What is the very first thing I should do when my WordPress site is down?

First, check if it's down for everyone or just you. Second, check your hosting provider's status page. These two steps can quickly tell you if the problem is outside of your control.

How can I fix my site if I'm locked out of the WordPress admin dashboard?

You will need to use FTP or your hosting provider's file manager to access your site's files directly. This will allow you to perform troubleshooting steps like renaming the plugins folder

Can a single plugin really break my entire website?

Yes, absolutely. A conflict between a plugin and WordPress core, your theme, or another plugin is the most common cause of a site going down.

Will I lose my data if my website is down?

In most cases, no. Errors like the White Screen of Death are usually code-related, and your content, orders, and user data are stored safely in the database. A database connection error is more serious, but even then, the data is usually recoverable.