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Understand what “not accessible” means
“I cannot access my WordPress site” describes several different failures. A browser timeout occurs before Apache or Nginx can respond. An Apache default page means a web server answered, but probably selected the wrong virtual host. A 403 is an access-control or filesystem problem; a 404 can be a rewrite problem; a 500 or blank page usually indicates a PHP failure; and “Error establishing a database connection” means WordPress reached PHP but could not complete its database connection.
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Use this request chain as your map: hostname and port reachability → virtual-host selection → PHP execution → database connection → filesystem access → rewrite and URL rules → HTTPS and supported runtime versions. Fix the first broken link, then test again.
Classify the exact symptom first
Record the complete URL, whether the test is from the Ubuntu machine or another device, the HTTP status, and what the browser displays. Run curl -I locally so a browser extension or cached page does not obscure the result.
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| Observed result | Likely layer | First useful check |
|---|---|---|
| Connection refused or timeout | Service, address, listener, firewall, or DNS | systemctl status apache2 or nginx, ss -ltnp, and hostname resolution |
| Apache “It works” page or another site | Apache virtual-host order or hostname mismatch | apachectl -S, enabled sites, ServerName, and DocumentRoot |
| 403 Forbidden | Directory rules, ownership, traversal, or missing index | Web-server error log, parent-directory permissions, and index configuration |
| 404 only on posts or pages | Apache mod_rewrite, .htaccess, or Nginx routing |
Rewrite configuration, then resave permalinks |
| 500 Internal Server Error or blank page | PHP fatal error, incompatible extension, plugin/theme, or runtime mismatch | PHP-FPM/PHP and web-server error logs |
| PHP source downloads in the browser | PHP is not installed, enabled, or connected to the web server | PHP handler and FPM/Apache module configuration |
| “Error establishing a database connection” | Database service, credentials, grants, hostname, or PHP database extension | Database service status, wp-config.php, grants, and PHP modules |
Home page works but /wp-admin redirects or loops |
WordPress URL values, HTTPS/proxy headers, or rewrite rules | WordPress Address, Site Address, scheme, and proxy configuration |
1. Verify the hostname, listener, and service
First determine whether the request reaches Ubuntu at all. On the Ubuntu host, check the web server and database services:
sudo systemctl status apache2
sudo systemctl status nginx
sudo systemctl status mysql
sudo systemctl status mariadbOnly one web server normally needs to own ports 80 and 443. A stopped service, a failed configuration reload, or two services competing for the same port can prevent access. Confirm listeners with:
sudo ss -ltnp | grep -E ':80|:443'From the Ubuntu machine, test the requested hostname and a local address separately:
getent hosts example.test
curl -I http://example.test
curl -I http://127.0.0.1Replace example.test with the hostname in the browser. If the local address responds but the hostname resolves elsewhere, correct DNS or add a temporary entry to the client’s /etc/hosts file, mapping the hostname to the Ubuntu machine’s LAN address. A public hostname must resolve to the public address and forward ports 80 and 443 to Ubuntu; a private development hostname can point directly to the local address. Do not diagnose WordPress until the hostname reaches the intended server.
If the service is running but remote requests time out, inspect the host firewall and any router or cloud firewall for TCP 80 and 443. A refusal generally means the address is reachable but no process is accepting the connection; a timeout more often indicates filtering, an incorrect address, or a service listening only on another interface.
2. Make Apache select the WordPress site
Canonical’s Ubuntu WordPress procedure uses the upstream WordPress release rather than the older package in the Ubuntu archive, places the files at /srv/www/wordpress, sets DirectoryIndex index.php, grants Apache access to that directory, enables the site and rewrite module, maps the hostname, and reloads Apache. Missing any one of those settings can produce the default page, 403, 404, or a PHP error.
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sudo apachectl -S
sudo apache2ctl configtestThe enabled host should contain the hostname the browser requests, the actual WordPress document root, an index rule that includes index.php, and a directory block that permits access. A minimal structure is:
<VirtualHost *:80> ServerName example.test DocumentRoot /srv/www/wordpress DirectoryIndex index.php <Directory /srv/www/wordpress> Require all granted AllowOverride FileInfo Limit </Directory> ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/wordpress-error.log CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/wordpress-access.log combined </VirtualHost>Use the real hostname and path; do not copy this as a substitute for your distribution’s complete configuration. Enable the intended site and rewrite module, disable the default site when it is answering first, test syntax, and reload:
sudo a2ensite wordpress.conf
sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo apache2ctl configtest
sudo service apache2 reloadIf you need the default site for another application, leave it enabled but give the WordPress host an exact ServerName and, where necessary, an appropriate ServerAlias. The first matching default virtual host can answer requests sent to an unrecognised hostname, so always test with the same host name that appears in the request.
