. It provides you with various features such as:

    • In-built spam protection token
    • Custom CAPTCHA
    • In-built reCAPTCHA

    To use this plugin for your website, you need to install and activate it.

    After installing the plugin, click WPForms >> Add New. You can give your form a new name under the “Name Field” tab to recognize it quickly.

    Add new WP form and rename it

    Select a new contact form under the pre-built templates and click the “Use Template” button to start with your contact form. You can edit fields or add new ones with the information you want to insert. After that, hit “Save” to save the edits in the form.

    Save your edit in the form

    WPForms provides default settings to stop spam emails. For reassurance, you can head to the Spam Protection and Security option under the Settings tab to confirm that “Enable anti-spam protection” is enabled.

    Enable anti spam protection

    You can use the WPForms plugin to perform contact form spam prevention on your website in the most straightforward way.

    2. Include reCAPTCHA

    Another method to stop spam through spam bots is to add CAPTCHA in your contact forms. You can use the reCAPTCHA, a free tool by Google, with WPForms lite to add an in-built anti-spam token system.

    To add this option, go to the WPForms >> Settings in the dashboard, then click the “CAPTCHA” tab and select “reCAPTCHA” to proceed.

    Select the reCAPTCHA option

    Then scroll down to the “Type” section and choose the “Checkbox reCAPTCHA v2” option.

    Select the reCAPTCHA v2 box

    Now, you need to fill out the Site Key and Secret Key to proceed to the next step. Head to the Google reCAPTCHA page and click “v3 Admin Console” to get started.

    Go to the google admin console

    Log in to your Google account and then register your WordPress website. Afterwards, label your CAPTCHA and choose the “reCAPTCHA v3” option.

    7 Blog image

    Enter your website’s domain under the “Domain name” section and hit the submit button to complete the form. Now, you will see a page with the “site key” and “secret key” for WPForms.

    Copy site key and secret key to clipboard

    Copy these keys and enter them in your WordPress dashboard. At the end, hit the “Save your changes” button to save your form. Now, your reCAPTCHA form is ready.

    Copy these keys in wordpress form

    To add reCAPTCHA to your form, click on the WPForms >> All Forms and hit the “Edit” button to protect your form. Drag the “reCAPTCHA” field and click it to add it to your form. You will see a confirmatory message for the form and click “OK” for the same.

    Update your reCAPTCHA in WP form

    Once you add the reCAPTCHA to your form, you will see a logo on the top right-hand side indicating that your form is reCAPTCHA enabled. Click the “Save” button to enable the final changes.

    Preview your reCAPTCHA

    It is one of the best ways to prevent contact form spam on your website. It helps you to stop getting spam on websites that will keep your site safe and secure.

    3. Use hCAPTCHA in Forms

    It is more likely to reCAPTCHA, but it provides more privacy.

    To use this preventive method for contact form spam, head towards the WPForms >> Settings and then choose the CAPTCHA option. Under this, you must select the “hCAPTCHA” option to start further.

    Add hCAPTCHA in form

    You will head towards a new tab where you have to sign in with hCAPTCHA to use their service. Then choose the suitable plan and fill out your details to create your account.

    Sign in to use hCAPTCHA

    Now, you have to register your site on which you want to add the hCAPTCHA. Click the “New Site” button and then enter your site’s domain by hitting the “Add new domain“.

    Add your domain to the account

    Select the CAPTCHA behavior and select the difficulty level under the Passing Threshold section. In the end, hit the “Save” button to confirm it.

    Change the settings accordingly
    Save the settings

    Head towards the “Settings” option in front of the website for which you want to activate hCAPTCHA. Copy the Site Key and keep it to text editor.

    Copy the site key

    Now, copy the Secret Key from the “Settings” option under the Site tab.

    Copy the secret key

    Paste both the keys and hit the “Save” button to complete your hCAPTCHA setup in the WPForms. Now, the hCAPTCHA is ready to use on your website using the WPForms.

    Copy these keys in WPform

    Under the “Standard Fields” look for the hCAPTCHA option and select it to see that either it is enabling or not.

    Enable hCAPTCHA

    If you see hCAPTCHA badge in the top right corner of form, then it is enabled on your website.

    Preview your hCAPTCHA

    It is one of the safest ways to stop spam on a website through the WordPress contact form.

    4. Use Custom CAPTCHA

    Instead of using reCAPTCHA or hCAPTCHA, you can create custom CAPTCHA for spam prevention. To use this add-on for WPForms, you have to launch the form builder interface.

    Then, select the “Custom CAPTCHA” option under the “Fancy Fields” section.

    Select custom CAPTCHA option

    If you do not see the option, kindly install the add-on for the same.

    Click the option “Yes, Install and Activate” to proceed further.

    Click install and activate option

    After installing the add-on, you will see a pop-up screen in which you have to select the option “Yes, Save and Refresh” to add the CAPTCHA on your form.

    Hit save and refresh option

    Now, drag-and-drop the Custom CAPTCHA field in your form and get access to its settings. Customize the label and add description to move forward.

    Customize the CAPTCHA

    Select the CAPTCHA type and then “Save” it to add it to your form.

    Select the type and save the form

    5. Initiate Email Verification

    You can prevent contact form spam by adding an email verification option in your form. It will stop spam emails on your website while keeping it more secure and safe.

    To add email verification method, click the “User Registration” tab under the Settings section. Then, click the “Enable User Registration” option to allow verification using the email address.

    Enable user registration

    Then, ticks the “Enable user activation” option under the “User activation and Login” section to allow your site perform email verification of the users.

    Activate the user

    You have enabled the email verification that will help your website to prevent spam mails from spam bots.

    6. Block Repeated Email Address

    You can stop contact form spamming by blocking repeated email address using the WPForms advance settings.

    Under the Fields section, head towards the “Advanced” tab under the Email field to block a repeating email address.

    Now, scroll down to the Allowlist/Denylist drop down, and choose the “Denylist” option.

    Block repeated email addresses

    In this Denylist, you can enter several email addresses separated by the comma to prevent repeated email address. You can also restrict or block email address by giving the command (*@domain.com) or (example*), respectively. Then, hit the “Save” button in the end.

    7. Blacklist Spammy IP Address

    You can prevent your site from contact form spamming by disallowing or blocking spammy IP addresses from your website.

    Go to the Settings >> Discussion from your WordPress dashboard. Now, enter the IP addresses that you want to block in the “Disallowed Comment Keys” section.

    Block spammy IP addresses

    Make sure that you add multiple IP addresses in a new line. Then, hit the “Save Changes” button to block all these addresses.

    Conclusion

    Contact form helps you to stay connected with the users but sometimes it can be very irritating due to spam emails. Hence, this blog will help you to get rid of these contact form spam in your WordPress website.

  • Best ways to Upload Adobe Lightroom photos in WordPress

    Adobe Lightroom is quite popular among the photographers many of them, like to edit there photos. Although editing is essential, manually transferring photos can be time-consuming.

    So, are you interested in seamlessly adding photos from Adobe Lightroom to your WordPress site?

    Here we’ll show you how to upload photos from Adobe Lightroom to WordPress effortlessly with just a single click.

    Upload photos from adobe lightroom In wordpress

    What is Adobe Lightroom?

    Adobe Lightroom is a photo editing set within Adobe’s Creative Cloud, alongside tools like Photoshop and Illustrator. It helps you make basic changes and adjustments to your images, such as exposure, contrast, cropping, etc. 

    Creative cloud

    Unlike Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom focuses on managing collections and performing basic edits, making it ideal for professional photographers.

    By incorporating the right WordPress plugin, you can connect your Lightroom account directly to your WordPress site, simplifying the process of uploading your curated images.

