How to Fix Website Misconfiguration Error in Account Manager

A "misconfiguration" error message in the Website Overview tab of your Bluehost Account Manager indicates that your website files and database are not properly connected. This misalignment can prevent the website from loading or working correctly. If your site was intentionally deleted, you can permanently remove it by going to Settings > Delete Site. However, if you didn't mean to delete your website and it's not loading, this guide will walk you through how to fix a misconfiguration error message.

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• Common Causes of Misconfiguration Error Message
• How to Fix Misconfiguration Error Message
• Summary

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Common Causes of Fix Misconfiguration Error Message

Several things can cause you to see a website "misconfiguration" error message in the Website Overview tab of your Account Manager:

• Malware or suspicious files
• Missing or corrupted core website files
• Recent changes to themes, plugins, or settings
• Accidental deletion of important files

How to Fix Misconfiguration Error Message

• Scan for Malware or Suspicious Files
• Restore from a Recent Backup
• Check Core Website Files (WordPress Sites)
• Review Recent Changes
• Contact Support

Scan for Malware or Suspicious Files

Malware or unauthorized changes can corrupt your site's structure.

• Use a malware scanner. Bluehost offers SiteLock Lite: Free Scan, which searches for malware by scanning your website's sitemap for infections. It's a free introductory offering for new Bluehost hosting plans.
• Look for files that don't belong or were recently modified without your knowledge.

If you find any malicious files, remove them or contact support for cleanup help.

Restore from a Recent Backup

If your website worked correctly in the past, restoring from a backup is often the fastest fix.

• Check your hosting dashboard or backup plugin for recent backups.
  • Bluehost - Paid Restore Service—If you want our experts to restore your data, you can request a paid restoration.
  • How to Restore a WordPress Site—If you have a ZIP file containing the WordPress database backup, you can use it to recover lost content from a WordPress website.
  • Jetpack Backup and Restore—If you have Jetpack in your account, you can restore or download a backup of your website from a specific point in time.
  • Restoring Backups with CodeGuard—If you have CodeGuard in your account, you can use this service to restore your website. 
• Restore your site to a point before the issue occurs.

Check Core Website Files (WordPress Sites)

If you're using WordPress, make sure the following files are present in your website's root directory:

• wp-config.php
• index.php
• .htaccess

If any of these files are missing or corrupted:

• Download a fresh copy of WordPress from wordpress.org.
• Upload only the core files (excluding the wp-content folder) wp-config.php to preserve your content and settings.

For more details on how to address WordPress core files and warnings and troubleshoot and repair these core files, refer to the article: How to Troubleshoot and Repair WordPress Core Files.

Review Recent Changes

Think about anything you changed recently:

• Installed or deleted plugins/themes
• Changed file permissions
• Removed or edited important files or folders

If you made changes before the issue started:

• Undo those changes, if possible.
• Reinstall or re-upload any deleted or altered files.

Contact Support

If you're unsure what caused the "misconfiguration" error message in your Account Manager's Website Overview tab or need help restoring your website, contact our Support Team.

Summary

A "misconfiguration" error message in the Website Overview tab of your Account Manager can occur due to missing files, malware, or configuration changes. If your website isn't loading and you didn't intend to delete it, scan for malware, restore from a backup, check for missing core files, and review recent changes.