Imagine logging into your WordPress admin dashboard only to find everything looks…off. You know that feeling when you see buttons scattered all over the place, text misaligned, and the beautiful design you spent hours perfecting is completely out of whack. It’s like your WordPress site has decided to take a little detour. But don’t panic just yet! Broken CSS in WordPress is actually more common than you might think. The good news is, it’s usually easy to fix with a few simple steps. So, take a deep breath, and let’s dive into troubleshooting this issue together. By the end of this post, you’ll have your site looking as it should again-smooth, stylish, and user-friendly. Ready? Let’s get started!

What Causes Broken CSS in WordPress?

Before fixing the issue, it’s essential to understand what might be breaking your CSS. Broken CSS in the WordPress admin area can result from plugin conflicts, insecure file loading, theme interference, caching issues, CDN problems, incorrect file permissions, corrupt files, or even browser extensions. Pinpointing the cause will help you resolve the issue more efficiently.

Step 1: Check for Plugin Conflicts

Plugins are powerful but sometimes problematic. Poorly coded plugins or even conflicts between well-coded ones can disrupt your dashboard’s CSS.

Deactivate All Plugins

  1. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
  2. Pick ‘Deactivate‘ from the Bulk Actions menu after selecting all your plugins.
  3. Refresh the admin area. If the CSS issue is fixed, a plugin is probably the culprit.

Reactivate Plugins One by One

  1. Reactivate each plugin individually by clicking ‘Activate’ beneath it.
  2. After each activation, refresh the admin area to see if the issue reappears.
  3. Once you identify the problematic plugin, check for updates or consider finding an alternative.

 

Step 2: Loading Insecure Files on HTTPS

Switching your site to HTTPS but still loading CSS files over HTTP can cause issues. Modern browsers block insecure content, breaking your CSS.

Fix Mixed Content Errors

  1. Go to Settings > General in WordPress.
  2. Make sure both the WordPress URL and the Site Address use HTTPS.
  3. To enable HTTPS, insert the following code into your wp-config.php file:

 

define(‘FORCE_SSL_ADMIN’, true);

if (strpos($_SERVER[‘HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO’], ‘https’) !== false) {

    $_SERVER[‘HTTPS’] = ‘on’;

}

  1. Alternatively, use a plugin like Really Simple SSL for automatic HTTPS configuration.

 

Step 3: Check for Theme Interference

Sometimes, your theme may be the root cause of the CSS chaos. How to diagnose and fix it is as follows.

Switch to a Default Theme

  1. Select Appearance > Themes.
  2. Activate a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
  3. Refresh the admin area. Your theme is the problem if the CSS is corrected.

Fix the Theme Conflict

  1. Explore updates under Appearance > Themes.
  2. Review customizations, especially additional CSS or functions.php changes.
  3. If needed, contact the theme developer or switch to a different theme.

 

Step 4: Fix Caching Issues

Caching is excellent for speed but can sometimes lead to broken CSS in the admin area.

Clear Your Browser Cache

  1. Open your browser settings and clear cached files.
  2. Reload the WordPress admin area to check for improvements.

Clear WordPress Cache

  1. Use your caching plugin’s ‘Clear Cache’ option.
  2. Refresh the admin area to see if the issue is resolved.

 

Step 5: Fix CDN Issues

A misconfigured Content Delivery Network (CDN) can also cause CSS mishaps.

Purge CDN Cache

  1. Log in to your CDN account.
  2. Navigate to the caching settings and click ‘Purge Everything’.
  3. Reload your admin dashboard to see if the problem is resolved.

Troubleshoot CSS Issues in WordPress Admin

Step 6: Fix Incorrect File Permissions

Improper file permissions may prevent CSS files from being loaded correctly.

Set Correct Permissions

  1. Use an FTP client to establish a connection to your WordPress website.
  2. Right-click the wp-admin folder and set directories to 755 and files to 644.
  3. Apply changes recursively to ensure all subdirectories and files are updated.
  4. Reload your admin dashboard to check for improvements.

 

Step 7: Repair Corrupt Files

Corrupted WordPress core files can also wreak havoc on your admin dashboard.

Replace Corrupted Files

  1. Go to wordpress.org to download a new version of WordPress.
  2. After extracting the ZIP file, use FTP to upload the contents to your website.
  3. Overwrite existing files when prompted.
  4. To see whether there have been any improvements, refresh the admin area.

 

Step 8: Check Browser Extensions

The loading of CSS may be hampered by some browser addons, particularly ad blockers.  These extensions often block scripts or stylesheets they perceive as unnecessary or intrusive. This can result in missing styles or broken layouts in your WordPress dashboard. To check if the problem still exists, briefly disable all browser extensions and then reload the website. If an extension is identified as the cause, check if you can whitelist your site or adjust the settings to allow essential files to load.

Disable Problematic Extensions

  1. Temporarily disable all browser extensions.
  2. Reload the admin dashboard to see if the issue is resolved.
  3. To find the offender, reactivate each extension individually.
  4. Adjust the extension’s settings or switch to an alternative.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you’ve tried everything above without success, consider these additional steps:

Update Permalinks: Occasionally, WordPress rewrite rules can prevent CSS files from loading correctly. Refresh your permalinks to update the .htaccess file without risking errors. To do this, navigate to the Settings » Permalinks page in your WordPress dashboard and click the ‘Save Changes’ button without altering any settings. This action clears and resets the URL rewriting rules, which can often resolve broken CSS issues.

Scan for Malware: Sometimes, a hacking attempt or malware infection could cause your admin area to display incorrectly or break CSS. Use a trusted security plugin to scan your WordPress site for potential malware. If an infection is found, follow the plugin’s instructions to clean your site or consult with a professional for assistance. Preventive measures, such as installing a firewall, can also help avoid future problems.

Contact Your Hosting Provider: If none of the above solutions work, your hosting provider might be able to help. They can check server configurations, logs, and permissions to identify underlying issues. Many hosting providers offer specialized WordPress support to assist with such technical challenges.

Seek Professional Assistance: When all else fails, consider reaching out to a WordPress maintenance company like Wpcaps. Their expertise in resolving complex WordPress issues ensures that your site runs smoothly and error-free.

wordpress partner wpcaps

Final Thoughts

Fixing broken CSS in the WordPress admin dashboard might seem daunting, but following these steps will have you back on track in no time. If the issue persists or you’re not comfortable troubleshooting on your own, Wpcaps is here to help. As a trusted WordPress maintenance company, we specialize in resolving all WordPress-related issues, from CSS errors to advanced technical challenges.

Ready to fix your WordPress woes? Contact Wpcaps today and let us handle the rest!