How To Fix WordPress Updating Failed: Troubleshooting and Solutions?

Are you encountering the frustrating “WordPress updating failed” or “publishing failed” error on your website? This common issue can disrupt your workflow, especially when editing posts or pages. 

I’ll walk you through the steps to resolve this error and understand its underlying causes.

Updating Failed or Publishing Failed Error in WordPress

The “updating failed” or “publishing failed” error in WordPress typically occurs due to a failure in communicating with the WordPress REST API. The REST API is essential for sending and receiving requests to the WordPress database, facilitating tasks like content updates and publishing within the WordPress block editor.

This error can manifest when WordPress fails to connect with the REST API to send updates or publishing requests. Without successful communication via the API, essential functionalities such as saving changes to posts or pages can become impossible. This issue is particularly challenging for beginners due to its vague error message, which provides little insight into its root cause. One way to avoid such issues is to use managed VPS WordPress hosting, which often includes optimized server settings and dedicated support to handle such technical problems efficiently.

What Causes the Updating Failed or Publishing Failed Error?

Several factors can lead to the WordPress updating failed error:

1. Internet Connection Issues: Loss of internet connectivity while editing a post can prevent WordPress from saving changes. Ensure your internet connection is stable and functional by accessing other websites in a new browser tab before publishing or updating content.
2. Misconfigured Site URL: Incorrect WordPress URL settings can disrupt communication with the REST API. Navigate to Settings » General and verify that both the ‘Site Address’ and ‘WordPress Address’ URLs are correct. For most websites, these URLs should match.
3. Outdated WordPress Version: Bugs in older WordPress versions may interfere with publishing functionalities. Keeping your WordPress core updated to the latest version helps mitigate such issues by fixing bugs and improving overall system stability.
4. Plugin Interference: Conflicts or errors caused by poorly coded or incompatible plugins can also trigger the updating failed error. Plugins that interact with the REST API or modify publishing processes are particularly susceptible to causing disruptions. It’s essential to temporarily deactivate all plugins to identify if any are responsible for the error. For more information on troubleshooting WordPress issues, you can find the solutions to the WordPress block editor conflicts.
5. Firewall Restrictions: Security services like Cloudflare or Sucuri may block REST API requests, potentially causing the update failure.
6. PHP Memory Limit: Insufficient PHP memory allocation for complex tasks during publishing can lead to errors like updating failure. Increasing the PHP memory limit allows WordPress to handle intensive operations more effectively, reducing the likelihood of encountering such errors.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing the WordPress Updating Failed Error

Here’s how you can troubleshoot and resolve the WordPress updating failed or publishing failed error:

Step 1: Check Your Internet Connection and Site URL

The first step in troubleshooting the updating failed error is to ensure both your internet connection and site URL settings are correct:

• Internet Connection: Verify that you are connected to the internet by visiting other websites in a new browser tab.
• Site URL Settings: Navigate to Settings » General in your WordPress dashboard and confirm that both the ‘Site Address’ and ‘WordPress Address’ URLs are accurate.

If your internet connection is stable and site URL settings are correct, proceed to further troubleshooting steps.

Step 2: Update Your WordPress Software

Outdated WordPress software can sometimes contain bugs that interfere with various functionalities, including the publishing process. Updating to the latest WordPress version helps ensure compatibility with plugins and themes while benefiting from bug fixes and performance improvements.

To update WordPress:

• Navigate to Dashboard » Updates and click on ‘Update Now’ if a new version is available.
• Ensure you back up your site before updating to avoid potential data loss or compatibility issues.

Step 3: Check REST API Status Using WordPress Site Health

WordPress includes a built-in Site Health tool that provides insights into your site’s overall performance and security. Use this tool to check the status of the REST API:

• Navigate to Tools » Site Health and review the ‘REST API’ section for any errors or warnings.
• If the REST API status indicates an issue, WordPress may provide additional debugging information that can help pinpoint the cause of the error.

Step 4: Disable All Your WordPress Plugins

If the updating failed error persists, it may be due to a conflict with one or more plugins. Temporarily deactivate all plugins to determine if one of them is causing the issue:

• Navigate to Plugins » Installed Plugins and select all plugins.
• Choose ‘Deactivate’ from the ‘Bulk Actions’ dropdown menu and click ‘Apply’.
• Attempt to publish or update a post to see if the error is resolved. If it does, re-enable plugins one by one until you identify the culprit. For more detailed troubleshooting, you can refer to how to solve WordPress coupon code error which might provide additional insights.

Step 5: Check Website Firewall Service

Security services like Cloudflare or Sucuri may block REST API requests, assuming them to be malicious or part of a security threat. Adjust firewall settings or temporarily disable these services to test if they are causing the updating failed error:

• For Cloudflare users, access your hosting account dashboard and navigate to the ‘Domains’ section to adjust Cloudflare settings.
• Contact Sucuri support to whitelist your IP address or investigate further if their services are blocking API requests.

Step 6: Enable and Review the WordPress Debug Log

Enabling WordPress debug mode helps capture and log errors that occur on your site, providing valuable information for troubleshooting:

Edit your wp-config.php file and set the following constants:
define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );

define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );

• Save the changes and upload the file back to your server.
• Reproduce the updating failed error by attempting to publish or update a post.
• Access the debug.log file located in the /wp-content/ directory via FTP or your hosting file manager.
• Review the log file for any errors, warnings, or notices that may indicate the source of the issue, such as plugin conflicts or PHP errors.

Step 7: Temporarily Switch to the Classic WordPress Editor

If the updating failed error persists and is related to Gutenberg or block editor issues, temporarily switch to the Classic Editor as a workaround:

• Install and activate the Classic Editor plugin from the WordPress repository.
• Configure the Classic Editor settings to replace Gutenberg as the default editor for posts and pages.
• Edit the post or page causing the error using the Classic Editor interface, bypassing dependencies on the REST API.

Step 8: Increase Your PHP Memory Limit

WordPress requires sufficient PHP memory to handle resource-intensive tasks such as image processing and database operations during publishing:

• Increase the PHP memory limit by editing your wp-config.php file or contacting your hosting provider for assistance.

Add the following line to your wp-config.php file:
define( ‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’ );

• Save the changes and test if increasing the PHP memory limit resolves the updating failed error.

Final Step: Ask for Support

If all troubleshooting steps fail to resolve the updating failed error, seek assistance from your hosting provider or the WordPress community:

• Contact your hosting provider’s support team for server-specific issues, misconfigurations, or advanced threat detection that may be causing the error.
• Post a detailed query on the WordPress.org support forums, providing information from your debug log and troubleshooting steps taken.
• Join WordPress community groups or forums like WPBeginner Facebook Group to seek advice and solutions from experienced users and developers.

Conclusion

By following these detailed steps, you can effectively diagnose and resolve the “WordPress updating failed” or “publishing failed” error on your website. Remember to maintain regular updates, monitor plugin compatibility, and optimize your site’s performance to prevent future occurrences of this frustrating issue.

We hope this guide has provided actionable solutions and insights into effectively managing WordPress errors.