Why Did My Website Break After a WordPress Update?

After an update, older themes can start behaving oddly: layouts shift, spacing goes out of line, or key sections disappear on certain screen sizes. It can look as though the entire site has slipped a few pixels in every direction.

We review the theme files, refresh outdated templates, and test the main pages so the design feels stable again.

Just one outdated plugin can break forms, checkout, pop-ups, tracking, or even stop pages from loading. We put the site into a controlled testing mode, switch plugins on and off in a safe order, read through changelogs, and decide whether to update, roll back, or replace each one based on how it behaves on your setup.

New WordPress versions expect up-to-date PHP and sensible memory limits. When hosting settings are lagging behind, you may see “critical error” messages or blank screens.

We bring your PHP version, memory limits, timeouts, and modules in line with what the new release needs so the site isn’t held back by the server.

When a page builder goes too long without updates, rows can break, buttons become unresponsive, or the editor slows down. We match builder versions with core WordPress, remove old widgets that cause trouble, and fix any layouts that collapsed during the update.

Menus that refuse to open, sliders that freeze, or animations that disappear often point to script conflicts or changes in load order.

We inspect the browser console, track the errors, tidy up the script queue, and adjust CSS so the front-end feels smooth again.

If an update affects the database and stops part-way through, tables can be left in a mixed state. That’s when you see strange error codes, missing posts, or settings that won’t save. We repair and optimise the affected tables, remove orphaned entries, and bring the database back to a healthy baseline.

Partial updates sometimes leave a blend of old and new files on the server. Different parts of WordPress then expect different code, causing unpredictable failures.

We compare your install with a clean reference, replace any outdated files, and tidy the structure so everything matches the latest release.

Premium tools stop receiving updates once their licence expires. After a few WordPress releases, these tools can turn into weak points. We check which licences matter, restore update access where possible, and suggest alternatives when a product has reached the end of its life.

After an update, the code maybe new but visitors may still be served old CSS, JS, or HTML from cache. That’s when you see mismatched page versions that don’t reflect the editor.

We clear plugin, server, and CDN cache layers, then rebuild them so every visitor sees the current version of your site.

Timeouts, low resources, or a broken connection can stop an update mid-process, leaving you locked out of the dashboard or staring at a broken front end.

We carry out a clean reinstall of core files, run integrity checks, and only sign off once the site is stable again.