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If your WordPress website encounters the cURL error 28, it signals a timeout issue in the communication between the client, server, and associated databases when the WordPress REST API makes requests. This error can adversely impact your site’s performance and user experience, underscoring the importance of prompt resolution.
The cURL library in PHP facilitates communication between your WordPress site and external websites. A failed cURL request can disrupt this communication, necessitating swift troubleshooting. Fortunately, various methods exist to debug and resolve the cURL error 28 in WordPress.
Table of Contents
In this article, we will explore different approaches to identify and address the root causes triggering the cURL error 28 on your website. To begin, let’s delve into the meaning of this error message and examine the potential factors that lead to its occurrence.
What Is cURL Error 28: Connection Timed Out?
cURL error 28 in WordPress is a manifestation of connection timeouts within the WordPress REST API, rendering the site inaccessible. This issue arises when there is a breakdown in data transfer. The root causes of the cURL timeout error often include problems such as firewall issues, misconfigured SSL settings, conflicts with plugins, and the presence of outdated software. Addressing these factors is crucial for resolving the cURL error 28 and restoring proper functionality to the WordPress site.
To determine if you are facing the ringlet error 28, navigate to Tools → Site Health within your WordPress admin dashboard. Look for specific dispatches related to the WordPress ringlet error 28 in this section. exemplifications of similar dispatches include:
- The REST API request failed due to an error. Error: cURL error 28: Connection timed out after x milliseconds (http_request_failed)”
- The loopback request to your site failed, indicating that features relying on them are currently not working as expected. Error: cURL error 28: Connection timed out after x milliseconds (http_request_failed).”
By checking these messages in the Site Health section, you can confirm whether the encountered issue is indeed the cURL error 28 and proceed with appropriate troubleshooting steps.
What Causes cURL Error 28: Connection Timed Out (Fix cURL Error 28)
- Firewall Issues: The firewall functionality on your WordPress site may identify a specific cURL request as suspicious, causing interruptions in the file transfer process and triggering the cURL connection error.
- Plugin Conflicts: Plugins in WordPress often initiate cURL requests for data transfer. If a plugin sends an excessive number of requests or takes too long to complete them, it can provoke the cURL connection error in the Site Health section.
- Incorrect SSL Configuration: SSL protocols on your website may be configured to block valid requests, aiming to maintain secure connections. This misconfiguration can impede the smooth execution of cURL requests, leading to the timed-out error.
- Outdated Software: Server configurations running outdated versions of PHP and the cURL library can contribute to the operation timed-out error. Keeping these components up-to-date is crucial for optimal performance and compatibility.
- Insufficient PHP Memory Limit: The server’s timeout limit might not be adequate to complete the data transfer process. This limitation in PHP memory can result in the cURL connection timing out.
How to Fix cURL Error 28: Connection Timed Out
We have outlined six solutions to address potential causes of the WordPress cURL error 28. We recommend systematically going through each solution to identify and implement the one that proves most effective for resolving the issue in your specific situation.
1. Disable Firewall in the Security Plugin
A WordPress firewall plugin serves as an additional security layer for your website, safeguarding it from potentially harmful network traffic. However, at times, the firewall’s heightened vigilance may wrongly identify legitimate outgoing cURL requests as suspicious, preventing their successful transmission to the server.
This misidentification can lead to the cURL error 28, causing the operation to time out. To determine if your WordPress security plugin is the culprit, temporarily disable its web application firewall feature or deactivate the entire plugin.
After a brief interval, reactivate the firewall. If the error persists, consider trying a different security plugin or reaching out to the current plugin’s developers for assistance. In some cases, additional steps such as adding specific IP addresses to your security modules’ allowlist might be necessary to bypass potential blocking attempts.
2. Check Other WordPress Plugins
If disabling your WordPress security plugin does not resolve the operation timed-out error, examine other active software components on your website. WordPress plugins often initiate cURL requests for data transfer processes, and it’s plausible that one of them is causing the timeout issue.
