My Website Is Broken

Your website looks fine one day then it breaks the next. Pages stall or vanish. Buttons do nothing. Forms stop sending. Traffic drops and your brand takes a hit. We feel that rush of panic too and we know how to steady the ship fast.

In this guide we cut through noise and help you fix a broken website with clear steps and quick wins. We focus on common causes and fast checks so you can diagnose issues and get back online. Whether the site is down slow or glitchy we show what to test first what to reset next and when to call for help. Let’s troubleshoot with confidence and protect our rankings our conversions and our users.

Want help with your website? Contact AGR Technology’s Website experts for a free proposal tailored to your needs

What “My Website Is Broken” Really Means

“My website is broken” means users can’t complete key actions or access content without friction.

Common broken states

• Availability errors, examples include 500 error, 502 bad gateway, 503 service unavailable
• Loading failures, examples include endless spinner, blank page, mixed content warning
• Visual breakage, examples include layout shift, missing images, unreadable fonts
• Functional faults, examples include buttons not responding, forms not sending, checkout failing
• Performance pain, examples include slow time to first byte, long JavaScript tasks, render blocking
• Security alarms, examples include malware redirects, phishing overlays, browser warnings
• Traffic drops, examples include organic decline, paid click loss, referral falloff
• Content gaps, examples include 404 not found, stale cache, mismatched language

Fast signals that confirm breakage

• Users report, examples include can’t log in, can’t pay, can’t see page
• Analytics spike, examples include bounce surge, session collapse, exit rise
• Error logs grow, examples include PHP fatal errors, Node stack traces, nginx gateway errors
• Monitoring alerts, examples include uptime pings failing, SSL expiry notice, CPU saturation
• Search console flags, examples include indexing errors, mobile usability issues, Core Web Vitals fails

Typical error codes and meanings

Code	Label	Meaning
404	Not Found	The server can’t find the requested resource
500	Internal Server Error	The server encountered an unexpected condition
502	Bad Gateway	The edge received an invalid response from upstream
503	Service Unavailable	The server is temporarily unable to handle the request
504	Gateway Timeout	The edge didn’t receive a timely response from upstream

Sources: MDN Web Docs, Cloudflare Developer Docs.

Root layers behind a broken website

• Hosting layer, examples include server outages, resource limits, regional network loss
• DNS layer, examples include expired domain, wrong A record, broken CNAME
• SSL layer, examples include expired certificate, incomplete chain, mismatched domain
• Application layer, examples include PHP errors, Node crashes, memory leaks
• CMS layer, examples include WordPress plugin conflicts, theme bugs, database corruption
• Frontend layer, examples include JavaScript errors, CSS conflicts, asset 404s
• Data layer, examples include API failures, webhook timeouts, third party outages
• Security layer, examples include malware injections, unauthorized changes, brute force locks

How broken impacts users and business

• Conversion loss, examples include cart abandonment, lead form drop, booking failure
• Trust damage, examples include security warnings, brand inconsistency, content errors
• Visibility hit, examples include crawl blocks, index drops, structured data issues
• Cost increase, examples include ad waste, support load, emergency fixes

Sources: Google Search Central, OWASP Top 10.

Quick classification questions

• Scope, examples include all users or some users, all pages or some pages
• Timing, examples include always or intermittent, new release or no change
• Location, examples include specific device or browser, specific region or network
• Change, examples include recent plugin update, DNS change, hosting migration
• Evidence, examples include console errors, server logs, monitoring graphs

What counts as urgent

• Outage events, examples include 5xx across site, DNS resolution failures, SSL hard blocks
• Checkout breaks, examples include payment declines, address lookup errors, gateway timeouts
• Security risks, examples include malware redirects, credential leaks, admin access loss
• Legal exposures, examples include privacy banner failure, consent logging gaps, policy pages missing

Sources: PCI DSS, GDPR guidance, Australian Privacy Act.

Quick Checks To Rule Out Simple Issues

Start with quick checks when a broken website blocks users. Confirm the basics before deeper diagnostics.

Is It Down For Everyone Or Just You?

• Check external status monitors first to verify a global outage, use DownDetector and Is It Down Right Now to test site reachability from multiple locations
• Check a second device next to confirm a local issue, use a phone on mobile data to isolate your network
• Check your status page or hosting dashboard for incidents, review hosting alerts and maintenance notices

Browser And Cache Resets

• Open the site in a private window to bypass extensions and cached assets, use Chrome Incognito or Firefox Private Mode
• Clear the browser cache and cookies to remove corrupt objects, purge only recent data to reduce disruption
• Disable all extensions to rule out conflicts, re-enable one by one to spot the breaker
• Test another browser to isolate rendering bugs, compare Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge
• Inspect the Console in DevTools to catch client errors, look for JavaScript exceptions and CORS blocks
• Audit with Lighthouse to gauge page health, review performance, accessibility, SEO, and best practices