    Essential Requirements for Uploading Adobe Lightroom to WordPress

    Firstly, you have to have Adobe Lightroom Classic installed on your PC. It would be better if you have version 6 or higher, which can be accessed through Adobe’s Creative Cloud platform.

    In addition, you’ll also need the Envira Gallery plugin for WordPress, which is available with their Gold, Platinum, Agency, or Pro licenses. This plugin offers a Lightroom Addon, facilitating seamless integration between Adobe Lightroom and your WordPress environment.

    Setting Up Envira Lightroom Gallery in WordPress

    In order to set up your Adobe Lightroom gallery first thing you have to do is install your Envira gallery plugin in your WordPress site. 

    Then, after activation, navigate to Envira> Gallery Settings. Enter your license key and select ‘Verify Key‘ to authenticate; it can be found on your accounts page on the Envira Gallery website.

    Setting page

    Now Go to Envira Gallery’s Addons, find the Lightroom Addon, click ‘Install’, and then ‘Activate’ to enable it. 

    Install the Lightroom addon

    Proceed to Envira Gallery’s Settings, Lightroom to configure it further. After that, you will have to go to the Envira Gallery » Settings page and click the ‘Lightroom’ tab.

    Lightroom setting

    In the Lightroom settings within Envira Gallery, select your Lightroom user account and click ‘Generate New Access Token’. Copy the token for the next step.

    You have to click on the save button to store your settings, so do not forget that.

    Setting Up Adobe Lightroom Classic on the Computer

    The next step here is to install the Adobe Lightroom Classic app on your computer and set it up. 

    To do that, visit the Adobe Creative Cloud website and select the ‘Your Creative Cloud’ button at the top. You have to make sure that you signed in to your Adobe account.

    Now you’ll see your Creative Cloud homepage, select the ‘Install Creative Cloud app’ option it is in the right corner beneath the user name there.

    Install creative cloud

    You can now save the download file on your computer and install it.

    After installation, open the Creative Cloud app on your computer. After that, you can go to the ‘Apps’ section and then navigate to Lightroom Classic.

    Select the try button

    You can now click the ‘Try’ button beneath Lightroom Classic.

    Next step is you’ll need to select a subscription plan. Adobe has a 7-day free trial, so you can pick a plan and select the ‘Continue’ button.

    Pick a plan

    After you finish the subscription process, Lightroom Classic will start installing on your computer.

    Connecting Adobe Lightroom Classic to Envira Gallery

    Visit your Envira account area and switch to the ‘Downloads’ tab.

    Create publish collection

    Go down and navigate to the ‘Lightroom Addon (Adobe)’ option, and click the download icon under the addon to save the zip file for the addon on your computer.

    Lightroom addon

    Look for the file enviralrplugin.zip in your computer’s downloads folder and extract it. Mac users can double-click the file to unzip it, while Windows users can right-click it and extract its content.

    Open Adobe Lightroom and select the File » Plugin Manager in the toolbar.

    plug-in manager

    Now, you will see the ‘Add button.’ Click on that and select the ‘envira.lrplugin‘ file from your computer.

    Select the Add button

    After adding the Enivra addon folder, click ‘Done’ to close the plugin manager window.

    Envira gallery is added successfully

    Open the Adobe Lightroom Classic app and click the ‘Set Up‘ link next to Envira Gallery beneath the Publish Services panel.

    Provide the address of your WP & the access token

    You need to grant the address of your WordPress site and the access token you generated earlier.

    Successfully Authenticated

    Now click on the ‘Authenticate’ button.

    Lightroom will connect to your WordPress site. You will now see a success message when it has connected successfully.

    Select the ‘OK’ button on the success message, then click the Save button in the publishing services manager window.

    Uploading Photos from Lightroom to WordPress

    Now you’re ready to upload photos:

    • In Lightroom, right-click on Envira under ‘Publish Services‘ and select ‘Create Published Collection‘.

    Create publish collection

    • Name your collection (this will be your gallery’s name on WordPress) and click ‘Create’.

    Example Images

    • Drag photos from your library into this new collection.

    Now publish

    • Click ‘Publish’ to upload your selected photos to WordPress via Envira Gallery.

    Transfer complete

    Your images are synchronized between Lightroom and WordPress, ensuring your Envira Gallery reflects your latest edits and additions.

    Explore your WordPress Adobe admin area to view your Lightroom collection as a fully integrated Envira Gallery.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, integrating Adobe Lightroom with WordPress via the Envira Gallery plugin streamlines photo uploading and management. This setup allows seamless synchronization between Lightroom edits and WordPress galleries. By leveraging Envira’s Lightroom, you can add photos to collections in Lightroom and publish them directly on their WordPress sites, enhancing workflow efficiency and ensuring a cohesive visual presentation.

  • A Comprehensive Guide to Add Documentation in WordPress

    Adding Documentation to you website can be beneficial for UI (User Interaction) & UE (User Experience) of the site, it will make easier for them to understand how to use you goods or services. It will also improve SEO of your site, and reduce support tickets on your website.

    If you are looking for a way to add Documentation on your website, but don’t know how to. Do not worry you are at the write place, Here is the comprehensive guide to add Documentation in WordPress.

    A comprehensive guide to add documentation in wordpress

    Why should we add Documentation to our website?

    Before knowing how to use it, you must understand why you should add Documentation to your website.

    If you add Documentation to Your WordPress website, it will provide you with information about using your products/services, including features, new releases, add-ons, and more.

    The Doc WordPress theme includes various content, such as FAQs, Tutorials, how-to guides, knowledge bases, and API documentation.

    For example, if you have an online bakery store, you can add Documentation specifying how to order, how to customize your order, how to buy a premium membership to get recipes, and so on.

    Documentation layout

    How to Add WordPress Doc Plugin?

    We have various WordPress plugin Documentation available to choose from; one such is Heroic KB.

    It is the best WordPress knowledge base plugin on the market. It gets very easy to add Documentation in WordPress via Heroic KB plugins. It adds a searchable knowledge base to your existing site. It has an AJAX search feature, drag-and-drop content ordering, article attachments, and more. 

     Here is a step-by-step guide to add documentation to your website.

    Step1: Construct Heroic KB General Settings

    First, you need to install and activate the Heroic KB plugin to add documentation to your site.

    Upon activation, visit the Heroic KB » Settings page from the WordPress admin sidebar and switch to the ‘License and Updates‘ tab.

    After entering your plugin’s license key, it’s essential to click the ‘Save Changes‘ button. You can get this information from your account on the Heroic KB website.

    Add licence key

    After adding the license key, switch to the ‘Home & General‘ tab from the left column. Select the documentation home page from the dropdown menu next to the ‘KB Home Page’ option.

    When you opt for the ‘Knowledge Base Archive‘ option, Heroic KB will generate a new page to add  Documentation at www.example.com/knowledge-base, a significant outcome.

    If you want to add  Documentation to a page you have already created, you can select it from the dropdown menu.

    Next, you can type the header text displayed at the top of your documentation page.

    Switch home & general

    Once you finish that, check the ‘Breadcrumbs’ option to enable it.

    Breadcrumbs are a navigation asset that allows users to see how they got to the current page and navigate back to previous pages, such as Home,» Products,» and Installation.

    Next, you can choose the number of category columns displayed on your documentation page from the dropdown menu.

    Then, check the ‘Display KB Category Counts‘ option to see the number of articles written for each category.

    Check Breadcrumbs

    Next, choose the number of articles displayed under each category on the documentation home page from the ‘KB Category Article’ dropdown menu.

    Then, you can check the ‘Hide Empty Categories’ and the ‘Hide Uncategorized Articles’ boxes. This way, neither the currently empty categories nor the uncategorized articles will be displayed on your documentation home page.

    Afterward, you can restrict your WordPress documentation access to logged-in users only from the ‘Restrict Access‘ dropdown menu.

