How to Fix “There Has Been a Critical Error on This Website” in WordPress

WordPress is a powerful and popular content management system (CMS) used by millions of websites around the world. It is an excellent platform to create and manage a website, but like any other software, it can also have errors and issues. One of the most common errors faced by WordPress users is the critical error.

A critical error is a severe issue that occurs on a WordPress website, making it inaccessible to both visitors and administrators. It can occur due to various reasons, such as a faulty plugin or theme, a corrupted file, a server issue, or a compatibility issue. When you encounter a critical error, you will see an error message like “There has been a critical error on your website.”

Fixing a critical error on a WordPress website can be challenging and time-consuming, but there are several steps you can take to resolve the issue. In this blog post, we will discuss the steps you can take to fix a critical error on your WordPress website.

1. Check the Error Log

The first step to fixing a critical error on a WordPress website is to check the error log. The error log will provide you with valuable information about the error, including the file, line number, and error message. You can access the error log through your hosting provider or by using an FTP client to access your website’s files.

2. Deactivate All Plugins

The next step is to deactivate all the plugins on your WordPress website. A faulty plugin can cause a critical error on your website, so it’s essential to eliminate this possibility. To deactivate all plugins, you can rename the plugins folder in the wp-content directory. Once you have renamed the folder, refresh your website, and check if the critical error is gone.

3. Switch to a Default Theme

If deactivating all plugins does not resolve the critical error, the next step is to switch to a default WordPress theme. A faulty theme can cause a critical error on your website, so it’s crucial to eliminate this possibility. To switch to a default theme, you can rename your current theme’s folder in the wp-content directory. Once you have renamed the folder, refresh your website, and check if the critical error is gone.

4. Reinstall WordPress

If deactivating all plugins and switching to a default theme does not resolve the critical error, the next step is to reinstall WordPress. This step will replace all WordPress core files with a fresh installation, eliminating any corrupted files that may be causing the issue. Before reinstalling WordPress, be sure to back up your website to avoid losing any data.

5. Increase Your PHP Memory Limit

Another common cause of critical errors on WordPress websites is a low PHP memory limit. You can increase the PHP memory limit by adding the following code to your website’s wp-config.php file:

define( ‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’ );

This code will increase your PHP memory limit to 256MB. If the error disappears after increasing your PHP memory limit, it means the issue was caused by a lack of memory.

6. Contact Your Hosting Provider

If none of the above steps resolves the critical error on your WordPress website, the issue may be due to a server issue. In this case, you should contact your hosting provider and ask them to investigate the issue. They may be able to provide you with valuable information about the error and help you resolve it.

In conclusion, fixing a critical error on a WordPress website can be a complex task that requires technical expertise. If you are still struggling to resolve the critical error on your website, don’t hesitate to seek help from professionals. Our team of experienced WordPress developers is ready to assist you in diagnosing and fixing the issue quickly and efficiently. Contact us today to get the help you need and get your website back up and running as soon as possible.