How To Fix WordPress Updating Failed & Publish Failed Errors

If you’re a WordPress user and have encountered the WordPress Updating Failed or Publishing Failed message, don’t worry, you’re not alone. These errors often pop up when you’re trying to update or publish your content, and they can be frustrating, especially when you don’t know what went wrong. 

These errors typically happen when WordPress can’t properly communicate with its system, known as the REST API. This system handles updates, saving changes, and publishing posts. When it’s disrupted, your workflow is interrupted, and your site’s functionality can suffer. Over time, these unresolved issues may confuse visitors and negatively impact your website’s performance. 

But don’t stress – these errors are fixable. This tutorial discusses the common reasons this happens and explains simple, actionable steps to resolve it. We cover everything you need to know, from troubleshooting plugins to checking the PHP memory limit. By the end, you’ll be able to fix errors and learn how to prevent them, ensuring your WordPress website runs smoothly. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The WordPress Updating Failed and Publishing Failed errors in WordPress usually happen due to problems with the REST API, which handles communication between your site and its server.
• Common causes include unstable internet connections, incorrect WordPress URL settings, outdated WordPress versions, plugin conflicts, firewall interference, or low PHP memory limits.
• To fix these errors, check your internet connection, update WordPress to the latest version, and review your site health for REST API issues.
• Deactivate all plugins to identify potential conflicts, examine your firewall or security settings, and increase the PHP memory limit if needed.
• Use the Classic Editor plugin as a temporary workaround while troubleshooting REST API-related problems.
• Enabling the debug log can help identify deeper issues by recording error messages for you to review and address.
• To prevent future errors, regularly update WordPress core, plugins, and themes, monitor your site’s health, choose reliable hosting, and always perform backups before making changes.

Understand WordPress Updating Failed Error

WordPress updating failed or WordPress publishing failed errors happen when something interrupts the communication between your site and its REST API. The REST API plays an important role in WordPress by handling data exchanges behind the scenes.  

Consider the REST API as a bridge that connects the WordPress dashboard to the server, ensuring tasks like saving changes, updating content, and publishing posts run smoothly and appear live on your WordPress website. 

When this bridge is broken or blocked, WordPress cannot do this. Incorrect settings, plugin conflicts, server issues, and network problems cause this. When this occurs, the dashboard can’t send or receive the data it needs to process updates or publish your work.   

Here’s an example of how the error shows up when the WordPress page not updating issue occurs: 

However, publishing failed error appears as follows:

Common Causes of WordPress Updating Failed 

Several factors can trigger the publishing failed or updating failed errors in WordPress. Here are the most common ones to help you identify and fix the issue.   

Internet Connectivity Issues 

To function correctly, WordPress requires a stable internet connection. If your internet connection is unstable, slow, or temporarily disconnected, WordPress cannot send or receive data from the server properly. This disruption often results in failed updates or publishing errors. Even a brief connectivity glitch can interrupt the process, so ensuring your connection is steady is a good place to start. 

Incorrect Site URL Settings   

Your WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) settings tell WordPress where your site is situated. If these settings are incorrect, WordPress may be unable to establish a proper connection with its server.

This misconfiguration can cause REST API communication problems, leading to updating and publishing errors. For example, if the URLs don’t match your specific site address (e.g., http vs. https), WordPress may struggle to function as expected. 

Outdated WordPress Software   

WordPress frequently releases updates that improve functionality, enhance security, and fix bugs. If you’re using an outdated version of WordPress, you may encounter compatibility issues with newer plugins, themes, or server configurations.

These issues can affect the REST API, making it unable to process updates or publishing requests. So, staying updated ensures your WordPress site can efficiently handle these tasks. 

Plugin Conflicts  

Plugins add valuable features to your site but can also cause conflicts. Some plugins, especially those focused on security or optimization, can unintentionally interfere with the REST API. 