Network And DNS Basics

• Confirm internet access on other sites to exclude connectivity faults, load 3 or more high traffic domains for a fair check
• Restart the modem and router to refresh network state, power cycle for 30 seconds then retest
• Switch networks to isolate local issues, try mobile hotspot or a neighbor network
• Flush the local DNS cache to remove stale records, use ipconfig /flushdns on Windows or dscacheutil -flushcache on macOS
• Verify DNS resolvers for accuracy to avoid hijacked or slow lookups, use trusted servers like Google Public DNS 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 or Cloudflare 1.1.1.1
• Query DNS records to confirm the domain points to the right host, check A AAAA CNAME and NS with dig or nslookup
• Inspect HTTP status codes for quick classification, note 200 success 301 or 302 redirects 404 not found 500 server error in the Network panel

Diagnose By Symptom Or Error Message

Diagnose by symptom or error message to cut time and isolate root causes fast. Match what you see to a targeted check, then act with the fix that fits the failure.

Page Not Loading Or Timeout

Identify page not loading or timeout states by blank screens, endless spinners, or ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT. Confirm scope first, then isolate layers.

• Check status across devices, networks, and locations using an uptime checker, then confirm it’s not regional.
• Test in an incognito window to exclude extensions and cached assets, then compare results across browsers.
• Clear browser cache and cookies, then reload the exact URL.
• Restart the router or switch networks, then retry the request.
• Verify hosting status and resource usage in the dashboard, then look for CPU, RAM, or process limits.
• Inspect DNS records with a DNS lookup, then confirm A, AAAA, and CNAME targets match the live server.
• Open the browser devtools Network tab, then spot stalled or blocked requests with long TTFB or 0 B responses.
• Review server logs for 408, 499, or gateway timeouts, then correlate timestamps with traffic or deploys.

Reference: HTTP timeouts and network errors documented by MDN Web Docs.

4xx And 5xx Errors

Classify 4xx and 5xx errors to separate client request issues from server execution failures. Fix the request for 4xx, fix the server for 5xx.

• Map common 4xx codes, then act:
• Verify 404 Not Found paths, then restore missing pages or add 301 redirects, source: MDN.
• Correct 403 Forbidden permissions, then adjust file or directory rules, source: MDN.
• Validate 400 Bad Request syntax, then sanitize headers, query strings, or payloads, source: MDN.
• Map common 5xx codes, then act:
• Investigate 500 Internal Server Error for app or framework faults, then check error logs and recent deploys, source: MDN.
• Diagnose 502 Bad Gateway or 504 Gateway Timeout at proxy or CDN, then test origin health and firewall rules, source: MDN.
• Confirm 503 Service Unavailable during maintenance or overload, then scale resources or remove maintenance flags, source: MDN.
• Disable plugins or themes one by one on CMS stacks, then retest endpoints after each change.
• Switch to a default theme and minimal plugins in WordPress safe mode, then re-enable components gradually.
• Match PHP versions and extensions with the app’s requirements, then restart PHP-FPM or the web server.
• Inspect .htaccess or nginx rules for redirects or rewrites, then revert to a known-good baseline.
• Monitor Search Console for crawl errors and server responses, then resolve to avoid SEO loss, source: Google Search Central.

Mixed Content, Style, Or Script Failures

Spot mixed content, style, or script failures when an HTTPS page loads HTTP resources. Expect broken images, missing styles, or blocked scripts.

• Open the browser console, then find Mixed Content errors that flag blocked HTTP resources on HTTPS pages, source: MDN.
• Replace absolute http:// URLs with https:// or protocol-relative // paths, then purge caches at the site and CDN.
• Update CMS site URL settings to HTTPS, then regenerate asset links and sitemaps.
• Search and replace hardcoded HTTP in themes, plugins, and database fields, then validate on a staging site.
• Enforce HSTS once HTTPS is consistent, then reduce downgrade risks in modern browsers, source: MDN.
• Verify Content Security Policy for allowed origins, then include CDNs and analytics endpoints explicitly.
• Load critical CSS inline or via a trusted domain, then defer noncritical scripts to cut render delays.
• Use link checkers to find broken assets and anchors, then fix to improve usability and crawlability, source: Google Search Central.

• MDN Web Docs: HTTP status codes, mixed content, HSTS, and devtools guidance.
• Google Search Central: crawl errors, indexing, and site move to HTTPS impacts.

Server And Hosting Troubleshooting

Feeling stuck because my website is broken keeps showing in your head. We get it. A site not loading, a checkout failing, or a hacked homepage creates stress and lost revenue. We bring calm and a plan. We guide you through quick checks, explain common causes, and step in with proven website repair service when you want expert help.

Why websites break: common causes and plain-English fixes

Site outages and glitches come from a few main areas. We isolate the layer, then we fix the fault.

• Hosting issues, server errors, resource limits
• Plugin conflicts, theme bugs, version mismatches
• Coding errors, bad deploys, config changes
• Malware, phishing injections, spam links
• DNS misconfigurations, expired domains, SSL issues
• Database problems, corrupted tables, connection errors
• Frontend breakage, blocked scripts, mixed content on HTTPS

Quick checks you can try now

Start simple. Confirm the basics, then move to targeted steps.

