Introduction
Pagination breaking in WordPress can be really annoying. You click “Next Page”… and either nothing happens, or you get a 404 error.
This usually happens after theme changes, custom queries, or permalink issues. The good news is—you don’t need to be a developer to fix it.
Let’s walk through it in a simple way.
What Does “Pagination Not Working” Mean?
Pagination issues can show up in different ways:
- Page 2 or 3 shows a 404 error
- “Next” or page numbers don’t change content
- URLs change but content stays the same
- Infinite scroll or blog page stops loading posts
If you’ve seen any of these, you’re in the right place.
Why WordPress Pagination Breaks
Permalink Settings Issue
This is the most common reason. If permalinks aren’t set properly, pagination URLs won’t work.
Incorrect Query in Theme
Custom loops in themes often break pagination if not coded correctly.
Plugin Conflict
Some plugins override queries or URLs, which can interfere with pagination.
Static Homepage Setup
Pagination can break when using a custom homepage incorrectly.
How to Fix WordPress Pagination Not Working
Follow these steps one by one. Start from the simplest fix.
Fix #1: Reset Permalinks (Most Important)
This solves the issue in many cases.
- Go to Settings → Permalinks
- Click Save Changes
- Don’t change anything—just save
This refreshes your permalink structure.
Fix #2: Check Your .htaccess File
If permalinks didn’t fix it, your .htaccess file might be the problem.
Make sure it contains the default WordPress rules:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ – [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
# END WordPress
If it’s missing or broken, replace it and save.
Fix #3: Check Your Query (For Custom Loops)
If you’re using a custom loop in your theme, pagination may break.
Make sure you’re using paged correctly:
$paged = (get_query_var(‘paged’)) ? get_query_var(‘paged’) : 1;
$query = new WP_Query(array(
‘post_type’ => ‘post’,
‘paged’ => $paged
));
If paged is missing, pagination won’t work properly.
Fix #4: Disable Plugins (Quick Test)
Sometimes it’s just a conflict.
- Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
- Deactivate all plugins
- Test pagination
If it starts working, reactivate plugins one by one to find the issue.
Fix #5: Check Static Homepage Settings
If you’re using a custom homepage:
- Go to Settings → Reading
- Check if a static page is selected
- Make sure your Posts page is properly assigned
Incorrect setup can break pagination.
Fix #6: Switch to Default Theme
Your theme might be the problem.
- Activate a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four)
- Test pagination again
If it works, your theme needs fixing.
Fix #7: Check for JavaScript Issues
Sometimes pagination buttons rely on JavaScript.
- Open browser console (F12)
- Look for errors
Fixing JS errors can restore pagination.
Small Tip That Saves Time
After every fix, clear your cache (browser + plugin + CDN). Otherwise, you might think the fix didn’t work.
Final
Pagination issues in WordPress usually come down to permalinks, queries, or conflicts. Start simple—reset permalinks—and move step by step.
In most cases, you’ll fix it within a few minutes.
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