Problems After a Major WordPress Update, and the Fixes
WordPress 7.1 ships 2026-08-19. Until then, here are the breakages every major release produces, in triage order, with the safe fix for each.
How to Read WordPress Release Notes (No Coding)
Four different WordPress release documents exist. Which two a site owner should read, which to skip, and how to decode developer wording.
Update a WordPress Theme Without Losing Customization
Theme update wiped your design? What survives, what is destroyed, the child-theme trap that loses settings, and how to recover what is left.
WordPress Plugin No Longer Updated? What to Do Next
Last updated three years ago. How to tell if a WordPress plugin is truly abandoned, how urgent it is, and how to judge a replacement yourself.
How to Safely Update a Very Old WordPress Site
Five versions behind and afraid to click? The safe order for updating an old WordPress site, the PHP trap, and when rebuilding beats updating.
WordPress Auto-Updates: Good or Bad? By Site Type
Auto-updates are neither good nor bad. What to enable by site type, the detection rule that decides it, and when to leave the button off.
Stuck in WordPress Maintenance Mode? The One-File Fix
"Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance" and it has been an hour. What the message means, the one-file fix, and what to do if it keeps coming back.
“Update Failed: Could Not Copy File”: What It Means
The same WordPress update error on every retry. What "could not copy file" actually describes, what to check yourself, and when it needs your host.
Site Went White After a PHP Upgrade? Fix It in Order
Your host changed your PHP version and the site went blank. The ordered fix, starting with the fastest safe response before you touch any plugin.
PHP 7.4 Is the WordPress Minimum: Check Yours Safely
WordPress 7.0 raised the PHP floor to 7.4. How to check what you're running, whether it affects you, and how to upgrade without breaking the site.