Common WooCommerce Errors and How to Fix Them Through Maintenance

WooCommerce is a powerful eCommerce platform built on WordPress. It’s flexible, scalable, and perfect for setting up an online store. But like any software, it’s not immune to errors. Whether you’re running a small shop or a large online business, WooCommerce errors can hurt user experience and impact your bottom line.

The good news? Most of these issues are preventable or fixable with regular maintenance. In this article, we’ll look at the most common WooCommerce errors and how you can resolve them through proactive WooCommerce maintenance strategies. Let’s get started.

1. White Screen of Death (WSOD)

The infamous White Screen of Death often appears without warning. Your site goes blank, and you’re left staring at a white screen.

What causes it?

• Plugin or theme conflict
• PHP memory limit exhausted
• Corrupted core files

How to fix it?

• Deactivate plugins: Start by disabling all plugins via FTP or your hosting panel. Reactivate them one by one to find the culprit.

• Switch themes: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme to check if your current theme is causing the problem.

• Increase PHP memory: Update the wp-config.php file with this line:

  define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');


• Regular maintenance tip: Always test plugin updates on a staging site before going live. Also, keep backups before making major changes.

2. Broken Product Pages or Layout Issues

Sometimes, product pages look off. Maybe the images don’t load, the layout is broken, or the “Add to Cart” button disappears.

Possible reasons:

• Outdated or incompatible themes
• CSS/JavaScript conflicts
• Plugin updates gone wrong

Fixing it:

• Clear cache: Sometimes, browser or plugin cache can mess up how the page loads.

• Inspect theme files: If you’ve customised your theme, there could be outdated WooCommerce templates.

• Use the WooCommerce status report: Go to WooCommerce > Status to find out what templates are out of date.

• Routine check: Make it a habit to review your site visually after each update.

Read: Hidden Dangers of Ignoring of WordPress Maintenance Services

3. Cart Not Updating or Emptying Unexpectedly

Users add items to their cart, but nothing happens—or worse, the cart clears itself.

Common causes:

• Caching issues
• Theme or plugin conflict
• Session timeouts

Troubleshooting:

• Disable object caching for WooCommerce pages. Use cache exclusion rules for cart, checkout, and account pages.

• Check session settings: WooCommerce uses PHP sessions. Make sure your host supports them correctly.

• Switch to a default theme temporarily to rule out theme issues.

• Maintenance strategy: Regularly test your checkout flow, especially after updates. Use tools like BrowserStack or test in multiple browsers.

4. Emails Not Sending

Order confirmations, shipping updates, or password resets not showing up in the inbox? That’s a major customer service problem.

Why it happens:

• Hosting server doesn’t support email functions
• Emails flagged as spam
• Misconfigured email settings

Solutions:

• Use an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP. It ensures emails go through a proper email server.

• Check WooCommerce email settings: Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Emails. Make sure all email templates are enabled and configured.

• Run email tests: Most SMTP plugins let you send test emails to verify functionality.

• Preventive tip: Schedule monthly email testing to avoid surprises.

Know more: Automating WordPress Maintenance Plugins and Strategies

5. Slow Loading Speed

A slow store can drive users away and hurt SEO. If your WooCommerce site is sluggish, it’s time to act.

Root causes:

• Heavy plugins
• Unoptimised images
• Bloated theme code
• Cheap hosting

Speed it up:

• Use caching plugins: W3 Total Cache or WP Rocket can help. Ensure WooCommerce pages are excluded where necessary.

• Optimise images: Use tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel.

• Limit plugin use: Deactivate or delete plugins you don’t need.

• Choose quality hosting: A managed WooCommerce host can significantly improve performance.

• Regular audits: Use tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights monthly to monitor and improve speed.

6. Checkout Page Not Working

If users can’t complete purchases, your store is losing revenue.

Common triggers:

• JavaScript errors
• Conflicts with payment gateway plugins
• Caching on dynamic pages

Quick fix:

• Enable debug mode: Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments and turn on debugging to catch payment issues.

• Review checkout shortcodes: Make sure the [woocommerce_checkout] shortcode is present and not broken.

• Exclude checkout page from cache in any caching or CDN plugin.

• Ongoing maintenance: After payment gateway updates, always test checkout functionality.

7. Product Variations Not Displaying

Sometimes, variable products don’t show correctly or users can’t select options.

Why this happens:

• JavaScript conflict
• Incorrect variation setup
• Missing attributes

How to resolve it:

• Recreate product variations: Delete and recreate variations in the product settings.

• Check for JS errors: Use browser console to find JavaScript issues.

• Disable plugins: Turn off plugins one by one to find any that may conflict.

Check out: WordPress Maintenance Best Practices

The Importance of Regular WooCommerce Maintenance

Running a WooCommerce store isn’t a “set it and forget it” task. Just like a physical shop, it needs regular checkups to function smoothly. Here’s how you can build a strong maintenance routine:

• Update core, themes, and plugins weekly

• Back up your site before any changes

• Use a staging environment for testing

• Schedule monthly speed and performance audits

• Check error logs regularly

By staying on top of these tasks, you can prevent most issues before they affect your customers.

Final Thoughts

WooCommerce is a fantastic platform for online businesses, but errors can disrupt the user experience and cost you sales. The key to avoiding these issues lies in regular, thorough maintenance.

Don’t wait for something to break before taking action. Implementing a proactive maintenance strategy helps keep your store secure, fast, and user-friendly. Whether it’s updating plugins, testing your checkout flow, or backing up your data, each step ensures your WooCommerce site stays in top shape.

Stay alert, stay updated, and your WooCommerce store will reward you with smooth operations and happy customers.

Steven

Steven is a results-driven Content Manager specialising in WordPress, web development, and digital strategies in the UK. With a strong technical background, he optimises content for SEO, user engagement, and performance. His expertise lies in crafting data-driven strategies that enhance website visibility, functionality, and overall digital success for businesses.

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