• Confirm outage scope: Test your site on mobile data, another device, and another network
• Check status pages: Look at your host status page, cloud provider status, CDN status
• Use a monitor: Run Google Cloud Uptime Checks, run a third-party uptime test like UptimeRobot, Pingdom, or StatusCake
• Try a hard refresh: Use a private window, clear cache, flush DNS
• Disable add-ons in the browser: Turn off extensions like ad blockers, privacy tools
• Check DNS records: Verify A, AAAA, CNAME, and NS records in your DNS manager
• Confirm SSL: Visit https, check the padlock, run SSL Labs test
• Review recent changes: Note new plugins, updates, or deploys in the last 24 hours
• Capture error codes: Note 404, 500, 502, 503, or any PHP errors on screen
• Check traffic and errors: Open Google Analytics, open server error logs

Common errors and fast triage

Use the error to select the fix.

• 404 Not Found: Confirm the URL, resave permalinks in WordPress, restore missing files
• 500 Internal Server Error: Check error logs, disable plugins via SFTP, revert recent code changes
• 502 Bad Gateway or 504 Gateway Timeout: Restart the web server and PHP, check upstream service health
• 503 Service Unavailable: Reduce load, scale resources, check maintenance mode
• Mixed content on HTTPS: Update hardcoded http links, force https via redirects, reissue SSL
• White screen on WordPress: Enable WP_DEBUG, increase PHP memory, switch to a default theme temporarily
• Redirect loops: Review .htaccess or Nginx rules, fix conflicting redirects, confirm canonical settings

Table: Core HTTP error codes and what they indicate

| Code | Category | Meaning | Typical Fix Path |
| 401 | Auth | Unauthorized request | Check auth headers, confirm login or token |
| 403 | Auth | Forbidden access | Fix file permissions, update WAF rules |
| 404 | Client | Resource not found | Restore content, update links, adjust routing |
| 500 | Server | Generic server error | Inspect logs, revert code, review PHP handlers |
| 502 | Server | Bad gateway | Check upstream, restart services, fix proxy |
| 503 | Server | Service unavailable | Scale resources, remove maintenance mode |
| 504 | Server | Gateway timeout | Tune timeouts, optimize queries, cache pages |

Server and hosting troubleshooting

We isolate hosting and infrastructure faults fast. We follow a simple flow, then move deeper if a check flags risk.

• Check uptime, logs, and resource limits: Run uptime checks with Google Cloud Uptime Checks or third-party monitors, review Nginx or Apache logs and PHP error logs, inspect CPU, memory, disk, and bandwidth
• Review recent deploys, updates, and config changes: Roll back the last deploy, deactivate the last plugin or theme update, revert new server rules
• Verify database and file permissions: Test DB credentials and connectivity, confirm correct file ownership and 644 or 755 permissions, restart web and database services

Source references: Google Cloud Uptime Checks, standard web server documentation for logs, common Linux file permission conventions

When “my website is broken” becomes urgent

Stop the bleeding if revenue or security sits at risk.

• Outage across the whole site: Homepage and key pages not loading
• Checkout or lead forms failing: Payment errors or silent form drops
• Hacked or defaced content: Strange redirects, pharma spam, adult links
• Malware warnings: Browser or Google Safe Browsing blocks
• Data loss or corruption: Missing orders, broken user accounts
• Legal or compliance triggers: Cookie consent broken, privacy pages gone

WordPress site broken: fast WordPress-specific actions

WordPress powers many sites, so conflicts and updates cause pain. Use these steps for WordPress triage.

• Turn on debug mode: Add define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true) and log errors, then review wp-content/debug.log
• Disable all plugins: Rename the plugins folder via SFTP to isolate a faulty plugin
• Switch themes: Activate Twenty Twenty-Four to confirm a theme bug
• Regenerate permalinks: Save permalinks again to fix routing errors
• Fix memory limits: Increase PHP memory to 256M in wp-config.php
• Reinstall core files: Use WordPress core reinstall to replace corrupted files

Website not loading: performance and capacity checks

Pages not loading often point to heavy scripts, slow queries, or exhausted resources.

• Profile server load: Check CPU, RAM, I/O, and swap during peak times
• Cache and CDN: Enable page caching, use a CDN for static files, purge stale cache after deploys
• Optimize media: Compress images, lazy-load below-the-fold content, serve next-gen formats
• Reduce third-party scripts: Delay heavy tags like heatmaps, chat widgets, and ads
• Tune the database: Add indexes, remove slow queries, schedule routine cleanup

Security and malware repair

Security breakage often reveals itself through redirects, spam, and warnings. Act quickly to contain, then clean.