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For a 403, read the Apache error log while making one request:
sudo tail -f /var/log/apache2/error.logMessages about access being denied, a missing index, or inability to traverse a parent directory identify different fixes. Do not solve a 403 by making the entire filesystem world-writable.
3. Check Nginx routing when Apache is not in use
Nginx uses a server block rather than Apache’s virtual-host files. Verify the active configuration and reload only after a syntax test:
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginxThe selected block must have the requested server_name, the WordPress directory as root, and index index.php. WordPress requests normally need a front-controller rule such as try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;. PHP files must be passed to PHP-FPM through fastcgi_pass, with the script filename built from the document root and requested URI. A typical PHP location contains include fastcgi_params and fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name; the socket or TCP address must match the installed PHP-FPM service.
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Check Nginx’s access and error logs while reproducing the failure. If static files work but PHP downloads, the PHP-FPM location is absent or invalid. If the home page works but every post returns 404, the try_files rule is missing or points to the wrong document root.
4. Confirm PHP is actually executing
WordPress currently recommends PHP 8.3 or newer. PHP 7.4 may still run some WordPress installations for compatibility, but it is end-of-life and no longer receives normal security maintenance. A version mismatch can surface as a blank page, 500 response, or fatal error after an update.
Check both the command-line version and the web-server handler:
php -v
php -m | grep -E 'mysqli|pdo_mysql|mysqlnd'The command-line version is not always the version used by Apache or PHP-FPM. Confirm the enabled Apache PHP module or the PHP-FPM pool configured in Nginx. The MySQL-compatible extension is required; without it, WordPress cannot connect even when the database server is healthy. On Ubuntu, the package is commonly named php-mysql for the active PHP series, but install the package that matches your supported runtime rather than mixing releases.
For a controlled test, create a temporary file in the document root containing <?php phpinfo();, request it once, and delete it immediately. The page reveals the web runtime, loaded extensions, and configuration path. Leaving a phpinfo page publicly available exposes sensitive environment details. A PHP source download instead of rendered output means the request is bypassing PHP entirely; fix the Apache module or Nginx-to-FPM handler before investigating WordPress.
When a 500 appears after enabling a plugin or theme, inspect the PHP error log and the web-server error log at the exact request time. A PHP fatal error names the file and line that failed. Disable the suspected extension through the WordPress files or database only after preserving a backup, then restore it once the incompatible code is updated.
5. Repair the database connection
WordPress recommends MariaDB 10.11 or newer or MySQL 8.0 or newer. MySQL 5.5.5 may still be accepted by older WordPress versions, but it is end-of-life and unsuitable for a secure new deployment.
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Check that the database service is running and accepting local connections:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorssudo systemctl status mysql
sudo systemctl status mariadb
sudo ss -ltnp | grep 3306Open wp-config.php and compare these four values character for character with the database server:
DB_NAME: the database that contains the WordPress tables.DB_USER: the account used by WordPress.DB_PASSWORD: the current password for that account.DB_HOST: usuallylocalhostor a specific database hostname and port.
Test the same account independently, without printing its password in shell history where possible. A privileged administrator can inspect the account and grants in MySQL or MariaDB. The WordPress user needs privileges on the WordPress database, not merely permission to connect to the server. Ubuntu’s installation example creates the database and user, then grants database privileges; reproduce that principle with a unique password and the correct host component.
If the database connects from the command line but WordPress still reports an error, verify that PHP’s mysqli or PDO MySQL extension is loaded by the web runtime, not only by the CLI. Also check whether a local socket is being used for localhost while the server expects TCP on 127.0.0.1, or vice versa. Read the database log for authentication, corruption, or too-many-connections messages before changing credentials.
6. Correct ownership and permissions without opening the whole site
Apache or Nginx must be able to traverse the parent directories and read WordPress core files. It needs write access only where WordPress must upload media, install updates, or create cache files, normally selected locations under wp-content. WordPress documents incorrect permissions as a cause of failed uploads, updates, and writes.
