Accessing Website Admin/Dashboard

HI Ian,
If you’ve had a failed attempt to update WordPress, you should do a manual update which in most cases resolves the white screen problem.

Before you do anything, make sure you do a full backup of your site files and database.
Then, follow the instructions here https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Updating_WordPress#Manual_Update

If that doesn’t resolve the problem, you should try disabling your plugins (see here https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-deactivate-all-plugins-when-not-able-to-access-wp-admin/ ). If, after disabling the plugins you can access the admin, then the problem is down to an individual plugin. Make sure all your plugins are up to date, and compatibile with 4.7

Hope this helps,

Andy

Thanks for that. Had seen that on the forums so am in the process of trying! Fingers crossed.
Regards

Hi Ian,

Looking more into it, I think you’re probably having a problem with the database after the update. Sometimes the database needs to be upgraded – hence the redirect to upgrade.php. You can see a discussion on this problem here https://wordpress.stackexchange.com/questions/104103/not-able-to-access-admin-panel-after-updating-wordpress-database-fails

In particular, you might try the following solution posted in that discussion (make sure you have a database backup first!):

1. Go into phpmyadmin
2. Select all the tables and run repair
Now go back to yousite.com/wp-admin and when prompted for database update accept. Voila! It will run and complete and work this time.

It sounds like the right solution to me, given that your upgrade.php is obviously not working.

Hi Andy,
Thanks again for that.
So, you reckon try to upgrade the database first? As in, try what you suggested in that second message before the first?
Regards

Hi Ian, no – definitely try to manually update WordPress first. The next approach was for it that doesn’t work for you.

Often when you update WordPress you have to automatically run a repair on the database (which is the upgrade.php file which you’re getting redirected to), but you’ll probably find that a manual update of the WordPress version will fix your problem.

If it doesn’t then try to repair the database.

Obviously, in both cases, make sure you have backups.

Hope that helps,
Andy

Hi Andy,

Thanks for your help.

I seem to have sorted it… This is what happened:

i) Backed-Up
ii) De-activated all plug-ins. Did through file manager as for some reason wasn’t able to rename using FTP
iii) Thought I would try to login again. Got the prompt that database needed updating. Followed the link and said this was completed successfully.
iv) Tried to login again. Got error message saying there was problem with w3 cache plugin.
v) Message said to uninstall or remove the plugin and some associated php files.
vi) Renamed the following through the file manager:

– wp-content/plugins/w3-total-cache
– wp-content/advanced-cache.php
– wp-content/db.php
– wp-content/object-cache.php

vii) Tried logging in and it worked!

I do seem to remember reading somewhere that was a compatibility issue between w3 cache plugin and the new wordpress update.

Of course I have lost the benefit of that plugin. Other than that, it seems to have worked as hoped. Is there anything else I should check?

Is there any way to fix, or wait for an update of the plugin to address the issue?

Thanks again for your help.
Regards

Ian

Hi Ian,
That’s good news, that you’ve managed to get up and running again. The W3 Cache plugin is causing a lot of problems at the moment in terms of compatibility. I’d look into other alternatives if I were you. Take a look at this post from Yoast which gives some background and alternatives:
https://yoast.com/w3-total-cache/

Will take a look.
Appreciate your help with this. Many Thanks.