• Lock down access: Rotate all passwords, force MFA, restrict admin logins by IP
• Scan the site: Run server-side malware scans, run a remote scanner like SiteCheck by Sucuri
• Clean and patch: Remove malicious code, update CMS, plugins, and themes, patch vulnerable components
• Restore safely: Use a clean backup, then re-scan, then reopen to traffic
• Harden: Enforce least privilege, set file permissions correctly, deploy a WAF or CDN security layer

DNS and domain fixes

Nameserver and DNS issues often break access entirely. Domain expiry creates sudden outages.

• Verify domain status: Check expiry date in WHOIS, renew if needed
• Confirm nameservers: Ensure nameservers match your DNS host
• Validate A and CNAME records: Point to the correct IP or hostname, remove stale records
• Check propagation: Use DNS lookup tools, test from multiple regions
• Fix SSL after DNS changes: Reissue or renew certificates if the hostname or IP changed

Content, code, and config rollbacks

Bad deploys and config drifts break pages and features. Rollbacks shorten downtime.

• Keep version control: Tag releases, track diffs, and revert cleanly
• Use staging: Test updates on staging, then deploy to production with a changelog
• Roll back fast: Revert the last known good release if errors spike
• Validate after rollback: Clear caches, run smoke tests, and confirm metrics

Analytics and logging for root-cause clarity

Evidence beats guesswork. Use data to pinpoint the fault.

• Server logs: Nginx or Apache access logs, error logs, PHP-FPM logs
• Application logs: CMS logs, plugin logs, and custom app logs
• Real-time monitoring: Uptime checks, error tracking tools like Sentry
• Performance metrics: Core Web Vitals, Time to First Byte, First Contentful Paint
• Search Console: Coverage errors, manual actions, and security alerts

Table: Fast indicators that confirm breakage

| Signal | Data Point | Action |
| User reports | Multiple reports in 1 hour | Capture screenshots, replicate, prioritize |
| Monitoring alerts | Uptime failures from 2 regions | Check logs, check health endpoints, assess scope |
| Error log spikes | 5xx count jumps above baseline | Revert deploy, add capacity, inspect stack traces |
| Analytics anomalies | Sessions drop, bounce rate spikes | Validate tracking, confirm actual outages |
| Search Console flags | Coverage errors or security issues | Fix underlying cause, request validation |

When to call a professional

DIY helps for basic checks. Bring in experts for high-risk or deep technical cases.

• Revenue at risk: Checkout broken, lead forms failing, ad landing pages down
• Security risks: Hacked content, phishing redirects, malware flags
• Persistent server errors: 500, 502, 503 despite basic fixes
• Database corruption: Missing orders, failed migrations, deadlocks
• DNS or SSL complexity: Multi-environment setups, mixed CDNs, cross-region routing
• Compliance and SEO exposure: Indexation loss, manual actions, tracking failures

How our agency helps when my website is broken

We combine calm triage with fast action. We fix today, then protect tomorrow.

• Rapid diagnosis: We run structured checks across hosting, DNS, SSL, application, and data layers
• Emergency fixes: We restore availability, roll back bad deploys, and stabilize performance
• WordPress repair: We isolate plugin and theme conflicts, fix PHP errors, and harden admin access
• Malware cleanup: We remove malicious code, close vulnerabilities, and restore trust and search visibility
• Speed and stability: We tune caching, optimize media and queries, and set up CDNs
• Monitoring and maintenance: We install uptime monitoring, error tracking, and backup routines
• SEO and UX checks: We fix crawl errors, repair broken links, and stabilize Core Web Vitals
• Clear reporting: We provide before and after metrics, a changelog, and next-step recommendations

Our process

Fast action matters. We move through a proven sequence.

• Triage in minutes: Confirm scope, capture errors, stabilize the surface
• Contain and protect: Block exploits, restrict access, and secure backups
• Diagnose with data: Use logs, monitors, and traces to find the cause
• Repair and verify: Patch the issue, run tests, and check key journeys
• Prevent repeat incidents: Add monitoring, backups, patching, and change control

Frequently asked questions

We answer these in almost every emergency.

• How long does a repair take: Simple fixes complete in hours, complex cases span a day or two
• Can you help outside business hours: Yes, we support urgent cases across time zones
• Do you handle non WordPress sites: Yes, we service custom stacks, Shopify, and headless builds
• Can you work with our host: Yes, we coordinate with your provider and escalate when needed
• What access do you require: We request minimal access, then elevate only when the plan requires it

Proof points and best practices

Use a few habits to reduce breakage and speed recovery.

• Backups: Run daily offsite backups, test restores monthly
• Updates: Patch CMS, plugins, and server packages on a schedule
• Change control: Ship via staging, log changes, and monitor after each release
• Principle of least privilege: Limit roles, enforce MFA, rotate keys
• Observability: Keep uptime checks, error tracking, and log retention

Table: Baseline resilience checklist

| Area | Baseline | Target |
| Backups | Daily backups, monthly restore test | Hourly backups, weekly restore test |
| Updates | Monthly plugin and core updates | Biweekly updates with staging tests |
| Monitoring | Uptime only | Uptime, error tracking, RUM, and server metrics |
| Access | Passwords only | MFA, key rotation, IP restrictions |
| Caching | Basic page cache | Full page cache, CDN, object cache |

What to do next if your website not loading persists

Follow a clean path forward. Start with the basics, then call in support.

