WordPress Multisite Stopped Publishing New Pages: Troubleshooting Guide

WordPress Multisite is a powerful feature that allows users to create a network of sites under a single WordPress installation. However, issues can arise, such as the inability to publish new pages. This guide outlines the common reasons for this problem and provides step-by-step solutions to get your multisite back on track.

1. Check User Permissions

One of the first things to investigate is whether the user account has the appropriate permissions to publish new pages.

1. Super Admin Rights: Ensure that the user account has Super Admin rights. In a multisite setup, only Super Admins can manage all sites and publish new pages.
2. Site-Specific Roles: If the user is only an administrator on a specific site, confirm that they have the capability to publish pages. Navigate to Users > All Users and check the role assignments.

2. Examine Network Settings

Sometimes, network settings can interfere with publishing capabilities.

1. Site Status: Go to the Network Admin dashboard and check if the site is marked as "Inactive." If it is, reactivate it by clicking Sites > All Sites, selecting the site, and clicking "Activate."
2. Plugins and Themes: Deactivate all plugins and switch to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-One) to see if the issue persists. If pages publish successfully, reactivate the plugins one by one to identify the culprit.

3. Inspect for Plugin Conflicts

Certain plugins may conflict with multisite functionality, leading to publishing issues.

1. Common Culprits: Look for caching plugins, security plugins, or any that modify the editor. Temporarily disable these plugins to see if the problem resolves.
2. Update Plugins: Ensure all plugins are up-to-date, as developers frequently release updates to fix compatibility issues.

4. Check for Error Messages

If you’re encountering errors when trying to publish new pages, take note of any messages displayed.

Debugging Mode: Enable debugging in WordPress by adding the following line to your wp-config.php file:
php
Copy code
define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

1. This will help you identify PHP errors or conflicts that may be causing the issue.

5. Review .htaccess File

The .htaccess file controls how URLs are handled in WordPress, including multisite installations.

Check Rules: Make sure your .htaccess file contains the correct rules for a multisite setup. The default rules look like this:
plaintext
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RewriteEngine On

RewriteBase /

RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d

RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

2. Backup and Restore: If you suspect corruption, back up your current .htaccess file and restore it to the default rules.

Conclusion

If your WordPress Multisite has stopped publishing new pages, these troubleshooting steps should help you diagnose and resolve the issue. By checking user permissions, inspecting network settings, and looking for plugin conflicts, you can restore functionality and keep your network of sites running smoothly.

FAQ

1. What is WordPress Multisite?
WordPress Multisite is a feature that allows you to run multiple sites from a single WordPress installation.

2. Why can't I publish new pages on my multisite?
This can occur due to user permission issues, plugin conflicts, or network settings.

3. How can I troubleshoot the publishing issue?
Start by checking user roles, inspecting network settings, examining plugins, and reviewing error messages.

4. What should I do if plugins are causing conflicts?
Deactivate the plugins one by one to identify the problematic plugin and consider alternatives or updates.

5. How do I enable debugging in WordPress?
You can enable debugging by adding define( 'WP_DEBUG', true ); to your wp-config.php file.