Inspect the path one directory at a time:
namei -l /srv/www/wordpress/index.php
stat -c '%U:%G %a %n' /srv/www/wordpress /srv/www/wordpress/wp-config.phpOn a standard Ubuntu Apache installation, the service account is commonly www-data. Set ownership deliberately for the files and directories that the web server must read, and grant write access only to the required content directories. Keep core PHP files owned by an administrative account when your update process supports FTP, SSH, or a deployment user; alternatively, use a carefully scoped group arrangement. The correct choice depends on who performs updates.
wp-config.php contains database credentials. Restrict it to the owner and an appropriate group, such as mode 640 or 600 where your deployment permits, while ensuring the web server can still read it. If tightening this file causes a 500, check the error log and group membership rather than reverting to world-readable permissions. Avoid recursive commands that make every file executable or writable; they create a larger compromise surface and can hide the original fault.
7. Restore pretty permalinks and administrative routes
If the front page loads but posts, pages, or /wp-admin paths return 404, the server is usually not handing unknown paths to WordPress’s front controller. On Apache, enable mod_rewrite and permit the .htaccess directives in the WordPress directory with an appropriate AllowOverride value. Confirm that /srv/www/wordpress/.htaccess is readable by the web server and contains the standard WordPress rewrite rules generated for your installation.
After correcting Apache, sign in to the dashboard and open Settings → Permalinks. Click Save Changes once, even without changing the selected structure. WordPress rewrites the rules and flushes its stored permalink configuration. Do not repeatedly flush permalinks while the server still denies .htaccess; that only masks the underlying configuration error.
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On Nginx, there is no .htaccess processing. Put the equivalent try_files rule in the correct server block, test with nginx -t, reload Nginx, and then save the permalink settings. A rule pointing at a different root can make the home page appear functional while every deep URL fails.
8. Correct WordPress URLs and HTTPS behavior
WordPress stores two related addresses. WordPress Address (URL) identifies where the WordPress core files live; Site Address (URL) is the public address visitors use. They are often identical, but they can differ when WordPress is installed in a subdirectory. An incorrect value can redirect every request to an unreachable hostname, force HTTP when the site is served over HTTPS, or create an endless redirect loop.
Once local HTTP access works, check Settings → General and make both values match the hostname and scheme actually served. If the dashboard is inaccessible, inspect the corresponding home and siteurl values in the WordPress options table using a database backup and a controlled update, or define temporary constants in wp-config.php while repairing the database values. Remove temporary overrides after the permanent values are corrected.
Use HTTPS for production. WordPress lists HTTPS as part of its current recommended baseline. If TLS terminates at a reverse proxy, the proxy must forward the original scheme and the web server must trust that header only from the proxy. Otherwise WordPress may believe every HTTPS request is HTTP and redirect repeatedly. Check certificate validity, port 443, and mixed HTTP/HTTPS hostnames after the basic site is reachable.
Validate the repair in a fixed sequence
- Run
curl -Iagainst the exact hostname and scheme users will use. Confirm the status and theLocationheader are expected. - Open the home page in a private browser window to avoid cached redirects.
- Open
/wp-login.phpand/wp-admin/; confirm there is no loop, 403, or missing stylesheet. - Open one page, one post, and a nonexistent URL. This distinguishes working rewrites from a site that only serves the front page.
- Upload a small image and check that its URL loads. A successful page request with failed uploads usually indicates
wp-contentpermissions. - Watch the relevant access and error logs while repeating one failed request, then stop the log command and remove any temporary diagnostic files.
- Record the PHP, database, Apache or Nginx, and WordPress versions so a future change can be correlated with a failure.
Prevent the same outage
- Keep PHP at a currently supported WordPress-recommended version, and plan upgrades before an older release reaches end of life.
- Use MariaDB 10.11 or newer or MySQL 8.0 or newer for new deployments; do not treat legacy compatibility as a security recommendation.
- Back up both the database and
wp-contentbefore changing plugins, themes, PHP, or web-server configuration. - Keep a copy of the working virtual-host or server-block file and test configuration syntax before every reload.
- Grant write permission only where WordPress needs it, protect
wp-config.php, and review logs after updates. - Use a stable hostname, valid HTTPS certificate, and documented proxy or DNS settings so URL changes do not strand the administrator.
The official WordPress requirements describe Apache or Nginx as the recommended, feature-rich servers and identify PHP, a supported MySQL-compatible database, and HTTPS as the core baseline. Ubuntu’s setup guidance adds the practical pieces—hostname mapping, document root, directory access, rewrite support, and an Apache reload. Checking those pieces in order turns an apparently mysterious outage into a testable configuration problem.
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