• Run the quick checks above
• Capture exact errors and timestamps
• Pause ad spend if key pages fail
• Contact your host and open a ticket
• Reach out to our team for a rapid assessment

My website is broken: talk to a real expert today

You want the site back fast, safe, and stable. We diagnose, we fix, and we protect against repeat outages. Contact us for rapid website repair service, malware cleanup, and ongoing maintenance. Send a message with your URL, your host, and the error you see, then we start triage and restore your site quickly.

Front-End And CMS Troubleshooting

Front-end and CMS checks find most break points fast. We trace changes, isolate conflicts, and confirm core settings before deeper dives.

Disable Problem Plugins, Themes, Or Scripts

Plugins and themes often trigger front-end or CMS faults after updates or config changes.

• Isolate the layer first, front end or CMS backend, then move to add-ons
• Deactivate plugins one by one, from newest to oldest, across 5 to 10 suspects, then reload key pages like checkout and login
• Switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty Four, then compare layout, scripts, and core CMS features
• Test in a staging site first, then mirror the fix in production after validation
• Check plugin and theme versions against your CMS version, then confirm PHP and MySQL compatibility
• Review custom scripts for syntax errors and API misuse, then validate linting and bundling settings
• Confirm API integrations use correct endpoints, tokens, and HTTP methods like GET or POST, then reissue calls with DevTools
• Roll back to a known good backup from the last 24 to 72 hours, then retest critical user journeys
• Log changes with timestamps and versions, then track the exact update that triggered the break

Vector cues: front-end conflicts, CMS updates, plugin errors, theme overrides.

Console Errors And DevTools Clues

Console and DevTools expose script faults, network failures, and blocked resources within seconds.

• Open DevTools with F12, then review Console for errors like TypeError, ReferenceError, or CSP violations
• Inspect Network for status codes like 404, 403, 500, then sort by failed requests
• Filter by JS, CSS, and XHR, then confirm MIME types and caching headers across 5 core assets
• Check CORS headers for Access-Control-Allow-Origin, then match origins across domain, subdomain, and CDN
• Verify HTTPS across all resources, then fix mixed content by upgrading http URLs to https
• Map stack traces with source maps, then pinpoint the exact file and line causing the exception
• Use Performance and Coverage panels to spot render blocking scripts and unused CSS, then defer or remove offenders
• Validate API requests, then confirm methods, payloads, and auth tokens align with your headless CMS configuration
• Reproduce errors in a clean browser profile, then rule out extensions and stale caches

Vector cues: JavaScript exceptions, network failures, mixed content, headless CMS.

Broken Links And Redirects

Broken links and bad redirects create 404s, loops, and lost ranking.

• Crawl the site with a link checker or crawler, then export 4xx and 5xx paths
• Fix internal links with absolute or correct relative paths, then update menus, footers, and sitemaps
• Create server-side 301 redirects for moved URLs, then avoid 302 for permanent changes
• Remove redirect chains over 2 hops, then point old URLs directly to final destinations
• Standardize canonical rules across www and non-www, then enforce HTTPS with a single 301
• Verify case sensitivity on Linux hosts, then correct uppercase or trailing slash mismatches
• Update rewrite rules in .htaccess for Apache or server blocks for Nginx, then retest core routes
• Refresh XML sitemaps with final URLs, then resubmit in Search Console for faster recrawl
• Check analytics for top 404s over the last 7 to 30 days, then prioritize pages with conversions

Vector cues: 404 errors, 301 redirects, server configuration, canonical routing.

Security And Integrity Checks

Security and integrity checks keep a broken website from getting worse. We use layered controls to detect issues early and protect data [1][3][5].

Issue Type	Key Practices	Common Causes	Impact
Security, Integrity	Validation, access control, encryption, backups, audits, error handling	Weak controls, poor monitoring	Data loss, corruption
Malware, Defacement	Updates, malware scanning, file integrity monitoring, backups	Outdated software, weak passwords, missing patches, insufficient monitoring	Site compromise, reputation loss
SSL, TLS	Certificate monitoring, renewal, trusted CAs, modern TLS	Expired or misconfigured certificates, protocol mismatches, weak ciphers	Browser warnings, SEO penalty

Malware, Defacement, Or Unauthorized Changes

Malware and defacement often trace back to weak passwords, outdated software, missing patches, insufficient monitoring [6]. We stop unauthorized changes fast with a tight response loop.

