> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pinsearch.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Troubleshoot WordPress publishing failures

> Resolve WordPress publishing failures caused by missing sites, credentials, permissions, API access, media uploads, or network issues.

If **Send to WordPress** fails, the problem is usually with the selected site, WordPress credentials, user permissions, media upload, or a temporary connection issue.

Use this guide to find the most likely cause and decide whether to retry, update your WordPress connection, or export manually.

## Start with the Publish panel

Check the basics first:

* A WordPress site is selected in **Site**.
* The status is correct in **Status**.
* The article has a title and body.
* A featured image is selected.
* The latest edits are saved.

If **Send to WordPress** is disabled, connect or select a WordPress site before trying again.

## Common failure causes

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The WordPress site is missing or not selected">
    If the panel shows **No site**, connect a site in **Settings** first.

    If you have more than one connected site, choose the correct destination in **Site**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="WordPress rejected the username or application password">
    Reopen the WordPress connection in **Settings** and check the **Username** and **Application Password**.

    Use a WordPress application password, not your normal account login password.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The WordPress user cannot create posts">
    WordPress may accept the login but reject post creation if the user role does not have enough permission.

    Use a WordPress user that can create posts, such as an editor or administrator, or update the user's permissions in WordPress.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The WordPress REST API cannot be reached">
    Pinsearch sends posts through the WordPress REST API.

    Check that the site URL is correct, WordPress is installed at that URL, and the site is online.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="An image could not be uploaded to WordPress">
    WordPress needs to fetch article images from public image URLs before attaching them to the post.

    If image upload keeps failing, try again later, replace the image, or use manual export and upload the image directly in WordPress.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="SEO metadata did not update">
    The article may still publish even if SEO metadata cannot be updated.

    Open the post in WordPress and add the SEO title or meta description manually in your SEO tool.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The connection timed out or the site was slow">
    Wait a moment and try again.

    If it keeps happening, check whether your WordPress host, security plugin, firewall, or maintenance mode is blocking external requests.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Retry safely

Before retrying:

1. Click **Save**.
2. Confirm the correct **Site** is selected.
3. Use **Draft** if you are not ready for the post to go live.
4. Click **Send to WordPress** again.

If the article was already sent to the same connected WordPress site before, Pinsearch tries to update that existing post.

## Use manual export as a fallback

If WordPress publishing keeps failing, use **Copy** or **Download** under **Manual export**.

Manual export lets you move the article into WordPress yourself while you continue fixing the site connection.

## Related guides

* [Send an article to WordPress](/pinsearch-product-guides/article-editor-and-publishing/send-an-article-to-wordpress)
* [Fix WordPress publishing warnings](/pinsearch-product-guides/article-editor-and-publishing/fix-wordpress-publishing-warnings)
* [Export an article for manual WordPress publishing](/pinsearch-product-guides/article-editor-and-publishing/export-an-article-for-manual-wordpress-publishing)
* [Prepare an article for publishing](/pinsearch-product-guides/article-editor-and-publishing/prepare-an-article-for-publishing)