A complete guide to solutions for errors when activating WordPress plugins after switching to PHP 8.3!

Enable PHP 8.3,WordpressInstantly out of control? These plugins have screwed countless webmasters!

I enabled PHP 8.3, but the website crashed with a white screen and I couldn’t log into the backend?
It's not that you have a problem with your operation, but that you gotWordPress pluginof thunder.

Now let’s take a look at those “mine-level” WordPress plug-ins that fail under PHP8.3, and by the way, tell you which plug-ins you can safely replace. This is absolutely useful information, and it is recommended to save it!

Is PHP 8.3 an upgrade or a disaster? Let’s be honest first

WordPress is indeed working hard to be compatible with the latest versions of PHP.
PHP 8.3 brings a lot of new features and performance optimizations, which sounds like good news, right?

But the reality is that many plug-in developers have "run away"!
The old plug-ins were not updated in a timely manner, resulting in the entire site being completely paralyzed as if the power was pulled out when PHP was upgraded.

You may be wondering: Why did my website crash after upgrading PHP after being used for so long?
Because those plug-ins have long been unable to keep up with the pace of the times.

Next we reveal the culprit 👇

❌ clean-options: From cleaning options to cleaning sites

The original intention of this plugin is very good, it is used to clean up unused options in the WordPress database.

But do you know that its code architecture is still in the "PHP 5.6 era"?

Under PHP 8.3, problems such as function deprecation and type errors occurred, which in serious cases directly caused database connection failures.

The worst part is that it performs database-level operations. If something goes wrong, the wrong data may be deleted directly, and there is nothing you can do about it!

❌ my-custom-functions: functions you write that can bring down your website

This plugin allows you to add custom PHP functions in the background. Doesn’t it sound super convenient?

However, under PHP 8.3, function compatibility issues and syntax parsing changes will cause it to fail to load, and even WordPress can't stop it.Deathattack".

Some users reported that they added a simple short code, but the front and back ends were all white screens, and they could neither log in nor exit.

❌ social-auto-poster: I wanted to synchronize social media, but ended up missing social media.

This social media automatic publishing tool was once a favorite of webmasters, but it has long been discontinued.

After enabling PHP 8.3, a large number of old API interfaces that it uses directly report errors, and several used libraries do not support the new version of PHP at all.

What’s even more frightening is that its backend error logs are overflowing, seriously slowing down the website.

❌ wpdbspringclean: Clean the database, but end up cleaning yourself too?

This plugin is intended to optimize the database, which sounds similar to clean-options, but its problems are:

Direct manipulation $wpdb Objects use a lot of syntax that is no longer supported, such as create_function() and unsafe SQL execution methods.

Running under PHP 8.3, it is like a "database bomb", either reporting errors or freezing.

❌ laobuluo-baidu-submit: Baidu crawling has not yet arrived, the website has crashed

This Chinese plug-in is actually designed for submitting URLs to Baidu, but its developer has long stopped updating it.

The code is full of variousdeprecated function, executed in a PHP 8.3 environment, it basically self-destructs.

Moreover, once it crashes, your website's inclusion in Baidu may be cleared, which is simply a loss of both the wife and the army.

❌ drafts-scheduler: Scheduled drafts? Scheduled self-destruction is better

This plug-in is responsible for scheduling the publication time of articles, but the function used for its scheduled task scheduling has long been abandoned in the new version of PHP.

When executing scheduled tasks, errors often occur, which can result in publishing failure at the least and "paralyzed" the entire scheduled task system at the worst.

The article you worked hard to write may be stuck in the "draft" state forever.

✅ Are there any reliable plug-ins that can replace them? Of course there are!

I will provide you with an alternative solution, so that your site can be easily transformed and get rid of the landmine plugins👇

✅ Alternative to clean-options: AAA Option Optimizer

It is an advanced version of clean-options with better compatibility and supports PHP 8.3.

The operation interface is also clearer, and it will prompt whether to back up data before cleaning to avoid accidental deletion.

Even better, it also has smart recommendations to tell you which options should be cleaned up, which really saves you trouble.

✅ Replace laobuluo-baidu-submit: Webmasters help Baidu submit

This plug-in was developed by Chinese people and is specially adapted to Baidu's latest push API.

It supports active push, automatic push, historical link push and other functions. The most important thing is that the code is clean and compatible with the new PHP version.

You can upgrade PHP while walking easilySEOfront line.

✅ Alternative to drafts-scheduler: content-update-scheduler

This is a professional-level content scheduling plug-in that can not only schedule drafts, but also schedule updates of published content.

Moreover, it uses the hooks and scheduling functions officially recommended by WP, and its stability is beyond doubt.

It supports PHP 8.3 and is very efficient, making it suitable for content sites, blogs, and information sites.

💡 If you have upgraded to PHP 8.3 and something went wrong? These troubleshooting methods can save your life!

If WordPress displays a white screen and you cannot access the backend, it is not necessarily the end of the world.
The following methods can help you quicklyPositioningProblem plugin:

🧪 Enable debug mode to find the real culprit

Use FTP or your host's file manager to open the wp-config.php file, find this line of code:

define('WP_DEBUG', false);

Change it to:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

This way WordPress will record the error message in wp-content/debug.log In the file, you can check which "plug-in boss" is causing trouble while drinking milk tea.

🧹 One-click deactivation of plugins: Unlock the backend using FTP or the host backend

If you can't open the backend, you can only use physical violence:

1. Access via FTP or your host's file manager /wp-content/plugins/ Folders;
2. Find the plugin you suspect is the culprit, such as clean-options, rename it, for example, to clean-options-disabled;
3. Then refresh the website backend and access will be restored in most cases!

Together with the debug log, you can pinpoint which plugins caused the PHP 8.3 crash.

🔙 If it doesn't work, downgrade the PHP version to save your life

If you cannot find the problem and are in a hurry to restore the website, it is recommended to temporarily downgrade PHP to version 8.1 or 8.2.
Remember to back up your website first to prevent operational errors. Once you have confirmed that all plugins support PHP 8.3, you can upgrade with confidence.

If you have already enabled debugging, disabled plugins, and even used the "downgrade method", but the problem is still mysterious, then you must read these two practical tutorials 👇

👉 What to do if WordPress errors occur? Use the Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin to quickly troubleshoot!
Teach you how to use the officially recommended plug-in "Isolate Conflict Sources" to quickly locate problematic plug-ins without any more guesswork!

👉 WordPress Fatal Error: Error when logging into the backend to install plugins or themes? One trick to solve it!
Detailed explanation of the common causes and solutions to "fatal errors", so you can get started quickly even if you are a novice!

Click here to check it out, learn these tips, and WordPress will never crash your website again💥💪

PHP upgrade is the trend, but choosing the wrong plugin is a fatal mistake

From the above examples, we can see that when it comes to plug-ins, you must choose the right version and the right developer.

If you want to thrive in the new PHP environment, you can no longer rely on old plugins.

Otherwise, the site you have worked so hard to build may be completely ruined because of a small plug-in.

Technological progress is unstoppable, so choose your plugin wisely

I always believe that a webmaster's technology stack is like a ship, PHP is the engine, and plug-ins are the helmsman.
If you have a broken engine and give bad commands, your boat will capsize even on the calmest lake.

What we need to do is keep pace with the times and embrace a stable, secure and active plug-in ecosystem.
Don't be greedy and use junk plug-ins, as that will dig holes for your website.

Therefore, please think twice before upgrading, test first, and be ruthless in changing plugins.