To identify the problematic plugin, follow these steps: (Fix cURL Error 28)
- Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins in your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Select all plugins by checking the box in the top left corner, then choose “Deactivate” from the Bulk actions dropdown box and click “Apply.”
If this resolves the timeout error, reactivate your plugins one by one until you pinpoint the one causing the issue.
In situations where the error hinders access to the WordPress admin dashboard, use an FTP client like FileZilla or your host’s File Manager to manually deactivate the plugins. Locate the plugins folder in your root directory and rename it to deactivate all plugins. Once you regain access to your site, reactivate the plugins individually to identify the problematic ones.
3. Reconfigure the SSL Certificate
An SSL certificate (Secure Sockets Layer) plays a critical role in securing data transmission between a user’s browser and the server by encrypting the information. Installing an SSL certificate allows the implementation of the HTTPS protocol on your website, ensuring secure communication between your server and visitors’ browsers.
When the SSL certificate is misconfigured, it may incorrectly interpret a valid cURL request as a potential threat, leading to the cURL error code 28. To investigate this possibility, use an SSL checker tool like Qualys to run your website’s domain name through a verification process.
If the tool identifies any issues, consider re-installing your SSL certificate. Alternatively, if you receive a free SSL certificate as part of your hosting plan, reach out to your web host for assistance in resolving any configuration issues.
4. Check the cURL version
In the tone-hosted WordPress terrain, maintaining the core software up-to-date is essential for optimal point performance. Failure to do so can lead to colorful issues, including the ringlet error 28 Operation Timed Out. To ensure your website functions seamlessly, confirm whether it operates on the rearmost interpretation of ringlet through the Site Health runner. Follow this way
- Go to the Site Health page in your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Select the “Info” tab and expand the “Server” section.
- Pay attention to the “PHP version” and “cURL version” fields.
Additionally, consult WordPress’s recommended extension versions to guarantee compatibility with your current PHP version and other web software. For example, if your PHP version is 8.0.28, ensure that cURL is at version 7.29.0 or higher for optimal performance. Regularly checking and updating both WordPress and associated components helps prevent issues such as the cURL error 28.
Contact your hosting company for upgrade assistance if both versions aren’t compatible.
5. Increase the PHP Limits
As previously mentioned, WordPress plugins frequently employ cURL requests for various tasks, and these tasks can be memory-intensive, especially when handling substantial datasets or complex operations. If the PHP memory limit is too low or the time limit is too brief, cURL requests may fail, leading to REST API processing timeouts.
To resolve the cURL error 28 in such cases, consider increasing the server limits. Begin by checking your current server limits using the Server tab on the Site Health page. Although WordPress typically sets the memory limit and max execution time at 32 MB and 30 seconds, respectively, your web host might allocate higher maximum values than the default.
You can increase these limits by modifying the .htaccess or wp-config.php file, adjusting settings in the hPanel PHP Configuration, or upgrading your hosting plan. For Hostinger users, the second method is often the simplest. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Navigate to Advanced → PHP Configuration from hPanel.
- Select PHP Options and locate the memory limit field.
By adjusting these PHP limits, you can mitigate the cURL error 28 and enhance the processing of REST API requests on your WordPress site.
- Choose the highest amount from the dropdown box.
- Find the maxExecutionTime field and increase the default value as needed. Click Save once you’re done.
6. Contact Your Web Hosting Provider
If the earlier troubleshooting methods prove unsuccessful, it’s advisable to reach out to your hosting company for assistance. As your web host, they possess the expertise to identify potential issues contributing to the error, such as conflicting security modules or server configuration problems.
Conclusion
Facing the cURL error 28: Operation Timed Out on your WordPress website can be a challenging hurdle. However, armed with the appropriate knowledge, you can efficiently navigate the troubleshooting process.
In summary, consider these six effective solutions we’ve explored to address and resolve this issue:
- Disable the security plugin’s firewall.
- Examine other WordPress plugins for conflicts.
- Reconfigure the SSL certificate.
- Verify and update the cURL version.
- Adjust PHP limits to accommodate resource-intensive tasks.
- Seek assistance from your hosting provider.
