This is the Fix for When Changing Your WordPress URL Isn't Opening the WP-Admin on Click of Save
As a website owner, you may need to change your WordPress site's URL for a variety of reasons – perhaps you're rebranding, moving to a new domain, or restructuring your site's architecture. Whatever the reason, this is a common task that, when done correctly, should be a straightforward process.
However, one issue that many WordPress users run into is that after changing the site URL in the WordPress settings, the WP-admin won't open on the click of the "Save Changes" button. This can be a frustrating experience, leaving you unable to access your site's backend to continue managing and updating your content.
In this article, we'll dive into the common causes of this problem and provide a step-by-step guide on how to diagnose and fix the issue, getting your WordPress site back up and running smoothly.
Why Changing the WordPress URL Can Cause Issues
When you change your WordPress site's URL, you're essentially telling WordPress to update all instances of the old URL to the new one across your entire site. This includes things like:
- Links in your content
- URLs in your database
- Hardcoded URLs in your theme or plugins
Normally, WordPress handles this URL change process seamlessly, automatically updating everything so that your site continues to function properly.
However, there are a few common reasons why this process can sometimes go awry, leading to the WP-admin not opening on click of save:
-
Caching Issues: If you have a caching plugin or server-level caching enabled, it's possible that the cached version of your site is still using the old URL, causing a conflict.
-
Database Conflicts: Issues with the way your database is structured or the presence of hardcoded URLs in your content can sometimes prevent the URL change from being properly applied.
-
Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Certain plugins or custom theme code may interact poorly with the URL change process, leading to problems.
-
Server Configuration Issues: In some cases, the way your web server is configured can impact the URL change process, especially if you're moving between different types of hosting (e.g., from HTTP to HTTPS).
Identifying the root cause of the issue is the key to getting your site back up and running. Let's walk through the steps to diagnose and fix the problem.
How to Fix the WordPress URL Change Issue
Step 1: Clear Your Browser Cache
The first step in troubleshooting this issue is to clear your browser cache. Cached versions of your site may still be using the old URL, which can prevent the WP-admin from opening correctly.
To clear your cache, follow these steps:
- Open your web browser and locate the cache clearing option. This is usually found in the browser's settings or privacy/security menu.
- Select the option to clear your entire browsing data, including cached files and images.
- Once the cache has been cleared, try accessing your WordPress site's WP-admin again by clicking the "Save Changes" button.
If the issue persists, move on to the next step.
Step 2: Disable Caching Plugins or Server-Level Caching
If you have any caching plugins installed on your WordPress site, such as WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or Cloudflare, try disabling them temporarily. This will ensure that any cached versions of your site are cleared and the new URL is being used properly.
Additionally, if your web host has server-level caching enabled, you may need to contact their support team to have the cache cleared or to make adjustments to your hosting configuration.
Step 3: Check for Database Conflicts
In some cases, the way your WordPress database is structured can prevent the URL change from being applied correctly. To check for and resolve any database conflicts, follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress site's database using a tool like phpMyAdmin or a MySQL client.
- Locate the
wp_options
table and search for any rows where the option_name
is either siteurl
or home
.
- Verify that the values in these rows match the new URL you've set in your WordPress settings. If not, update the values to the new URL.
- Save the changes and try accessing your WordPress site's WP-admin again.
If the issue persists, move on to the next step.
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Step 4: Deactivate and Reactivate Plugins
Sometimes, conflicts with a specific plugin can prevent the URL change from being applied correctly. To check for and resolve any plugin conflicts, follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress site's WP-admin.
- Go to the "Plugins" section and deactivate all plugins.
- Try accessing your site's WP-admin again by clicking the "Save Changes" button in the Settings > General screen.
- If the WP-admin opens correctly, start reactivating your plugins one by one, testing the WP-admin after each activation.
- If the issue reappears after reactivating a specific plugin, that plugin may be the culprit. Consider deactivating it or reaching out to the plugin developer for a solution.
Step 5: Switch to a Default WordPress Theme
Similar to the plugin issue, conflicts with your WordPress theme can also prevent the URL change from being applied correctly. To check for and resolve any theme conflicts, follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress site's WP-admin.
- Go to the "Appearance" section and switch to the default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-One).
- Try accessing your site's WP-admin again by clicking the "Save Changes" button in the Settings > General screen.
- If the WP-admin opens correctly, the issue may be with your custom theme. Consider reaching out to the theme developer for a solution or switching to a different theme.
Step 6: Manually Update the URLs in the Database
If none of the above steps have resolved the issue, you may need to manually update the URLs in your WordPress database. This should be done with caution, as a mistake could potentially break your site.
- Log in to your WordPress site's database using a tool like phpMyAdmin or a MySQL client.
- Locate the following tables:
wp_posts
, wp_postmeta
, wp_options
, and wp_links
.
- In each of these tables, search for any rows that contain the old URL and replace them with the new URL.
- Save the changes and try accessing your site's WP-admin again.
Step 7: Deactivate and Reactivate WordPress
As a last resort, you can try deactivating and reactivating your WordPress installation. This will essentially reset your site's configuration, which may resolve the URL change issue.
- Backup your WordPress site's files and database.
- Deactivate your WordPress installation by deleting the
wp-content
and wp-includes
directories, as well as the wp-config.php
file.
- Reinstall WordPress by downloading the latest version from the official WordPress website and uploading the files to your server.
- During the reinstallation process, be sure to use the new URL you've set in your WordPress settings.
- Once the reinstallation is complete, try accessing your site's WP-admin again.
Conclusion
Changing your WordPress site's URL can be a tricky process, and the issue of the WP-admin not opening on click of save is a common problem that many users face. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to diagnose and fix the issue, getting your site back up and running smoothly.
Remember, the key is to identify the root cause of the problem, whether it's a caching issue, a database conflict, or a plugin or theme compatibility problem. By methodically working through the troubleshooting steps, you can quickly resolve the issue and continue managing your WordPress site without interruption.
If you're still having trouble after trying all of these steps, don't hesitate to reach out to the Flowpoint.ai team. We can help you identify and resolve any technical issues that are impacting your website's performance and conversion rates.