For instance, a plugin may block API requests or modify how WordPress communicates with its server. This interference can lead to errors, making it essential to identify and deactivate problematic plugins during troubleshooting.

Firewall or Security Service Interference 

Web application firewalls (WAFs) and security plugins protect your site from malicious activity. However, they can sometimes misinterpret legitimate REST API requests as suspicious and block them.

This often happens with web application firewalls (WAFs) or hosting-level security services. While these tools are necessary for website safety, misconfigurations or overly strict settings can cause updating and publishing errors. 

PHP Memory Limit Exhaustion   

WordPress requires enough PHP memory to handle tasks like saving changes, publishing posts, and running plugins. If your hosting server’s PHP memory limit is too low, these processes may fail, leading to errors. 

For example, resource-heavy plugins or themes can quickly exhaust the available memory, making it impossible for WordPress to complete updates or publishing actions. In this case, increasing the PHP memory limit can often resolve this issue. 

Once you identify what’s causing the error, you can take the exact steps to resolve it and keep your site running smoothly.

How to Fix WordPress Updating Failed Error   

Once you understand why your WordPress content fails to update or publish, resolving the issue will be much simpler. Below, we list 8 different ways to help you address and fix this problem on your site:

1. Check Internet Connection & Site URL
2. Update WordPress to the Latest Version
3. Check REST API Status Using Site Health Tool
4. Deactivate all Plugins
5. Examine Firewall & Security Settings
6. Enable & Review WordPress Debug Log
7. Switch to Classic Editor Temporarily
8. Increase PHP Memory Limit.

Check Internet Connection & Site URL 

The first step in solving the updating failed WordPress error is to ensure your internet connection is stable. Even a minor disruption in your connection can stop WordPress from communicating with its server.  

Test your internet by opening another website or running a speed test. If your connection is unstable, try restarting your router or switching to a more reliable network before attempting to update or publish again.   

Next, check your WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) settings. These URLs tell WordPress where your WordPress website is hosted and help it connect properly. If these settings are incorrect, WordPress won’t work as expected. To check and correct these settings:   

Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard. Go to Settings → General. Look at the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) fields. Ensure both URLs are correct and consistent. For example, if your site uses HTTPS, both URLs should start with https://. Don’t forget to save changes if you make any updates.

Update WordPress to Latest Version  

The ‘WordPress updating failed’ or ‘publishing failed error’ sometimes happens when you use an older version of WordPress. Outdated WordPress core files may have bugs that interfere with key functionalities, such as publishing content.  

However, by updating to the latest version of WordPress, you can fix these bugs and potentially resolve the publishing failed issue. Here’s how to update WordPress to the newest version: 

Sign in to your WordPress dashboard. In the dashboard menu, go to Dashboard → Updates. Here, you can see if a new version of WordPress is available. Before updating, we recommend you create a backup of your entire site. This ensures your data is safe if something goes wrong during the update.

TIP: If you’re a Hosted.com user, you can use Hosted.com to export the WordPress site (content & database).

If an update is available, you’ll see a button called Update to version x.x.x. Click this to start the process. WordPress will download and install the latest version automatically. 

Check REST API Status Using Site Health Tool  

The REST API allows WordPress to communicate with the server and perform essential functions, like saving content in the block editor. When the REST API is blocked, these communications fail, leading to errors like WordPress updating failed. 

To identify if the REST API is the problem, WordPress provides a built-in diagnostic tool, the Site Health tool. Access it by heading to your WordPress dashboard and clicking Tools → Site Health from the left-hand menu. Then, switch to the Status tab. 

Here, the Site Health tool will display any issues detected in your WordPress installation. If the REST API is blocked, you may see a message like “The REST API encountered an unexpected result”. This indicates something is interfering with the REST API’s ability to function correctly.

Now, you need to interpret the error messages. The Site Health tool provides specific error messages to help you understand what’s causing the problem. Common messages include: 

• 401 Not Authorized: This typically indicates authentication issues, like expired login sessions. 
• 403 Cookie Nonce is Invalid: This suggests problems with session cookies. 
• Operation Timeout: This means the server is taking too long to respond.