• Detect, investigate, contain
• Detect changes with automated malware scans, file integrity monitoring, audit logs [6]
• Investigate indicators like unexpected file timestamps, injected scripts, admin account spikes
• Contain damage by isolating the host, rotating credentials, revoking tokens
• Restore, validate, harden
• Restore clean versions from verified backups after compromise confirmation [6]
• Validate core files, plugins, themes with checksums and vendor references
• Harden access with MFA, least privilege, IP restrictions, key rotation [5]
• Patch, monitor, document
• Patch CMS, plugins, themes, server packages on a defined cadence [6]
• Monitor endpoints, cron jobs, third party connectors for anomalous activity
• Document incidents, lessons, improvements for future prevention

Risk based testing prioritizes the pages and workflows that carry sensitive data or high impact actions, for example checkout, login, account settings [1]. Cross browser compatibility testing closes gaps that create script errors or bypasses in specific engines, for example Safari, Firefox, Chromium [1]. Data integrity practices block silent corruption with validation, verification, access controls, encryption, regular backups, audit trails, error handling [3].

SSL/TLS And Certificate Issues

SSL and TLS errors break trust and tank conversions. We keep HTTPS stable with continuous monitoring and timely maintenance.

• Prevent, renew, validate
• Prevent lapses with automated certificate monitoring, expiry alerts, inventory tracking [4]
• Renew certificates before the final 30 day window, including SANs and wildcard entries [4]
• Validate domains with trusted certificate authorities, not self signed issuers [2]
• Configure, modernize, verify
• Configure the chain correctly with intermediate CAs, OCSP stapling, HSTS where appropriate [4]
• Modernize protocols by enabling TLS 1.2 and 1.3, and by removing weak ciphers [4]
• Verify hostname matches, key sizes, and client system clocks to avoid false warnings [2][4]
• Monitor, test, align
• Monitor handshake failures, certificate revocations, and domain mismatches in logs [2]
• Test pages for mixed content to stop blocked assets after HTTPS upgrades
• Align technical SEO by fixing SSL errors that trigger browser warnings and ranking hits, since secure HTTPS acts as a Google ranking factor [4]

Common certificate issues include expiration, domain mismatches, self signed roots, untrusted authorities [2]. Fixes include correct installation, protocol and cipher adjustments, and clock accuracy on clients and servers [4].

Restore And Roll Back Safely

Restore fast and reduce risk when a broken website blocks users. Roll back cleanly to a known good state, then verify every core path.

Use Backups And Version Control

Follow a tested restore path to fix a broken website without data loss.

• Identify scope, across files, database, plugins, themes, or server config.
• Locate backups, across hosting dashboards, cPanel, FTP, or phpMyAdmin.
• Select point, before the incident timestamp or code deployment.
• Restore files, via file manager, SFTP, or repository checkout.
• Restore database, via phpMyAdmin import or host snapshot.
• Revert code, via Git rollback or tag checkout if the error followed a release.
• Test functions, across login, cart, forms, search, and CMS editing.
• Validate logs, for PHP errors, 4xx or 5xx spikes, and blocked resources.
• Compare metrics, across uptime, response time, and error rate.

Use resilient backups to protect content and configuration.

• Schedule automation, daily for active sites, weekly for static sites [2][7].
• Encrypt archives, at rest and in transit, with restricted credentials [7].
• Separate copies, with the 3-2-1 rule, across on‑server, cloud, and offsite media [5].
• Document steps, with restore runbooks, contacts, and access keys [3].
• Test restores, quarterly at minimum, after major updates, or platform changes [2][5].

Backup strategy and cadence

Item	Recommendation	Notes
Full backup	Weekly or before major changes	Entire site, files plus database [1]
Incremental backup	Every 12–24 hours	Faster restores for recent edits [1]
Database-only backup	Every 6–24 hours	Protects posts, orders, users [1]
3-2-1 redundancy	3 copies, 2 media, 1 offsite	Reduces single-point failure [5]
Restore testing	Every 90 days	Confirms viability and process [2][5]

Version control anchors the rollback when code triggers breakage.

• Track commits, for themes, plugins, and custom code across branches [2].
• Tag releases, for production deploys with changelogs and diffs [2].
• Revert safely, by checking out the last stable tag, then redeploying [2].
• Gate changes, with pull requests, code review, and staging tests [2].

When To Escalate To A Professional

Escalate early when impact or risk increases.

• Engage experts, if backups are missing, corrupted, or incomplete [2].
• Call security pros, if malware, spam redirects, or file injections appear.
• Involve developers, if version mismatches, dependency conflicts, or schema errors persist.
• Ask hosting support, if server crashes, resource exhaustion, or network blocks continue.
• Prioritize help, if downtime exceeds 60 minutes, checkout fails, or data integrity is uncertain.

Bring in specialist support when restoration stalls, security is in doubt, or uptime matters.

Prevent It From Breaking Again

Keep a fixed site stable after a break by hardening operations. Combine monitoring, backups, staging, documentation, and change control for resilience.