    After completing that, click the ‘Save Changes‘ button to store your settings.

    Display KB option

    Step 2: Construct Categories, Tags, and Article Settings

    Now change to the ‘Categories & Tags’ tab from the column on the. You can select how to label your categories and tags and also the number of articles that will be shown for every taxonomy.

    Check the ‘Article Excerpt’ box if you want to display an article snippet under each taxonomy archive in your documentation.

    Now click the ‘Save Changes’ button and switch to the ‘Article’ tab.

    Sort your categories and tags option

    After this, you can check different boxes to start a comments section under your documentation articles, display author bios, or show other related articles under each tutorial.

    After making your choice, just click the ‘Save Changes’ button to store your settings.

    Check boxes to activate comments

    Step 3: Set Up Knowledgebase Search and Slug Settings

    Now, switch to the ‘Search’ tab and check the ‘Search Focus’ box if you want the user’s mouse to automatically land on the documentation search box when the page loads.

    Next, you can add placeholder text for the search box, display article excerpts in the search results, and even enable the plugin to highlight the search term in the results.

    Once you have done that, click ‘Save Changes’ and switch to the ‘Slugs’ tab.

    Add search box

    Now change to the ‘Categories & Tags’ tab from the column on the. You can select how to label your categories and tags and also the number of articles that will be shown for every taxonomy.

    Check the ‘Article Excerpt’ box if you want to display an article snippet under each taxonomy archive in your documentation.

    Now click the ‘Save Changes’ button and switch to the ‘Article’ tab.

    You can add slugs for your documentation’s articles, categories, and tags. After making your choice, click the ‘Save Changes’ button to store your settings.

    Add slug

    Step 4: Configure Knowledgebase Sidebar and Style Settings

    Now, switch to the ‘Sidebars’ tab to choose a layout for the sidebars on your documentation pages. You can select different positions for the home, category, and articles sidebar.

    You can even check the ‘Sticky Article Sidebar?’ option to enable a sticky page sidebar. Once you have done that, click ‘Save Changes’ and switch to the ‘Styles’ tab.

    Pick sidebar position

    You can choose your documentation width, link color, header styling, and text color according to your preference. Then, click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

    Add styling options

    Step 5: Set Up Article Feedback and Email Settings

    Checking those boxes will add an upvote/downvote system to your WordPress documentation. This will let users tell you if your documentation helps solve their problems on the front end. 

    Select the ‘Save Changes’ button to reserve the settings.

    Enable article feedback

    Now, switch to the ‘Email Reports’ tab from the left column and check the ‘Enable Email Reports?’ option if you want Heroic KB to send you weekly reports on your documentation.

    This report will include the total views and average rating of your documentation articles and display a list of the top and most highly rated articles for that week.

    Once you have done that, add your admin email address to the ‘Report Recipients’ field. You can even add multiple email addresses if you like. 

    To keep your settings, click on the ‘Save Changes’ button.

    Enable email report

    After you have organized all the settings for the Heroic KB plugin, you can add documentation for your website.

    Step 6: Create and Add Documentation to Your WordPress Site

    To add documentation, visit the Heroic KB » Add New Article page from the dashboard of WordPress.

    This will open the WordPress content editor, where you can add a heading for your documentation article and start writing the content. You can also click the add block ‘+‘ button in the top left corner to add different blocks to your content.

    Add new article

    Once you have written the article for the documentation, you need to expand the ‘Categories’ tab in the block panel and click the ‘Add New Article Category’ link.

    Next, simply create a category for the article that you are writing.

    Expand the Categories tab

    After that, expand the ‘Tags’ section in the block panel and add as many tags as you like for your documentation article. You can even add an excerpt for the article by expanding the ‘Excerpt’ tab. 

    Next, go to the ‘Discussion‘ tab and uncheck the ‘Allow comments’ option to disable comments for this article.

    If you want to let users add comments, you can leave this setting as it is.

    Disable comments

    You can also add attachments to your articles in the documentation.

    To do this, scroll down to the ‘Article Options’ section in the block editor and click the ‘Add or Upload Files‘ button. This will launch the media library, where you can add any attachment you like.

    Next, check the ‘Attachments in New Window’ box if you want the attachments in the article to open in a new window upon being clicked.

    Add upload files

    You can also disable the upvote/downvote feature for specific articles by scrolling down to the ‘Voting Options‘ section. Here, check the ‘Disable Voting’ option to deactivate the upvote/downvote system for this specific article.

     

    Disable voting

    Finally, click the ‘Publish’ button to publish your article as documentation.

    Repeat the process to add more than one entry for your documentation under different categories.

    Once you are done with that, you can easily view the documentation by visiting the www.example.com/knowledge-base page or the custom page that you chose for your documentation.

    Documentation layout

    Step 7: Change the Article and Category Order of Your Documentation

    With Heroic KB, you can change the order of the articles displayed in your WordPress knowledge base. To do this, visit the WordPress dashboard’s Heroic KB Article Ordering page.

    Here, choose the category in which you want to change the article order. Then, drag and drop the articles to rearrange them according to your preference.

    Change article order

    Once you are done, remember to click the ‘Save Order‘ button to save your settings.

    To change the order of the categories displayed on your documentation page, visit the Heroic KB » Category Ordering page from the WordPress admin sidebar.

    Once you are there, you can rearrange the categories’ order by dragging and dropping them. After making the changes, click the ‘Save Order‘ button to store your settings.

    Article category ordering

    Now, you are done adding documentation to your website.

    Conclusion

    If you add documentation to your website, it will enhance UI by providing clear guidance on using your products or services. It boosts SEO, reduces support queries, and empowers users to navigate your offerings effortlessly. With tools like Heroic KB, If you add documentation in WordPress it will become straightforward, offering features like categorization, search capabilities, and user feedback options. Start enhancing your site today  and add documentation to serve your audience better.

  • 6 Ways to Fix Error Establishing a Database Connection

    An error establishing a database connection in WordPress happens when the site can’t connect and recover the database and its information. Its common causes include error in the wp-config file, invalid credentials, or corrupted data.

    This can result in a bad experience for the user by making the site inaccessible to them. Given that multiple factors can affect this connection, the WordPress error establishing a database connection can be a little problematic to troubleshoot for beginners.

    But do not worry. We will show you how you can fix your connection step by step.

    Reasons for the WordPress error establishing a database connection

    Wordpress error establishing a database connection

    It is very important to understand the problem before solving it. Here are the reasons for  WordPress error establishing a database connection can occur.

    Before jumping in the possible cause first make sure of these thing, Sometime Big problems are caused by small ignorance.

    • You have the correct username and password.
    • You have typed the correct hostname.
    • The database server is running.

     

    Error establishing a database connection

    1. Incorrect database login credentials (in the wp-config file): WordPress uses login information from your hosting provider. If you change the MySQL database password and username, the old ID (Credentials) in your configuration files will be invalid or unacceptable.
    2. Corrupted database: Plugins and users continuously delete and install so many moving parts with themes. These faulty plugins or incompatible themes can corrupt database tables and their content. This can be caused by a missing or a single corrupted table, or there might be chances that some information got deleted accidentally.
    3. Core file corruption: WordPress core files define how your site works and functions. Faulty code in plugins and themes can corrupt them, causing WordPress error establishing a database connection.
    4. Database server error: This is common with shared hosts as they use the same resources for many users on the same servers.
      Many things can be wrong on the web host’s side, like overloading the data from a traffic spike or being unresponsive from too many parallel connections.
      WordPress core files define how your site works and functions. Faulty code in plugins and themes can corrupt them, causing database failure.
    5. Spike in Traffic: Depending on your web host, your server might be unable to handle many concurrent database connections. An increase in traffic can sometimes lead to a temporary WordPress error establishing a database connection.
    6. Corrupt Files in WordPress Installation: This can caused by hackers.

