9 Common Reasons Why Websites Fail or Crash

It’s every business owner’s nightmare—your site goes down, and panic sets in. At Airsang Design, we understand how crucial uptime is. With 61.5% of site owners unsure how hacks happen (Wordfence), we’ve simplified the chaos: here are the 9 most common causes of website failure. Identify the issue, fix it fast, and prevent future breakdowns with expert guidance.

Your Website Is Running on Low-Quality Hosting

Small businesses often opt for cheap hosting to save costs, but low-quality servers can lead to costly problems. These providers often cut corners—resulting in more downtime, vulnerability to cyberattacks, traffic-related crashes, outdated software, and unstable database connections.

You Clicked “Update” on WordPress Core Without Precaution

Keeping WordPress updated is smart—but hitting “Update Now” without caution can backfire. Updates may conflict with your theme or plugins, breaking parts of your site or the whole thing. Since WordPress lacks a native rollback feature, always back up your site before updating. At Airsang Design, we recommend backing up regularly so you’re protected against any mishaps.

You’ve Added a New Plugin That Compromised Your Site.

With 54,000+ plugins available, WordPress offers great flexibility—but also risks. Since anyone can develop plugins, many contain bugs or security flaws. In fact, over 55% of WordPress hacks stem from plugin vulnerabilities.

Before installing, always check:

• Trusted developer or brand
• Strong user reviews
• Recent updates and compatibility
• Available support or documentation

Your website’s security depends on every component—including plugins.

Someone Else Made Changes to Your Site

We encourage post-launch improvements, but third-party edits can unknowingly break your site—especially if they lack web maintenance experience. Always review your site after external changes, limit access, and track who makes updates to avoid issues.

No One on Your Team Made Changes—It Was an Auto Update Behind the Scenes

Avoid relying on automatic updates for WordPress or plugins—updates from different developers can conflict, causing site issues or crashes without warning.

Your Website Theme Uses Outdated or Unsupported Code

If you haven’t maintained your website in over a year, your theme code may no longer be compatible with modern browsers. Regular updates—ideally every 6–12 months—are crucial, especially for eCommerce sites handling sensitive data.

Conflicts Between Plug-ins and Third-Party Tools

Plug-ins and third-party tools can enhance your site but often cause conflicts, especially when poorly built or untested. Incompatibilities may break themes or functions, especially as more tools are added—raising the need for consistent testing and maintenance.

Passwords Targeted by Brute Force Attacks

Hackers often use malware to guess your password, especially if it’s based on old or breached data. Once inside, they can steal sensitive info or crash your site. Protect yourself by regularly updating strong, unique passwords, avoiding variations of old ones, and enabling two-factor authentication or using a secure password manager.

Your Website Is Running on an Outdated PHP Version

Why Updating PHP Matters for Your WordPress Site

• WordPress depends on PHP: Outdated PHP versions can cause website crashes and expose security vulnerabilities.
• Support timeline: Each major PHP version is supported for ~2 years. Once it reaches “end-of-life,” it no longer receives security updates.
• Update notifications: WordPress will alert you if your PHP version is outdated. Don’t ignore it.
• Versions already outdated:
  • PHP 7.0 – EOL since Dec 3, 2018
  • PHP 7.1 – EOL since Dec 1, 2019
  • PHP 7.2 – EOL since Nov 30, 2020
• Security & performance: Staying current ensures your site remains fast, compatible, and protected against new threats.
• Best practice: Work with a developer to test updates in a staging environment before applying changes live.
• Ongoing maintenance: Regular technical checks help your site stay reliable, high-performing, and user-friendly—your 24/7 digital salesperson.

Conclusion

Regular PHP updates are essential for performance and security. At Airsang Design, we ensure your site runs smoothly, stays secure, and delivers a seamless user experience through expert maintenance and proactive updates. Don’t let outdated code cost you growth.