Monitoring, Backups, And Staging

• Monitor uptime and errors across regions, platforms, channels. Use UptimeRobot, Pingdom, Google Analytics alerts for downtime and spikes, if budget demands low cost choose UptimeRobot’s free tier for 5-minute checks [UptimeRobot], [Pingdom], [Google Analytics].
• Track performance with real-user data and synthetic tests. Enable Core Web Vitals in GA4, schedule Pingdom tests for key flows, store results for 90 days for trend analysis [Google Analytics], [Pingdom].
• Alert teams across multiple paths. Send notifications via email, SMS, Slack, route critical alerts 24×7 to on-call, auto-escalate if no acknowledgment in 5 minutes.
• Back up code, database, media on a fixed schedule. Run daily full backups, hourly incrementals, weekly offsite copies, encrypt at rest and in transit [NIST SP 800-53 CP-9].
• Apply the 3-2-1 rule for data durability. Keep 3 copies, use 2 different media, keep 1 offsite or cloud immutable storage [CISA Backup Basics].
• Test restores quarterly in a sandbox. Validate integrity with checksum verification, document restore steps, capture restore times for RTO tracking [NIST SP 800-184].
• Stage every change in a production-like clone. Mirror PHP version, database engine, cache layer, CDN rules, SSL configuration, test user flows end-to-end before release [OWASP Deployment Best Practices].
• Promote changes through a pipeline. Run automated tests, run accessibility and performance checks, deploy with one-click rollback options.

Resilience Control	Target Metric	Example Tools	Reference
Uptime monitoring	99.9% monthly uptime	UptimeRobot, Pingdom	Pingdom Docs
Alerting latency	<5 minutes from outage	Email, SMS, Slack	UptimeRobot Docs
Backup frequency	Daily full, hourly incremental	Host backups, S3	NIST SP 800-53 CP-9
Restore testing	1 test per quarter	Staging restore	NIST SP 800-184
Recovery Time Objective (RTO)	≤60 minutes	Automated rollback	NIST SP 800-34
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)	≤60 minutes	Incremental backups	NIST SP 800-34
Staging parity	1:1 with production stack	Same PHP, DB, cache	OWASP

Documentation And Change Control

• Document every change in a single register. Capture who, what, why, when, where, include ticket ID, commit hash, impacted systems for traceability [ISO/IEC 27001 A.8.32].
• Standardize change requests with templates. Include risk rating, test plan, rollback plan, acceptance criteria, maintenance window, approvals.
• Gate deployments with reviews. Require peer code reviews, security checks, automated tests, sign-offs for high-risk changes [OWASP SAMM].
• Version everything in Git. Commit small units, reference issue IDs, create release branches, tag semantic versions, archive build artifacts.
• Schedule changes in controlled windows. Align low-risk deploys to business hours, push high-risk changes to maintenance windows, announce windows to stakeholders.
• Separate duties for safety. Isolate approvers, deployers, auditors, rotate on-call roles, log actions for audit trails [ISO/IEC 27001 A.6].
• Enable fast rollback paths. Keep last 5 releases hot, snapshot databases pre-deploy, script data migrations with down steps, validate rollback on staging.
• Learn from incidents with blameless reviews. Record timeline, root cause, contributing factors, user impact, fixes, action items with owners and dates [NIST SP 800-61].

Change Artifact	Purpose	Owner	Retention
Change request	Scope, risk, plan	Product owner	12 months
Test evidence	Proof of verification	QA lead	12 months
Approval record	Governance trail	Change manager	24 months
Release notes	User-facing summary	Engineering lead	24 months
Rollback plan	Recovery steps	DevOps	24 months
Incident report	Lessons learned	SRE	24 months

• UptimeRobot Docs: https://uptimerobot.com
• Pingdom Docs: https://www.pingdom.com
• Google Analytics Alerts: https://support.google.com/analytics
• CISA Backup Basics: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/implementing-3-2-1-backup-strategy
• NIST SP 800-53 CP-9: https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-53/rev-5/final
• NIST SP 800-184: https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-184/final
• NIST SP 800-34: https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-34/rev-1/final
• NIST SP 800-61: https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-61/rev-2/final
• OWASP SAMM: https://owaspsamm.org
• OWASP Deployment Best Practices: https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org
• ISO/IEC 27001 controls: https://www.iso.org/standard/27001.html

Conclusion

When a site feels broken it can feel overwhelming. We get it. With a calm plan and the right habits we can restore stability fast and protect trust.

Bookmark this guide. Run the checklist the next time alerts hit. Set up monitors and backups before the next release. Small proactive steps today beat long nights later.

If you need hands on help reach out. We can audit prioritize and get a clean path to recovery in motion. Stay steady stay prepared and keep shipping with confidence.

Want help with your website? Contact AGR Technology’s Website experts for a free proposal tailored to your needs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “my website is broken” mean?

It means users can’t complete key actions or access content smoothly. Common symptoms include errors (404, 500), endless loading, layout shifts, unresponsive buttons, slow pages, malware warnings, traffic drops, and missing pages. If users can’t browse, search, sign in, add to cart, or check out, your site is effectively broken and needs fast troubleshooting to protect conversions, rankings, and trust.

What are quick signs my site is broken?