    How to troubleshoot “WordPress Error Establishing a Database Connection.”

    Before troubleshooting the WordPress error establishing a database connection, you are advised to back up the WordPress site. Most of the ways of troubleshooting the sites involve manipulating information in your database, and you obviously don’t want to worsen the situation.

    You should always back up before trying to fix things on your WordPress site, as it is said that prevention is better than cure. You can also use  WordPress backup plugins; there are several plugins available.

    1. Check Your Database Login Credentials

    • Connect to your website via FTP/SFTP or use a file manager from your web hosting control panel.

    File manager

    • Access the main directory of your WordPress installation and locate the “wp-config.php” file.
    • Open “wp-config.php” in a text editor.
    • Look for the following lines and ensure that the database credentials are correct:

    1. Database Name

    2. ySQL database username

    3. MySQL database password

    4. MySQL hostname (server)

    Database

    • You can test these credentials by attempting to log in to your database via a tool like phpMyAdmin or MySQL command line interface with the same credentials.
    • If you made changes, save the “wp-config.php” file and re-upload it if necessary.

    2. Check Database Server

    • Verify with your web hosting provider that the MySQL database server is functioning properly.
    • Many hosts provide status updates on their dashboards or support portals.
    • Use command-line tools to ping the database server (if you have SSH access) to ensure it is reachable.

    Ping database

    • Log in to your hosting control panel and navigate to the database management section to ensure that the database server is running.

    3. Fix Corrupted Files

    • Before making any changes, back up your website files and database.
    • Download the latest version of WordPress.
    • Download the files and use FTP/SFTP to upload the “wp-admin” and “wp-includes” folders, replacing the existing ones. 
    • Check if the file and  the folder permissions are set correctly (e.g., folders should be 755, files should be 644).

    4. Repair The Database on WordPress

    • Open “wp-config.php” and add the following before the ‘/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */ line:

    Allow repair

    • Visit the repair page by navigating to http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php.
    • Follow the instructions to repair and optimize the database.

    Allow repair

    • After repairing, remove the define(‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true); line from “wp-config.php”.
    • Log in to phpMyAdmin from your hosting control panel.
    • Select your database, check all tables, and choose “Repair table” from the “With selected” dropdown.

    5. Restore Latest Backup

    • Log in to your hosting control panel or backup service to access your latest backups.
    • Locate the most recent database backup file and restore it using the backup tool or via phpMyAdmin by importing the backup file into your database.
    • If necessary, re-upload your website files from the backup.
    • After restoration, check if the website is functioning properly.

    6. Update the WordPress Website URL

    • Log in to phpMyAdmin from your hosting control panel.
    • Select the database and find the “wp_options” table.
    • Locate the rows with “option name” “site url” and “home“.
    • Edit these rows to reflect the correct URL of your website.
    • Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
    • Go to Settings > General and update the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to the correct URL if needed.
    • Ensure the .”htaccess” file in the root directory contains the correct WordPress rewrite rules.

    Additional Ways to Fix WordPress Error Establishing a Database Connection

    All the methods mentioned above should be enough to resolve the issue you have, but just in case those are still not resolved, here are some additional ways to fix WordPress Error Establishing a Database Connection.

    Contact the Support Team

    If you’re having WordPress Error Establishing a Database Connection, reach out to your web hosting provider’s customer support. They can check your website’s backend to find out what’s causing the issue. 

    Customer support availability differs from one provider to another. If your web host doesn’t offer support around the clock, you can look for solutions on places like the official WordPress forum.

    Just be careful not to share any private information, like your database login details, on public forums.

    Reboot the Web Server

    If you’re hosting WordPress and MySQL on a dedicated server, reboot it to refresh settings and stop any background services causing connectivity wordpress error establishing a database connection.

    Alternatively, use SSH to restart via the command “reboot.” If not on dedicated hosting, contact your WordPress hosting provider for assistance.

    Conclusion

    Dealing with a “WordPress Error Establishing a Database Connection” can be difficult for most people, but it will be convenient with a step-by-step guide. With these methods, you can thoroughly address the issue and effectively get your site back online. It is strongly advised and mentioned repeatedly that you should back up your file before initiating the troubleshooting. 

  • WP Shortcodes Plugin for Easy WordPress Customization

    WP shortcodes plugins are a versatile tool for achieving impressive results with minimal effort. They offer virtually limitless possibilities, allowing you to embed interactive elements or design intricate page layouts effortlessly by inserting just a single line of code.

    WordPress powers nearly 40% of websites on the internet. It is also a content management system (CMS) that. WordPress is known for its user-friendly interface and extensive plugin ecosystem, allowing its users to easily create and manage websites.

    From blogs to e-commerce sites, WordPress offers customizable themes and strong features. It is popular among experienced developers and also is quite beginner friendly.

    Wp shortcodes plugins

    What are WP shortcodes plugins?

    WP shortcodes plugins enhance functionality by allowing users to embed various features or custom elements into their posts or pages using simple shortcodes. 

    These WP shortcodes plugins update the process of adding complex elements like forms, galleries, sliders, or custom layouts without needing general coding knowledge.

    They offer flexibility and efficiency, enabling WordPress users to create various ranges of content easily and customize their websites to meet specific needs with less effort.

    Type of WP Shortcodes

    There are two types of WP Shortcodes. These divisions help developers and users understand how to use these shortcodes effectively within WordPress to achieve desired functionalities or design elements on their websites.

    • Self-closing Shortcodes
    • Enclosing Shortcodes

    Self-closing Shortcodes: These do not need a closing tag. They are typically used to perform a specific action or display a specific output directly where they are placed in the content. Examples include [ gallery ] for displaying a gallery of images or [ video ] for embedding a video player

    Enclosing Shortcodes: These shortcodes do need a closing. They are used to wrap around content and apply specific formatting or functionality to that content. 

    Examples include [ blockquote ] for styling a block of quoted text or [ tabs ] for creating tabbed content sections.

    WordPress default shortcodes:

    Default shortcodes

    Let’s understand about the Default Shortcodes before diving into the WP shortcodes Plugins.

    • Video: You can include a video file and use a simple video player to play it. This shortcode works for embedding videos in formats like mp4, webm, m4v, ogv, wmv, and flv.
    • Audio: Incorporate audio files into your website and include basic playback options such as Play and Pause.
    • Embed: You can customize the default Embed feature by setting different attributes for your WP embed shortcodes, including setting maximum dimensions.
    • Gallery: Please keep in mind the following instructions: TEXT: Create a basic image gallery for your website. Use attributes to define the images and customize the look of the gallery.
    • Caption: You can use it to encase captions around your content. It’s commonly utilized for adding captions to images but can be used for any HTML element.
    • Playlist: Remember this: You can use a self-contained shortcode to showcase a set of audio or video files. Additionally, you have the option to incorporate a sleek ‘dark’ mode by utilizing its style attribute.

    WP shortcodes Plugin (free)

    Now, it is time to learn what we are here for.

    • Shortcodes Ultimate
    • Shortcode Addons
    • Meks Flexible Shortcodes

    Shortcodes Ultimate

    Shortcodes ultimate

    Shortcodes Ultimate is a convenient free WP shortcodes plugin designed for users seeking extensive options that are readily accessible. It offers a comprehensive collection of 50 shortcodes catering to virtually every page element requirement, including columns, accordions, carousels, sliders, and tables.

    The plugin simplifies customization of shortcode attributes as well. Users can easily locate their desired shortcode from a well-organized menu and seamlessly insert it into pages and posts. 

    Shortcodes Ultimate is compatible with all WordPress themes and integrates smoothly with the Gutenberg blocks editor. Its impressive download count of over 800,000 underscores its reliability and popularity among users.

