Title: Website down after custom CSS edit Last modified: August 31, 2016 --- # Website down after custom CSS edit * Resolved [carwatcherblog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carwatcherblog/) * (@carwatcherblog) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/) * Hi, * I was facing an issue with logo sizes being different on desktop vs mobile. I went to my theme (LiteMag) support page and found a similar issue. I pasted a line of code I found on the thread in my custom Css file. * Problem is it seems to have killed my website. The site is down with an Error 500 + impossible to access my wp admin panel. * I tried to find the code lines using phpmyadmin but it can’t find them… I feel like I’m screwed. I’m a real beginner and I’d like your help. * Thank you very much. Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) * [lisa](https://wordpress.org/support/users/contentiskey/) * (@contentiskey) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087673) * CSS edit would not be findable in phpmyadmin area. CSS errors don’t commonly cause error 500….but sometimes the file gets a bit messy when re-saved and can cause a problem. Many times the fix is accessing the style.css file and fixing the first few lines so the text lineds don’t run all together. Did you edit any other php templates in your theme (ie functions.php) * If needed, you can remove the problem theme using FTP access or your webhosting control panel. * Are you using a child theme or did you make the changes to the parent theme? * Thread Starter [carwatcherblog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carwatcherblog/) * (@carwatcherblog) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087687) * Hi, * Thanks for your quick reply 🙂 I didn’t edit other php templates. * How should I access the style.css file ? (I am a huge newbie sorry). Is it by ftp ? * I don’t know what is a child theme. I edited the theme directly through the wp admin panel.. I hope it helps. * [lisa](https://wordpress.org/support/users/contentiskey/) * (@contentiskey) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087688) * you can get to style.css using FTP or in your webhosting if they office cPanel. * if you are not sure about how to access your files, you can call your webhost for guidance with the account you own. * using a child theme is safer [https://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes](https://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes) * do you have a backup system set up? * Thread Starter [carwatcherblog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carwatcherblog/) * (@carwatcherblog) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087693) * I managed to get in style.css, thats a good start 🙂 you are my saver. I found a similar line of code but it’s not exactly the same. I reckon I pasted at this location but it looks like it was recomputed. Is that possible or should the line be as I pasted it ? * If so, I delete the line and then save the file ? And send it in the FTP ? thats the tricky part I guess. * I’ll use a child theme, that’s important. I don’t have a b-u system yet. Which one would you recommend. * Thank you so much for your help ! * [lisa](https://wordpress.org/support/users/contentiskey/) * (@contentiskey) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087743) * backup systems I have used >backup buddy [https://ithemes.com/purchase/backupbuddy/](https://ithemes.com/purchase/backupbuddy/) >vaultpress [https://vaultpress.com/](https://vaultpress.com/) * where are you viewing and making your changes to the style.css file? in the wordpress dashboard? in an FTP client? in your webhosting account? * Thread Starter [carwatcherblog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carwatcherblog/) * (@carwatcherblog) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087767) * I opened the style.css on FileZilla. I can’t access my wp dashboard 🙁 * [lisa](https://wordpress.org/support/users/contentiskey/) * (@contentiskey) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087780) * If you are using FTP Filezilla to edit your theme files that is good. * Seems like you are using a paid theme that I don’t have access to. I am unable to see the original css file to show you exactly what it should look like. * Have you made many customizations to your theme style.css file? Perhaps it would be easier to replace the file to start over with an unchanged copy of your theme. * Thread Starter [carwatcherblog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carwatcherblog/) * (@carwatcherblog) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087784) * I have only made one custom edit to the file. Do you want me to send you the file ? If it’s a simple fix I’d like to give it a try. If not… yes I’ll start over 🙁 * [lisa](https://wordpress.org/support/users/contentiskey/) * (@contentiskey) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087803) * Assuming the problem is directly connected to the CSS changes (ie not a server/ hosting issue) AND if you have not made many customizations to your theme, it might be less complicated if you delete the theme with the problem and reinstall it. * Create a child theme or use a CSS editor plugin for future CSS changes. Set up an automated backup solution. * (There isn’t a good way to transmit files back and forth with volunteers thru the WordPress Support Forum.) * Thread Starter [carwatcherblog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carwatcherblog/) * (@carwatcherblog) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087809) * Thanks for your recommendations. I’ll follow what your are advising me. * As I don’t have access to my WP admin panel I have no clue how to make that move. * Could you explain me ? I am learning a bunch of things with that mistake. Thanks again for the time spent helping me. * [lisa](https://wordpress.org/support/users/contentiskey/) * (@contentiskey) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087824) * Be sure you have a complete copy of the LiteMag theme file you originally purchased.( a .zip file) * Use Filezilla: Look in your WP-Content folder in FTP. Look in the Themes folder. Check to be sure you have at least 2 themes available including LiteMag. * Delete the folder containing your LiteMag theme files. * This should clear up the problem caused by your CSS edit and you will be able to get into your wp-admin to reinstall the .zip file of the LifeMag theme you purchased. * Thread Starter [carwatcherblog](https://wordpress.org/support/users/carwatcherblog/) * (@carwatcherblog) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087841) * Hi, * It worked. My website is back online. I’m so happy ! Cheers mate, it was easier than I thought. * HAve a good week, I’ll mark this thread as resolved. * [lisa](https://wordpress.org/support/users/contentiskey/) * (@contentiskey) * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087859) * THAT’S FANTASTIC NEWS! Glad you were able to get it done. FTP access is very handy when you can’t get to wp-admin due to theme or plugin issues. Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) The topic ‘Website down after custom CSS edit’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [error 500](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/error-500/) * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 13 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [lisa](https://wordpress.org/support/users/contentiskey/) * Last activity: [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/website-down-after-custom-css-edit/#post-7087859) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics