If a WordPress site looks correct on desktop but breaks on a phone, do not rebuild the page immediately. First determine whether the failure is layout, navigation, cached CSS or a device-specific element.
1. Define what is actually broken
Check whether the problem is the whole page, only the menu, text overflow, images, buttons or a single section. A precise symptom makes the next step much faster.
2. Test a real phone and a private window
Browser responsive previews are useful, but also test the live URL on a real device. Use a private window so an old mobile stylesheet is less likely to mislead you.
3. Purge every active cache layer
After responsive CSS changes, purge LiteSpeed, hosting cache and CDN cache where enabled. Hostinger notes that browser, server, plugin and CDN caches can each hold older content; see its cache guide.
4. Check the responsive breakpoint
Your theme normally switches navigation and layout at a CSS breakpoint. Inspect the CSS for @media rules and confirm the mobile rules are not being overridden by later styles.
5. Look for fixed widths
Tables, images, forms and containers with fixed pixel widths can push the page beyond the viewport. Prefer responsive widths such as max-width:100% for media and allow wide tables to scroll.
6. If the menu is the problem
Confirm the hamburger button exists, its JavaScript loads and the menu is assigned to the correct theme location. WordPress navigation supports responsive menu behaviour, but custom themes can implement their own toggle.
7. Check optimisation after the layout works
If disabling CSS/JS optimisation fixes mobile, re-enable settings one at a time. That identifies the conflicting optimisation instead of masking it.
For a menu-specific failure, continue with WordPress Menu Not Showing on Mobile.
Mobile troubleshooting checklist
Use the symptom to choose the next check instead of changing several settings at once. Make one change, retest the exact URL, and keep a note of what changed.
| Symptom | What it suggests | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| Layout only | Content exists but overflows | Inspect breakpoints and fixed widths |
| Menu only | Page works but navigation does not | Check menu assignment, toggle JS and cache |
| One device | Other phones look correct | Clear local browser cache |
| All phones | Desktop is fine everywhere | Check responsive CSS and optimisation |
Before you make a risky change
Take a current backup or restore point before editing configuration files, permissions, PHP settings or database URLs. Avoid deleting unrelated DNS, email, security or rewrite rules simply to see whether the problem disappears.
How to confirm the fix
Retest the exact public URL in a private browser window and, where relevant, on a second device or network. A fix is only confirmed when the original symptom is gone without creating a new error elsewhere on the site.