Watch for user complaints, sudden traffic drops, spikes in errors, monitoring alerts, rising 4xx/5xx in logs, Search Console warnings, and checkout or form failures. Visual glitches, blocked scripts, mixed content on HTTPS, or repeated timeouts are also strong signs. Confirm with status monitors and error logs.

Which error codes should I know?

Key codes: 404 (Not Found), 410 (Gone), 403 (Forbidden), 429 (Too Many Requests), 500 (Internal Server Error), 502 (Bad Gateway), 503 (Service Unavailable), 504 (Gateway Timeout). 4xx usually mean client/request or routing issues; 5xx mean server execution or upstream failures. Use logs and response headers to pinpoint causes.

What causes a website to fail?

Typical causes include hosting outages, DNS or SSL misconfig, database issues, bad deploys, plugin or theme conflicts, coding errors, resource limits, third‑party API failures, DDoS or malware, and CDN or caching problems. Frontend issues (blocked scripts, mixed content) and CMS misconfigurations are common too.

What counts as urgent and needs immediate action?

Full outages, security incidents, checkout or login failures, widespread 5xx errors, DNS/SSL breaks, legal or privacy exposures, and data loss risks. Act fast: enable maintenance mode if needed, protect data, restore a known‑good backup, and escalate to hosting or security teams.

How can I tell if it’s down for everyone or just me?

Check an uptime monitor or “is it down” service, test from mobile data and another network, use a VPN, and try a different browser in a private window. Flush DNS, clear cache, and compare www vs non‑www and HTTP vs HTTPS. Review status pages for your host, CDN, and DNS.

How do I fix pages not loading or timing out?

Confirm hosting status and resource limits, check server and application logs, and test without CDN or WAF. Restart services if allowed, purge caches, and roll back recent changes. Verify database connectivity, upstream API health, and DNS/SSL. Reduce heavy queries, large images, and blocking scripts.

How should I approach 4xx vs 5xx errors?

Treat 4xx as routing, access, or content issues: fix links, redirects, auth rules, and missing pages. Treat 5xx as server problems: inspect logs, recent deploys, resource limits, and dependencies. For 503/504, check load balancers, timeouts, and upstream services. Roll back, then fix root causes safely.

Why are my buttons or forms not working?

Common reasons include JavaScript errors, blocked scripts, mixed content on HTTPS, CORS issues, spam filters, or third‑party outages. Check DevTools Console and Network tabs, disable conflicting plugins or scripts, validate form endpoints, and test without ad blockers. Ensure required fields and CSRF tokens are correct.

How do I fix mixed content or blocked scripts on HTTPS?

Load all assets over HTTPS. Update hard‑coded http:// links in HTML, CSS, JS, and CMS settings. Use relative or protocol‑relative URLs where safe. Enable HSTS after fixing. Check browser console for blocked resources, update CDN origins to HTTPS, and regenerate sitemaps and caches.

What quick steps should WordPress site owners try?

Enable maintenance mode, back up files and database, disable all plugins, switch to a default theme, and re‑enable items one by one. Clear caches (plugin, server, CDN), update core/themes/plugins, check .htaccess, permalinks, and file permissions. Review error logs and increase WP_DEBUG for clues.

How do I check DNS and SSL basics fast?

Verify domain status and nameservers, confirm A/AAAA/CNAME records, and check propagation. Test SSL with an online checker, confirm the correct certificate chain, and renew if expired. Ensure the site URL uses HTTPS, and align redirect rules. If using a CDN, sync origin, host headers, and SNI.

How can I find and fix 404 errors at scale?

Use Search Console, server logs, and crawl tools to list 404s. Restore or redirect high‑value URLs with 301s, fix internal links, and update sitemaps. Remove bad parameters and legacy paths. For deleted content, use 410 if intentional. Re‑crawl to confirm fixes and monitor new errors.

What’s the safest way to restore or roll back?

Follow a tested restore plan: put the site in maintenance mode, back up current state, restore from a known‑good backup or revert via version control, and validate core paths first (home, login, checkout). Reopen gradually, watch logs and monitors, and only then delete temporary backups.

How do I secure a broken site and remove malware?

Isolate the site, change all credentials, enable WAF, and scan files, database, and server. Remove injected code, restore clean backups, update all software, and patch known CVEs. Reissue SSL, rotate keys, and harden permissions. Request malware review removal from search engines after cleanup.

What monitoring should I set up to prevent repeats?

Use uptime and transaction monitors, performance metrics (Core Web Vitals), log and error aggregation, SSL/DNS expiry alerts, and security scanning. Track deploys with change monitoring, run backups on schedule, and test restores regularly. Set clear alerting rules and on‑call escalation paths.

When should I call a professional?

Escalate when you face hacked sites, missing or corrupt backups, recurring 5xx errors, prolonged downtime, data loss, legal or compliance risks, or performance issues impacting revenue. If the root cause is unclear after basic checks, bring in your host, a security firm, or a senior developer.