If you interpret these messages, this will guide you toward the appropriate solution. For instance, the cookie problems can be resolved by clearing your browser cache and cookies. Alternatively, access your WordPress website using a private or incognito browsing window. 

Once you identify that the REST API is blocked, check Cloudflare settings to ensure no rules block the REST API. Next, inspect your plugins by deactivating them one at a time to identify the culprit (if you want to disable all of them simultaneously, jump to the next solution). Adjust the settings or replace problematic plugins if required.  

Ensure proper authentication by editing the .htaccess file. If the issue persists and you’re on a Windows server, modify the web.config file for compatibility. First focus on plugins and firewalls; these are often the root cause. If this doesn’t work, move to the next solution. 

Deactivate all Plugins 

Plugins add amazing features to your WordPress site but can sometimes cause conflicts. If you’re seeing the WordPress publishing failed or WordPress updating failed error, a plugin may be interrupting the REST API. To fix this, you can deactivate all your plugins and check if the error disappears.   

Here’s how to do it step by step:   

Log in to the WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins → Installed Plugins. At the top of Plugins, click the checkbox to select all plugins. Next, use the Bulk Actions dropdown menu and choose Deactivate. Then, click Apply to turn off all plugins. This won’t delete your plugins or their settings; it just disables them temporarily.   

After deactivating the plugins, try updating or publishing your content again. If the error is gone, a plugin was causing the problem.   

Go back to the Plugins page and reactivate your plugins one at a time. After reactivating each plugin, test your site to see if the error returns. When the error reappears, you’ve found the problematic plugin.   

Once you pinpoint the plugin causing the issue, check if it has an update or contact the developer for support. If there’s no solution, consider finding an alternative plugin.

Examine Firewall & Security Settings 

Firewalls and security plugins protect your WordPress site from hackers and malware attacks. However, sometimes, they can be too strict and block legitimate requests, including those made by the REST API. These blocks occur if the firewall considers your IP address suspicious or your website is experiencing a DDOS attack.

If you’re using Cloudflare, you can temporarily disable it to see if this resolves the issue. Look for Cloudflare settings under the Domains section of your hosting account dashboard. This will help you confirm whether the firewall is causing the problem. 

However, if you use Sucuri, contact their support team. They can whitelist your IP address or provide details about what’s blocking the REST API. 

If the problem persists after checking your firewall and security settings, we suggest you explore other troubleshooting steps to fix the issue.

Enable & Review WordPress Debug Log   

If the previous solutions didn’t work, try to enable a WordPress debug mode; this may help you figure out what’s going wrong. This log records error messages and warnings, making it easier to identify the root cause. To simplify things for you, we’ve already written about how to enable and check the debug log in this article: WordPress Debug Mode: How to Enable it & Fix Errors

Important:

Once you’ve fixed the issue, turn off debugging to avoid exposing sensitive information. All you need to do is edit the wp-config.php file again and set WP_DEBUG to false.

Switch to Classic Editor Temporarily

If you’re still encountering the WordPress updating failed or publishing failed error, you can switch to the Classic Editor plugin. The Classic Editor works differently from the default WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg) and doesn’t rely as heavily on the REST API.

If you use it temporarily, you can bypass some REST API-related issues to troubleshoot. However, you first need to install this plugin to use it. Here’s how: 

Navigate to the WordPress Admin Dashboard → Plugins → Add New Plugin. In the search bar, write Classic Editor and press Enter. The plugin, created by the WordPress team, should appear at the top. Click Install Now, then click Activate once the installation is complete.

After activation, the Classic Editor will replace the Block Editor for posts and pages. You can now create or edit content using its simpler interface. Then, try updating or publishing your content again to see if the error is resolved.

