Common Website Downtime Causes and Your Quick-Fix Checklist

Someone tries to visit your site. They get an error. Or a blank page. Donations stop. Volunteers can't sign up. You need to fix it now.

When Your Site Goes Down

Downtime happens. The goal is to fix it fast. Most causes fall into three buckets. Hosting. Plugins or updates. Expired domain or SSL. Start there.

Don't assume the worst. Run through this checklist first. You might fix it in minutes.

Cause 1: Hosting Issues

Your host might be having problems. Their server could be overloaded. Or down. Check their status page. Many hosts post incidents there.

Also check if your bill is paid. Some hosts suspend sites for overdue invoices. Log into your host dashboard. Look for alerts or notices.

Cause 2: Plugin or Update Conflicts

A new plugin or update can break your site. Especially if you run WordPress. The fix is often to disable the problem plugin. You can do that via FTP or your host's file manager.

Rename the plugins folder to disable all of them. If the site comes back, rename it and enable plugins one by one. Find the one that breaks it. Deactivate or replace it.

Cause 3: Expired Domain or SSL

Domains expire. So do SSL certificates. Both can make your site unreachable or show scary warnings. Check your domain registrar. Renew if needed.

For SSL, many hosts auto-renew. But if you manage it yourself, it might have lapsed. Renew the cert. Clear cache. Test again.

Your Quick-Fix Checklist

Step 1: Confirm the outage. Try your site on your phone, different browser, and incognito. Rule out a local issue.

Step 2: Check your host status and account. Look for outages, bills, or suspended notices.

Step 3: Check domain and SSL. Are they current? Step 4: If you use WordPress, disable plugins. See if the site returns. Step 5: Call your host if you're stuck. They fix this stuff every day.

Prevention Steps

Set calendar reminders for domain and SSL renewal. Use auto-renew when possible. Update plugins in small batches. Test after each update. Keep a backup. Many hosts offer this. Use it.

Downtime is stressful. But a simple checklist cuts the chaos. Most issues have straightforward fixes.

Need help with your site or hosting? AYNI offers free support to nonprofits. Nominate your org or book a chat at ayni.io. We'll help you get back online and stay there.