WordPress sites break in predictable ways. Here is how to diagnose the most common failures without making things worse.
White Screen of Death
The site loads but shows nothing. This is almost always a PHP error — usually from a plugin or theme update that introduced a conflict. First step: try adding ?debug=1 to your URL if you've enabled debug mode. If not, use FTP or your hosting file manager to rename the most recently updated plugin folder, which deactivates it. If the site comes back, you've found your culprit. Re-enable plugins one at a time to isolate the conflict.
Database Connection Error
"Error establishing a database connection" means WordPress can't talk to MySQL. Check your wp-config.php file — specifically the DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, and DB_HOST values. These either changed (unlikely unless you migrated) or the database itself has an issue. Log into your hosting control panel and verify the database exists and the user has the correct permissions.
500 Internal Server Error
This is the broadest category. Start with the .htaccess file — rename it and see if the error clears. If yes, regenerate your permalinks from Settings → Permalinks in the WordPress admin. If not, check your server error logs (available in most hosting control panels) for the specific error.
Locked Out of Dashboard
If you can't log in, try the password reset first. If that doesn't work, you can reset the admin password directly via phpMyAdmin — find your wp_users table, locate your account, and update the user_pass field with a new MD5 hash. This sounds more technical than it is; there are many step-by-step guides for this specific task.
When to Call Someone
If you've worked through these steps and the site is still broken, or if you're seeing unfamiliar files and suspect a hack, stop. Don't delete things you don't recognize. Contact us — a Quick Fix is $175 and includes a full diagnosis and resolution.