Stuck With ‘Are You Sure You Want To Do This’ In WordPress? Here are 7 Ways To Fix It Fast!

You’re working on your WordPress site, changing a few things, or maybe updating your site and out of nowhere, you get hit with a baffling message: “Are You Sure You Want to Do This?” We know, it’s confusing and can interrupt your workflow. 

But don’t fret—this is just a common bump in the road, and many folks have encountered this issue. We’ve laid out some fixes to clear this hurdle and get your site back up and running in no time.

TL;DR:  The “Are You Sure You Want to Do This?” error in WordPress is often caused by session or permission issues related to security tokens called nonces. Ensure your site hasn’t been tampered with by scanning for malware and backing up your data before troubleshooting.

What is the “Are you sure you want to do this” error in WordPress

This error is one of those messages that can leave you scratching your head because it doesn’t tell you much about what’s wrong much like the 500 internal server error. 

You might see this pop up when you’re trying to install a plugin, switch a theme, or upload a file. It shows up when WordPress can’t finish what you’re trying to do.

Here’s the scoop: this error usually concerns session issues or permissions. It might happen if your login session has expired or if a conflict with a plugin or theme exists. 

Another common culprit is a nonce, a type of security token that WordPress uses to ensure actions are safe and to protect against certain cyber attacks. If these nonces are missing, invalid, or expired, WordPress might stop the action.

The tricky part is that the error message doesn’t tell you exactly what’s wrong, which can be confusing. But the good news is that it’s usually fixable with a few troubleshooting steps. 

Make sure you scan your site for Malware and take a backup of your site before starting your troubleshooting process.

1. Check the security of your WordPress site

Start by making sure you’re logged in with an admin account so you have complete access. To keep your site safe, use security plugins to scan for any issues or malware. Make sure your SSL certificate is active—this keeps connections secure. 

Regularly update your passwords to make them strong, and set up a firewall for extra protection. Lastly, keep an eye on user activity logs to spot anything unusual.

2. Clear cache

Sometimes, clearing out temporary files can help fix issues. Clear your browser cache and cookies first. If your hosting service offers server-side caching, clear that too. Afterward, restart your browser and try your action again to see if the problem is gone.

3. Check if the file you may be trying to upload is the right format

If you’re trying to upload a file, check that it’s a format WordPress supports, like a ZIP file. Make sure the file size isn’t too big for WordPress or your hosting limits. 

Try uploading a different file to see if the format is the issue. If it’s an uncommon file type, consider compressing or converting it to a more standard format.

4. Disable plugins

Plugins can sometimes cause problems. Temporarily deactivate all plugins to see if one is causing the error. If you can’t access your WordPress dashboard, use an FTP client to rename the plugins folder, which will deactivate all of them. 

If the error goes away, one of the plugins is likely the culprit.

4.1 Find the problematic plugin

Once you know a plugin is causing the issue, rename each plugin folder one at a time to find the problematic one. When you find it, check for updates or reach out to the developer for support.

5. Revert to a default theme

Switch your theme to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four. If the error disappears, the issue might be caused by your previous theme’s code. Contact the theme developer to see if they can help fix it.

6. Increase PHP memory limit

Sometimes WordPress runs out of memory, causing errors. You can increase the PHP memory limit by editing the wp-config.php file. This gives WordPress more memory to work with.

7. Update WordPress manually

If nothing else works, try updating WordPress manually. Download the latest version from the WordPress repository. 

Before starting, back up your entire site, especially the database and wp-config.php file. 

Use FTP to upload the new files, skipping the wp-content directory since it contains your themes and plugins. 

Make sure your plugins and themes are compatible with the new version, and update them if needed. Finally, check your site to ensure everything is functioning correctly.

Best practices to prevent future issues

Regular updates

Make it a habit to update WordPress, along with your plugins and themes regularly. These updates help fix bugs and keep everything secure.

Frequent backups

Back up your site often to ensure you don’t lose important data if something goes wrong.

Strong passwords

Use strong passwords that are hard to guess and keep them secure.

Limit active plugins

Try to limit the number of plugins you have active at any time, as too many can cause conflicts.

Choose reliable themes and plugins

Opt for themes and plugins that are well-reviewed and reliable.

Hosting requirements

Ensure your hosting provider meets WordPress requirements by double-checking their compatibility.

Security checks

Regularly check your site for any security issues and fix them right away.

Monitor site activity

Keep an eye out for anything unusual on your site, like errors or strange activity.

Organized file management

Be organized with your file uploads and media to keep everything easy to manage.

Parting thoughts

Running into errors is a normal part of using WordPress, so don’t stress. Keep your site healthy with regular maintenance, like updates and backups. If you hit a snag, reach out to WordPress communities or support—they’re there to help.

FAQs

How to fix a WordPress error?

To fix a WordPress error, identify the specific issue first by checking error messages or logs. Then, try common solutions like clearing your cache, disabling plugins, switching themes, or updating WordPress and its components.

Are you sure you want to do this error in WordPress?

The “Are You Sure You Want to Do This?” error usually happens when WordPress can’t verify a request. Fix it by ensuring you’re logged in, checking for expired sessions, and ensuring that your plugins and themes are up to date.

How do I debug a WordPress error?

To debug a WordPress error, enable debugging in your wp-config.php file by setting define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);. This will show error messages that can help you pinpoint the issue.

How do I check for malware on WordPress?

Check for malware on WordPress by using a security plugin like MalCare. These tools scan your site for malicious code and other vulnerabilities.

How do I fix a WordPress server error?

To fix a WordPress server error, first check your server logs for specifics. Common fixes include increasing PHP memory limits, checking file permissions, or contacting your hosting provider for support.