    Worth mentioning Shortcodes:

    Dummy text, Audio, tabs

    Features of Shortcodes Ultimate

    • Compatible with Gutenberg
    • Compatible with any theme
    • Ability to add and edit shortcodes’ CSS
    • Ability to translate the widgets

    Shortcode Addons

    Shortcode addon

    Shortcode Addons is another WP shortcodes plugin that enables you to add stylish page elements like buttons, alerts, tabs, accordions, Google Maps embeds, and others to your site. With over 100 elements, it’s ideal for users who require extensive features and functionalities on their website. Users can also customize basic parameters for their shortcodes.

    Worth mentioning Shortcodes

    Inframe, Image Comparison, and Progress Bar

    Features of Shortcode Addons

    • Compatible with Gutenberg
    • Compatible with any theme
    • Ability to add and edit shortcodes’ CSS
    • Ability to translate the widgets

    Meks Flexible Shortcodes

    Meks flexible shortcodes

    This WP shortcodes plugin and theme developer provides its own shortcode tool for integrating custom page elements. The tool introduces a panel to your WordPress interface, enabling you to seamlessly insert shortcodes into your editor without any hassle. There are 12 shortcodes offered, each of which can be customized to suit your preferences.

    Worth mentioning Shortcodes

    Social Icons, Drop caps, and Pull Quotes.

    Features of Meks Flexible Shortcodes

    • Compatible with any page builder
    • Compatible with any theme
    • Ability to customize shortcodes’ look and feel
    • Optimized for a simple user experience

    WordPress create shortcode in plugin

    Creating a shortcode in a WordPress plugin allows you to add custom functionality that can be easily inserted into posts, pages, or widgets using a simple shortcode tag.

    Here are the steps on how you can create a shortcode in a WordPress plugin:

    Step 1: Set Up Your WP Shortcodes Plugin

    First, create a new plugin or use an existing one where you want to add the shortcode.

    Make a new PHP file in the wp-content/plugins/ directory of your WordPress installation.

    Step 2: Define the Shortcode Function

    In your plugin file, define the function that will be executed when the shortcode will be used. For example:

    Custom shotcodes function

    Step 3: Explanation of the Code

    Plugin Header: The Plugin Name comment is not just a comment; it identifies your plugin to WordPress.

    Shortcode Function: custom_shortcode_function is the function that contains the functionality you want the shortcode to execute. It takes an array $atts as an argument, which contains any attributes passed to the shortcode.

    Shortcode Registration: add_shortcode registers your shortcode tag (custom_shortcode) with WordPress and links it to your custom_shortcode_function.

    Step 4: Using the Shortcode

    Once your wp shortcodes plugin file is saved and uploaded to your WordPress plugins directory, activate the plugin through the WordPress admin interface.

    You can now use your shortcode ‘[custom_shortcode]’ anywhere within your WordPress posts, pages, or widgets to display the output defined in custom_shortcode_function.

    Costom Shortcodes

    What is a WP Shortcode generator?

    The WordPress Shortcode generator is a tool or plugin that simplifies the creation and integration of custom shortcodes into WordPress websites. It usually provides a user-friendly interface within the WordPress admin dashboard, allowing users to specify parameters and customize shortcode output without needing to write PHP code manually. This feature, widely available through plugins since WordPress version 2.5, empowers users to enhance their site’s functionality with ease. It effortlessly integrates dynamic content and complex functionalities.

    What to do when your WordPress shortcodes not working?

    1. Check the shortcode syntax: Ensure you’ve entered the shortcode correctly, with no typos or missing brackets.
    2. Verify the WP shortcodes plugin is active: Make sure the plugin that provides the shortcode is installed, activated, and up-to-date.
    3. Check plugin settings: Review the plugin’s settings to ensure the shortcode is enabled and configured correctly.
    4. Conflict with other plugins: Deactivate other plugins one by one to identify potential conflicts.
    5. Check for theme conflicts: Switch to a different theme to see if the issue persists.
    6. Clear cache: Clear your website’s cache and browser cache to ensure fresh content is loaded.
    7. Check for updates: Ensure WordPress, themes, and plugins are up-to-date.
    8. Debug mode: Activate WordPress debug mode to see if any errors are reported.
    9. Support forums: Search WordPress support forums or contact the plugin author for assistance.

    Conclusion:

    WP shortcodes plugin are powerful tools that simplify the integration of dynamic content and functionalities into websites without extensive coding. With plugins like Shortcodes Ultimate, Shortcode Addons, and Meks Flexible Shortcodes, users can effortlessly enhance their site’s capabilities with elements like sliders, tabs, and custom layouts. However, ensuring proper syntax, plugin activation, and resolving conflicts are essential steps to troubleshoot when encountering issues with the WP shortcodes plugin. These tools collectively enrich the user experience and expand WordPress’s versatility in web development.

  • Add-on Mailchimp for WordPress Plugin to Increase Sales

    Are you searching for a detailed and comprehensive handbook on WordPress and Mailchimp integration?

    Then you are at the right place.

    In this blog, we will provide you with all the necessary information on how to use Mailchimp for WordPress website while covering some essential topics.

    Let us get started!

    Mailchimp for WordPress

    Why use Mailchimp plugin in WordPress website?

    Before adding the Mailchimp plugin in WordPress, we will understand why people look for this tool to enhance their email marketing strategies.

    Mailchimp is the most demanding tool, offering tremendous email marketing services to its users.

    Using this tool will help you interact with your visitors or clients by sending them emails about the latest updates, products, offers, events, and more.

    Having an email marketing and automation plugin like mailchimp for WordPress will provide your site with several benefits such as:

    • It provides templates and an email editor to make your emails visually appealing.
    • It offers tremendous automation services to boost sales and user engagement.
    • It provides advanced analytics to observe your performance and identify improvements.
    • It has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to use and operates for everyone.
    • It also offers some e-commerce features for successful product campaigns and customer scoring.

    Mailchimp offers various services from email marketing to segmentation and e-commerce to analytics. Therefore, everyone tries to perform Mailchimp integration with WordPress website.

    Tutorial on how to use Mailchimp for WordPress plugin

    Now, we will begin with our WordPress and Mailchimp integration process. First, we will explain how to create a Mailchimp account and connect it to your WordPress website.

    This section will guide you in detailed manner on how to use the Mailchimp for WordPress plugin to create customized email forms for your site.

    Steps on how to set up your Mailchimp account

    To set up WordPress and mailchimp integration for website, you first have to register yourself on Mailchimp website by creating login and password. Here is the detailed tutorial on mailchimp account creation.

    • Go to Mailchimp website and click on the “Sign up” button for account creation.

    Sign up for account creation

    • After hitting the “Sign up” button, you will be directed to the pricing page of this tool, where you must select the suitable pricing to initiate your email marketing campaign. Then, just hit the “Sign up Free” button to initiate your journey with Mailchimp.

    Hit sign up for free to start

    • Now, you will see their signup page, where you must fill out details to create your account. To create your account successfully, fill out your business email address, username, and password.

    Enter details to create account

    • Once you complete all the information, your screen will show a confirmatory message with a link that will redirect you to your Gmail inbox.

    Confirm your account by clicking on the activation link

    • After you click the link, you will be redirected to the “Account Set Up” page of mailchimp to proceed with the account creation. The information that you have to fill in during account activation is as follows:

    Required Details


    • First and Last Name

    • Business Name

    • Phone Number

    • Complete Address

    Fill business details
    Tell mailchimp about your goals and audience

    Required Details


    • Goal and area of explore

    • Contact Range

    • Target Audience

    • Website URL
    • Now, choose the plan you want to purchase for a better experience.

    Select the suitable plan

    • After selecting the pricing plan, you will see a screen that shows “Preparing your account.” After completing your profile, you will reach to your account dashboard.

