Most WordPress sites don’t break overnight. They slowly fall apart.
I see this again and again. Someone reaches out because their site is slow, buggy, not ranking on Google, or just feels “off.” And almost every time, they tell me:
“It was working fine before.”
Usually, it was. Until updates piled up, plugins conflicted, or small shortcuts turned into bigger problems.
Here’s exactly what I look at first when I take over a broken WordPress website.
1. I Secure the Site First
Before making any changes, I ensure the site is secure.
This might not sound exciting, but it’s important. Many broken WordPress sites are either hacked or are very close to being hacked. I often find outdated plugins, old themes, or weak login setups.
What I look for are signs of malware, strange admin users, or files that don’t belong there. I’ve learned the hard way that fixing layouts or speed issues before security can make things worse. If the site isn’t secure, nothing else matters yet.
2. I Take a Full Backup
This is non-negotiable.
Before touching anything, I take a full backup of the files and database. Broken sites are usually fragile. Removing one plugin or updating one setting can break something unexpected.
Having a backup means I can work confidently without worrying about making things worse. It also gives peace of mind, which matters more than people realize.
3. I Test Speed & Performance
Speed issues are usually what people notice first.
I run performance tests to see how fast the site loads and what’s weighing it down. Most of the time, it’s the usual suspects: large images, no caching, and page builders doing far more than necessary.
A slow WordPress site doesn’t just annoy visitors. It hurts SEO, increases bounce rates, and kills conversions.
4. I Review All Plugins
This is where I find most of the mess.
I go through every plugin and ask one simple question: Does this actually need to be here? Many plugins were added just to test a feature and never removed. Others overlap with each other or haven’t been updated in years.
I see this all the time, sites with 25+ plugins when they really need 10 or fewer. Cleaning this up often improves performance instantly.
5. I Check the Theme & Page Builder Setup
Next, I look at the theme and how the site is built.
Whether it’s Elementor, Bricks, Gutenberg, or something else, problems usually come from how the builder is used, not the builder itself. I often see custom changes made directly to the main theme or layouts built without any structure.
When the foundation is messy, even small updates can break the site.
6. I Test Mobile Layouts
Most visitors are on mobile, but many broken WordPress sites are designed like everyone is still on a desktop.
I open the site on different screen sizes and look for spacing issues, unreadable text, broken menus, and buttons that are hard to tap. These problems are easy to miss if you only check on a laptop.
If mobile users struggle, Google notices and rankings suffer.
7. I Do a Basic SEO Check
Sometimes the site feels broken because search engines don’t understand it.
I check page titles, meta descriptions, indexing issues, broken links, and thin content. I also look at how pages are connected internally. Even a clean, fast WordPress site won’t perform well if SEO basics are ignored.
This step often explains why traffic dropped or never picked up in the first place.
8. I Create a Clear Fix Plan
Only after checking everything do I start fixing things.
By this point, I have a clear picture of what’s actually broken, what’s slowing the site down, and what changes will make the biggest difference. I don’t rush into redesigns unless they’re truly needed.
Most of the time, smart cleanup and proper optimization go much further than starting from scratch.
Why I See So Many Broken WordPress Sites
Most sites stay broken because people jump straight into design changes.
- They change themes.
- They install more plugins.
- They tweak colors and fonts.
But they never fix the foundation.
Final Thoughts
A broken WordPress website isn’t a failure. Most of the time, it’s just been neglected or built without a clear plan.
When the basics are done right, the site becomes faster, more stable, easier to manage, and ready to grow.
That’s what I aim for every time I take over a WordPress site.
Need Help Fixing a WordPress Website?
If your site feels slow, unstable, or messy, I can help clean up and fix WordPress websites properly with a focus on performance, SEO, and long-term stability.