While the Classic Editor is a great temporary solution, it’s important to address the root cause of the problem. Use it as a backup while you sort out REST API-related problems, like plugin conflicts, firewall settings, or outdated software.

Increase PHP Memory Limit  

If you’re here, the PHP memory limit is probably the root cause of the WordPress updating failed error. The PHP memory limit is how much memory your server allows WordPress to use. 

If this limit is too low, it can cause errors like updating failed, or publishing failed, especially when you run multiple plugins or handle large tasks. Here, increasing the PHP memory limit can help fix these issues. 

To increase your PHP memory limit, edit the wp-config.php file in your WordPress website’s root directory. Use an FTP client like FileZilla or your hosting provider’s File Manager to locate the wp-config.php file.

Add the following snippet just above the line that says /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

This increases the memory limit to 256 MB, enough for most WordPress sites. After adding the code, save the modifications or upload the revised file back to your server if using an FTP client. 

After increasing the PHP memory limit, try updating or publishing your content again. If the error no longer appears, the memory limit was the issue.   

However, if you still experience errors after increasing the PHP memory limit, your hosting provider may have set a server-level memory cap. Contact your host and ask them to increase the limit for you.   

TIP: You can refer to the tutorial, WordPress Memory Limit Management How to Verify & Increase It to find various other methods to increase PHP memory limit.

Preventive Measures

Keeping your WordPress site in good shape can help prevent WordPress updating or publishing failed errors. Follow simple practices to avoid common problems and ensure your site runs smoothly.   

Regularly updating WordPress core files, plugins, and themes is one of the most straightforward ways to prevent issues. Updates often resolve bugs and improve performance and security. Outdated software can cause compatibility problems that lead to errors, so make it a habit to check for updates in your dashboard under Dashboard → Updates.   

Monitoring your site’s health is another important step. WordPress’s built-in Site Health tool provides insights into your site’s performance and highlights potential issues. You can find it under Tools → Site Health in your dashboard. Addressing any recommendations from this tool can keep your site functioning properly.   

Using reliable WordPress Hosting also plays a key role in preventing errors. A good hosting provider ensures your site has the resources to run efficiently, like a high PHP memory limit and stable servers. Find web hosting services specializing in WordPress and offer excellent uptime and security features.

Lastly, always perform routine backups before making changes to your site. Whether updating WordPress, installing a new plugin, or modifying settings, a backup ensures you can quickly restore your site if something goes wrong. By following these preventive measures, you can minimize the risk of errors, improve your site’s performance, and keep your WordPress site secure and stable.

FAQS

What is the REST API in WordPress?

The REST API in WordPress helps your site’s dashboard and server communicate. It allows WordPress to perform tasks and run updates. When this communication is disrupted, errors like WordPress updating or publishing failure can occur. 

Will disabling Gutenberg affect my content? 

No. Disabling Gutenberg (the Block Editor) temporarily and using the Classic Editor plugin won’t delete or harm your content. Your existing posts and pages will remain intact. Switching to the Classic Editor is a helpful workaround to bypass REST API-related errors while you troubleshoot. 

What are some long-term maintenance tips to avoid such errors? 

Avoid these errors long-term by keeping WordPress updated, monitoring your site with the Site Health tool, using high-quality hosting, and avoiding using too many plugins. Regularly optimize your database and remove unused plugins or themes to reduce the chances of conflicts. 

How can I tell if the error is server-related?

Shared hosting plans often have limited resources, such as lower PHP memory limits and execution times. These restrictions can lead to errors, especially if you are running a resource-heavy site with many plugins. In this case, upgrading to a managed WordPress hosting plan or VPS can reduce these problems.

Other Related Tutorials

– How To Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues

– How to Create an FTP Account A Step-by-Step Guide

– How to Update WordPress Plugins: A Step-by-Step Guide

– WordPress Memory Limit Management: How To Verify & Increase it

– WordPress Debug Mode: How to Enable It & Fix Errors