    Your account is created

    From here, you can manage email marketing campaigns, automation, and analytics. Now, we will learn how to connect the Mailchimp for WordPress plugin so that you can manage your email marketing campaigns from here.

    Perform WordPress and Mailchimp Integration

    To use the Mailchimp for WordPress plugin, you must have accounts on both WordPress and Mailchimp platforms. In this section, we will study how to connect these two platforms and add forms through Mailchimp to website.

    • We will first install the “Mailchimp for WordPress” plugin for your website. When you search for the Mailchimp for website, you will also see plugin options for WooCommerce and a list subscribe form that you can use after commanding over this plugin.

    Add mailchimp for wordpress plugin

    • Hit the “Activate” button to integrate the Mailchimp plugin for WordPress, and you will be prompted to go to the plugin’s settings. Now, you have to insert the API key that you will get from your mailchimp account under the profile section. You will get your API key in your Mailchimp account, copy and paste it on WordPress to connect both applications.

    Add your API key to connect accounts

    • After inserting the API key, your Mailchimp for WordPress plugin will show a connected label.

    Your accounts are connected

    Congratulations! Now, your WordPress plugin for mailchimp is connected successfully and you can create forms for your website.

    Create an email signup form using a plugin

    Now, we will create an email signup form using the mailchimp plugin in WordPress. Here is the tutorial on mailchimp form creation:

    • Click on the “Form” option under the “MC4WP” tab to create a new email form for your site. This will open the entire email list, from which you can easily edit the form. You can edit the form and save your changes by hitting the “Save Changes” button.

    Edit your email form

    • After that, head to the pages section to add the email form generated using the Mailchimp plugin to website. You can add the email form by just adding a new block. Click on the “+” sign to add a new block. Look for the block under “Mailchimp for WordPress” and add this to the website where you want to integrate the new form.

    Add email form block on website page

    • Hit the “Update” switch to update the page with the email form. Then, preview the page for the changes you have performed on your website.

    Update your email form

    You have successfully integrated the email form on your site using the Mailchimp for WordPress plugin.

    Conclusion

    Mailchimp and WordPress integration helps you and your website enhances performance and boost sales. Using two tools will assist you in understanding user analytics and running an email marketing campaign simultaneously. Henceforth, using Mailchimp for WordPress helps you know your client’s needs, enhance communication, provide them with important updates, and, most importantly, promote your website.

  • How to Fix ‘There has been a critical error on this website’?

    There is nothing more daunting than the message on your website reading, ‘There has been a critical error on this website’. Please check your site admin email inbox for instructions,’ including a link to the WordPress debugging guide. Every second that passes is driving away visitors as they encounter a blatant error screen. However, there might be cases when site owners do not receive the email and have to locate the issue by themselves.

    there has been a critical error on this website

    Thankfully, resolving this critical error often involves a straightforward solution, such as adding a small PHP function or removing a problematic plugin. In this guide, we’ll walk you through these steps, as well as discuss the root causes of this error and how to prevent it from recurring.

    What is the Critical Error in WordPress?

    Critical Error is an error that stops WordPress from loading all the needed scripts to work perfectly.

    critical error message

    Earlier, this WordPress error generated a white death screen or a fatal error message on the screen. Consequently, most beginners did not find it very helpful and struggled to fix the issue themselves.

    Therefore, in recent versions of WordPress, users now see a generic error message saying, ‘There has been a critical error on this website.’ Please check your site admin email inbox for instructions, including a link to the WordPress debugging guide.

    What Causes the Critical Error in WordPress?

    The critical error in WordPress often stems from a PHP-related issue, such as a code, plugin, or theme error or a memory limit breach. A database connection issue is also possible.

    If you have recently copied and pasted code snippets from a tutorial to your website, it may instigate a critical error.

    A conflict with another WordPress plugin or custom code may also trigger the screen reading ‘There has been a critical error on this website’.

    Now let’s look at how we can fix this error and get your site back.

    How to Fix ‘There has been a critical error on this website’?

    The critical error itself is not very effective for finding and fixing the issue’s cause. Fortunately, WordPress also sends an email to the admin email address of the website. Many WordPress sites are not configured to send mail using SMTP, due to, which they might not receive the mail despite WordPress telling them it has sent the mail.

    WordPress recovery mode email

    On the other hand, several WordPress websites may encounter the message ‘There has been a critical error on this website’  without instructions to check the mail.

    Critical error message(without email)

    This is because WordPress was unable to load files it needed to load the files to make recovery mode available.

    Fixing ‘There has been a Critical Error on this website’ With WordPress Debugging Email

    First, check the inbox for the email address associated with your website’s WordPress administration.

    Are you uncertain about the email address you used as the admin email? It is the email address you provided during the installation of WordPress.

    If your site is hosted on Bluehost or if you used a WordPress auto-installer, your admin email address will be the same one you used for your WordPress hosting account.

    Keep an eye on your inbox for an upcoming email titled “Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue.” This email will contain crucial information about the cause of the critical error on your WordPress website.

    ‘There has been a critical error on this website’ message on our test website was caused by the WordPress theme, as illustrated in the screenshot below.

    Critical error caused by a particular theme

    The email includes a unique link that enables you to enter your WordPress website in recovery mode for investigating and fixing the issue.

    The email contains detailed information about the error, including the specific file and code that triggered it at the bottom of the page.

    The error in the example below is caused by the code on line 614 of our theme’s functions.php file.

    error details in mail

    Check out the example below demonstrating how a malfunctioning WordPress plugin can cause errors.

    Error details (caused by plugin)

    As indicated, the message highlights the plugin name and the specific line of code that is triggering the error.

    Next, just click on the WordPress recovery mode link, which will direct you to your WordPress admin area.

    You will then be asked to log in to continue.

    Login recovery mode

    Once you are logged in, you will receive a notification that explains the critical error and its cause and provides a link to the solution. For example, in the screenshot below, WordPress notifies us of a critical error caused by a plugin and offers a link to the Plugins page.

    recovery mode dashboard

    Clicking on the link will take you to the problematic plugin and show you the specific line of code that triggered the error.

    To temporarily deactivate the plugin, click on “Deactivate”.

    Deactivate Problematic plugin

    Then, you can search for a different WordPress plugin or contact the plugin developers for support. Similarly, if the problem is related to your theme, you will find a link to the Themes page.

    At the bottom of the page, the problematic theme causing the issue will be indicated.

    broken themes

    If you encounter a critical issue on your WordPress website because of a problematic theme, you can tackle this challenge in several ways.

    You can change your WordPress theme or, alternatively, delete the broken theme and reinstall a fresh copy from the official source to see if that resolves the issue. Once you have addressed the issue, click the ‘Exit Recovery Mode’ button at the top.

    exiting recovery mode

    In most cases, your WordPress website should start working normally. However, you can try the troubleshooting steps in the next section if you still see the critical error.

    Fixing ‘There has been a Critical Error on this website’ Manually (Without Email)

    If you have not received the email notification about ‘There has been a critical error on this website’ in WordPress, this guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve the critical error in WordPress.

    If the error resulted from a recent action, you can undo that action to resolve the issue.

    For instance, if you installed a new plugin and activating it caused a critical error, simply deactivate it (we will show you how to do that in the first step below).

    On the other hand, if you’re not quite sure what led to the error, don’t worry! Just follow these steps.

    1. Deactivate All WordPress Plugins

    A common cause of the WordPress showing ‘There has been critical error on this website’ is plugin conflict or plugin incompatibility. To fix this, you just need to disable the faulty plugin by deactivating it. Here’s

    If you face the critical error due to a plugin conflict or incompatibility, you can resolve it by deactivating the problematic plugin. However, if the error prevents access to the admin area, you won’t be able to identify the specific plugin causing the issue.

