How To Fix WordPress Updating Failed: Troubleshooting and Solutions?

Are you frustrated by WordPress updates or publishing failures? Let’s fix it.

WordPress Update/Publish Errors

WordPress “updating failed” or “publishing failed” errors typically occur 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. With successful communication via the API, essential functionalities such as saving changes to posts or pages can become possible. 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.

Why Does WordPress Fail to Update or Publish?

Several factors can lead to the WordPress updating failed error:

1. Internet Connection Issues: Losing internet connectivity while editing a post can prevent WordPress from saving changes. Verify your internet connection is stable 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 Outdated WordPress Version: Bugs in older WordPress versions may interfere with publishing functionalities. Update WordPress to the latest version. It 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. A higher PHP memory limit enables 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: See if you can reach other websites to check your connection
• 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 publishing. 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 ‘Update Now’ if a new version is available.
• Ensure you back up your site before updating to prevent data loss or compatibility problems.

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 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.
• Select ‘Deactivate‘ from ‘Bulk Actions‘ and click ‘Apply’.
• Attempt to publish or update a post to see if the error is resolved. If it is, re-enable plugins individually until you identify the culprit. For more detailed troubleshooting, you can refer to how to solve a 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 they are malicious or part of a security threat. Adjust firewall settings or temporarily turn off 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 allow your IP address or investigate further if their services block 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 and upload the file.
• Reproduce the updating failed error by attempting to publish or update a post.
• Access the debug.log file 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 in wp-config.php or contact 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

Following these detailed steps, you can effectively diagnose and resolve your website’s “WordPress updating failed” or “publishing failed” error. 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.