    To address this, you can deactivate all WordPress plugins. You can easily reactivate them once you regain access to your WordPress admin area. Here are the steps:

    Connect to your WordPress website using an FTP client or the File Manager app in your web hosting control panel.

    Navigate to the wp-content folder.

    rename plugins folder

    Locate the ‘plugins’ folder within wp-content and rename it to something else, such as ‘plugins deactivated.’

    By renaming the plugins folder, WordPress will not be able to activate any plugins, effectively deactivating them all. You can then check your website to see if the critical error message has been resolved.

    However, due to the critical error, you won’t have access to the admin area (WordPress backend) or know which plugin to deactivate.

    To address this, we will deactivate all WordPress plugins. Do not worry! You can easily reactivate them once you get access to your WordPress admin area.

    1. Simply connect to your WordPress website using an FTP client or the File Manager app in your web hosting control panel.
    2. Once connected, you need to navigate to the wp-content folder. Inside the wp-content folder, you will see a folder called ‘plugins.’ You need to right-click on it and then select the ‘Rename’ option.
    3. Next, change the ‘plugins’ folder name to anything you like. In our example, we will call it ‘plugins deactivated.’

    WordPress looks for the plugins folder to load the activated plugins on your website. When it cannot find the plugins folder, it simply cannot activate them and automatically sets them as deactivated.

    You can now visit your website to see if ‘There has been a critical error on this website’ message has disappeared.

    Important: After resolving the critical error issue, remember to rename the ‘plugins’ folder. WordPress will then be able to recognize the folder, allowing you to reactivate the plugins one by one from the WordPress dashboard in order to identify the one that caused the critical error.

    2. Switch to a Default Theme

    To troubleshoot the critical error, consider switching your WordPress theme to a default one, as it could resolve the problem if the code causes the issue in your current theme.

    1. Go to the WordPress.org theme directory and download a fresh copy of the default theme, such as Twenty Twenty-Two or Twenty Twenty-Three.

    download default theme of wordpress

    2. Unzip the theme file on your computer, which will create a folder with the theme name.

    extract themes files

    3. Connect to your WordPress site using an FTP client or the File Manager app in your hosting control panel.

    4. Navigate to the /wp-content/themes folder and download all the theme folders to your computer as a backup.

    Download themes for backup

    5. Delete all the theme folders from your website. Your WordPress website now doesn’t have an installed theme.

    Delete the themes

    6. Upload the default theme folder that you downloaded earlier.

    upload the theme folder

    7. Once the upload is completed, visit your website to check if the critical error has been resolved. This step confirms the success of the troubleshooting process.

    If the critical error is caused by your WordPress theme, the error message will no longer appear, and you will be able to access your website.

    3. Reinstall WordPress

    If the page reading ‘There has been a critical error on this website’ occurs in WordPress, it could be due to a corrupt core file or malware. Fortunately, reinstalling WordPress is the most effective solution for fixing this issue.

    1. Head over to WordPress.org and make sure to download a fresh copy of WordPress onto your computer.
    2. After you download the file, unzip it on your computer. This will create a folder named ‘WordPress’ containing all the files needed for the reinstallation.

    WordPress files

    3. Further, connect to your WordPress site employing an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client or the File Manager app in the hosting account’s dashboard or cPanel (control panel).

    4. Once connected, go to your website’s main folder. This folder contains the wp-admin, wp-includes, wp-content, and wp-admin folders.

    upload the theme folder

    5. Navigate to WordPress folder on your computer, select the necessary files, and then transfer them to your website to bring your vision to life.

    6. Your FTP client will prompt you to choose whether to overwrite these files or skip them. To overwrite, select the option ‘Overwrite’ and check the box labeled ‘Always use this action.”

    overwriting the core files

    7. Then, simply click the ‘OK’ button to proceed. Your FTP client will replace your core WordPress files with fresh copies from your computer.

    Once you finish, visit your website to check if this resolves the error. If the critical error was triggered by a corrupt WordPress core file or malware, the error message should disappear now.

    4. Turn On Debugging in WordPress

    WordPress has a built-in debugging system that enables you to identify errors, save them in a log file, and troubleshoot any issues. To activate this feature, you will need to enable debug mode by editing the wp-config.php file. Simply locate the following line:

    				
    					define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );
    				
    			

    Now, replace the line with following code:

    				
    					define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
    define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', true );
    define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
    define( 'SCRIPT_DEBUG', true );
    				
    			

    If you visit your WordPress website now, it will display debugging information and the critical error message.

    Debugging the critical error

    In debug mode, PHP errors, warnings, and notices are displayed, which helps identify the cause of the problem for fixing. Additionally, error logs are saved in the debug.log file, located in the /wp-content/ folder.

    5. Increase PHP Memory Limit

    Your web hosting server is similar to any other computer in that it requires memory to efficiently run multiple applications simultaneously.

    If your server lacks the resources to run PHP, it may crash or become unresponsive, potentially leading to a ‘There has been a critical error on this website’ in WordPress.

    To fix this issue, you can enhance the PHP memory limit by instructing your hosting server to allocate more memory for PHP. You can accomplish this by adding the following line to your wp-config.php file.

    				
    						define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M' );
    				
    			

    Remember to save and upload your modifications to the server.

    Now, why don’t you give your website a visit to check if this has fixed the critical error?

    6. Upgrade Your PHP Version

    WordPress requires PHP version 7.4 or higher. Using an older PHP version may cause critical errors on your hosting server.

    If you can connect to the WordPress recovery mode, you can check the PHP version of your site by visiting the Tools » Site Health page and switching to the Info tab.

    Check the PHP Version of your website

    • Now, Scroll down to the Server section.
    • Click to expand the Server section.

    Look at PHP version

    • Look for the PHP version information within the expanded Server section.
    • If the version is lower than 7.4, you need to update it.

    We trust that this article has assisted you in troubleshooting and resolving the critical error in WordPress.

  • Discover Way To Make Your Community Plugins For WordPress

    Discover exclusive community plugins for WordPress that cater to your unique interests without the distraction of ads and manipulative techniques designed to keep you hooked. This opens up a huge opportunity for website owners.

    Whether you’re selling products, offering services, providing online education, or running a non-profit, you can swiftly establish a community around your brand. This is an excellent way to enhance user engagement and foster loyalty.

    Here, we will demonstrate how you can create and monetize your very own private community using WordPress.

    Why Should you Consider Building an Online WordPress Community plugins?

    Community plugins for wordpress

    Through our experience, we have learned that creating an online community can significantly enhance user engagement and loyalty.

    Highly engaged customers are more likely to make purchases and become vocal promoters of your brand.

    An online community provides a space for users to interact, share ideas, and participate in discussions, creating a strong sense of belonging and connection to your brand.

    Additionally, communities offer valuable support and feedback, with members sharing knowledge, providing insights, and helping each other, contributing to a vibrant and dynamic environment.

    As a result, this can lead to increased retention and even create new revenue streams through membership fees and exclusive content.

    The Reason Behind Using WordPress?

    Numerous online platforms cater to community building, but WordPress stands out for its unmatched freedom and extensibility.

    Here are the reasons to opt for WordPress:

    • SEO Friendly: WordPress plugins like All in One SEO are crafted with SEO in mind. They can supercharge your site for search engines.
    • Easy for Everyone: Simple to use, even for beginners. You can handle content and settings without any coding knowledge.
    • Unlimited Possibilities: With countless themes and plugins, WordPress lets you tailor your platform to match your business model.
    • Affordable Excellence: WordPress is free, requiring only investment in hosting and optional premium features.

    To Get Started

    To begin, you’ll need these items –

    • A Domain Name
    • A Web Hosting Account
    • A Community Plugins for WordPress-Building

    Start by securing a web hosting account and snagging a domain name. Your website will reside on the web hosting service, while the domain name will serve as the address users type in to visit your online community.

    Usually, you can grab a domain name for just $16/year and web hosting plans kick off at $7.99 per month, with an annual payment

    Check out Bluehost, the world’s leading hosting company and officially recommended WordPress provider.

    Get started now by visiting the Bluehost website and clicking on the ‘Get Started Now’ button.

    Bluehost Web Hosting Platform

    Please follow the on-screen instructions to select a domain name and finalize your purchase.

    Once completed, you’ll gain access to your web hosting account dashboard.

    Bluehost will seamlessly install WordPress for you. To start managing your site, simply click on the ‘Edit’ Site button to enter the WordPress admin area.

    Bluehost Login On WordPress

    Discover The Power of The BuddyBoss community plugins for WordPress Platform

    It is the ultimate community plugins for WordPress-building platform. It provides all the essential features to help you create a dynamic and interactive community.

    • This includes transforming your website into a social media platform.
    • Integrating forums, activities, and social groups.
    • Enables seamless user connection and interaction.
    • It easily integrates with popular LMS plugins and WordPress membership plugins.

    For instance, imagine the possibilities of online community plugins for WordPress creating with that.

    buddyboss-plugin-preview

    It offers a free version with limited features, but the pro version, fully utilizes the platform.

    Sign up on that to get started.

    buddyboss-web

    Upon completing the sign-up process, you’ll be required to download both the BuddyBoss Platform and Pro Platform plugins onto your website.

    Once activated, you will need to input your product license key. You can conveniently access this information in your account on that website.

    buddyboss-enter-license-key

    BuddyBoss Plugin Configurations

    Customizing the plugin to your specific needs is essential upon completing the installation.

    Components Activations

    It is equipped with an array of powerful features, referred to as Components, giving you the flexibility to activate or deactivate them as per your requirements.

    Navigate to the BuddyBoss > Components page to find a set of default-activated components.

    buddyboss-components-options

    Make sure to carefully review the component list and activate any additional components that you want to see on your site. Below is a list of available components and their functions:

    • Account Settings: Allow members to modify their account and notification settings.
    • Notifications: Send notifications to members about relevant activities.
    • Social Groups: Enable the creation of social groups where members can join and interact.
    • Forums: Set up discussion forums for structured conversations.
    • User Profiles: Allow members to create and customize their profiles.
    • Profile Fields: Customize your community with fully editable profile fields.
    • Network Search: Allow members to search the entire network.
    • Moderation: Allow members to block each other and report inappropriate content.
    • Email Invites: Allow members to send email invitations to non-members.
    • Member Connections: Allow members to make connections with one another.
    • Private Messaging: Allow members to send private messages to each other.
    • Media Uploading: Let members upload and share photos, videos, and files.
    • Activity Feeds: Provide activity streams to track and display member activities.

    When you activate a component, you’ll discover options to set it up directly below the component title.

    Specifically, under the ‘Profile Fields’ component, you’ll have the option to Edit Fields. This streamlined process empowers you to effortlessly tailor the component to your specific needs.

    edit-profile-options

    This will bring you to the ‘Profiles’ section, empowering you to add or remove profile fields effortlessly.

    Make your profile stand out by organizing fields into Field Sets with just a click on the ‘New Field Set’ button.

    profile-settings

    You can also configure components by looking for actions below them or by navigating through various tabs under the BuddyBoss menu.

    BuddyBoss Pages Set Up

    After activating the necessary components, the next step is to set up pages for different areas of your online community plugins for WordPress.

    To do this, go to the BuddyBoss > Pages tab and select the pages you want to use for those areas.

    choose-pages

    To create a compelling page, navigate to Pages > Add New in the WordPress admin area.

    Provide an attention-grabbing title for the page and hit ‘Publish’ to bring it to life. Then, effortlessly select that page under the plugin settings.

    Theme Set Up

    In WordPress, the theme you choose significantly impacts how your website presents itself to your audience.

    While BuddyBoss is designed to be compatible with any high-quality WordPress theme, it’s essential to select a theme that effectively showcases your community and social features when building online community plugins for WordPress.

    For this purpose, consider using the dedicated BuddyBoss theme, specifically designed to maximize the use of all plugin features.

    buddyboss-theme-window

    You can access it within your account on the BuddyBoss website. You’ll find two distinct themes: the central BuddyBoss theme and a child theme.

    It’s essential to install both themes on your website and then activate the child theme.

    The BuddyBoss theme offers high levels of customization. Easily configure all options by visiting the BuddyBoss > Theme Options page.

    buddyboss-theme-options

    Another Option

    BuddyBoss is built on BuddyPress, allowing you to utilize any of the BuddyPress themes on your website. 

    Additionally, you have the option to employ various page builder plugins like SeedProd, Thrive Architect, and more to create custom pages for your site.

    Drive Revenue from Your community by Offering Subscriptions and Courses

    With BuddyPress, you can maximize the revenue potential of your online community plugins for WordPress. You can offer subscriptions, courses, premium content, and more to your members.

    Seamlessly integrate with top WordPress LMS plugins like LearnDash and LifterLMS to create and monetize engaging online courses on your community website.

    Buddyboss Integrations

    You have the opportunity to offer subscriptions with any members WordPress plugin, including MemberPress, Thrive Apprentice, and others.

    By leveraging MemberPress, you can seamlessly integrate with the BuddyBoss Community Plugins for WordPress platform by installing their BuddyPress addon.

    buddypress-memberpress-addon

    How does it work?

    Harness the power of BuddyBoss integrations to unlock a range of functionalities.

    Utilize a membership plugin to control access to exclusive content, process payments, and offer subscription plans.

    Additionally, leverage an LMS plugin to develop courses, manage educational resources, and oversee students.

    With BuddyBoss community plugins for WordPress, user engagement can be enhanced by incorporating online community and social media features.

    Utilizing Gamification to Increase Community Engagement

    Discover the power of online games in building engaging community plugins for wordpress.

    Tap into the same game design principles used by marketers to motivate and energize members in online interactions.

    With BuddyBoss, integrate point-based rewards, badges, and achievements using the free GamiPress plugin.

    Get started by installing and activating the GamiPress community plugins for wordpress on site.

    gamipress-dashboard-options

    This powerful integration empowers community managers to create customized rules for earning points through posting, commenting, or participating in community activities.

    Members also have the exciting opportunity to unlock badges and achievements, driving motivation and increasing engagement.

    gamipress-rewards-window

    Boost Your Community with a Mobile App

    buddyboss-mobile-app

    BuddyBoss provides a mobile app for iOS and Android, which is available for purchase separately.

    With this app, users can engage with their BuddyBoss community plugins for WordPress while on the move, interact with course creators and peers, post updates, and access their online courses.

    It seamlessly syncs with the BuddyBoss web platform, offering users the same level of access to profiles, courses, and interactive features as on the web.

    Here are some of those plugins that will enable you to develop a thriving online community plugin for WordPress rapidly.

    • MonsterInsights – MonsterInsights allows you to track website analytics to make data-driven decisions for growing your community.
    • WPForms – WPForms is the ultimate WordPress form builder plugin, enabling seamless form creation and placement anywhere on your site.
    • All-in-One SEO – Boost your WordPress site with the leading SEO plugin. Enhance your site’s search rankings and drive more traffic effortlessly.
    • SeedPro – Create stunning landing pages for your online community with SeedProd. Easy-to-use, powerful drag-and-drop page builder for WordPress.

    Winding Up

    Now that your online community is up and running by using community plugins for WordPress, the next crucial step is to promote and expand it.

    Fortunately, with WordPress and BuddyBoss, you have access to powerful tools and plugins that can help your business grow. Our team has thoroughly tested the top Community plugins for WordPress that seamlessly integrate with that.