How to Fix “There Has Been a Critical Error on This Website” in WordPress
If you manage a website built with WordPress, you may have encountered the message:
“There has been a Critical Error on This Website.”
This error usually appears after installing a plugin, updating a theme, or modifying code. When it happens, your website may stop working and sometimes even block access to the WordPress admin dashboard.
Since website downtime can affect visitors and SEO rankings on Google, fixing the issue quickly is important.
Let’s go through the most effective ways to solve this problem.
Why the WordPress Critical Error on This Website Happens
The critical error typically occurs because of a PHP fatal error. This means something in your website code is preventing WordPress from running properly.
Common causes include:
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Plugin conflicts
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Theme coding errors
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PHP version incompatibility
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Memory limit exhaustion
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Corrupted WordPress files
Identifying the root cause will help you fix the issue faster.
1. Check Your Email for the Debug Link
When this error occurs, WordPress usually sends an automatic email to the site administrator.
The email contains a special recovery mode link that allows you to log into the dashboard and identify which plugin or theme caused the error.
Steps:
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Check your website admin email
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Open the WordPress recovery email
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Click the recovery login link
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Deactivate the problematic plugin or theme
2. Disable All Plugins
A faulty plugin is one of the most common reasons for the critical error.
To disable plugins manually:
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Access your website through FTP or File Manager
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Navigate to the folder:
wp-content/plugins
plugins-disabled
If your site starts working again, you can reactivate plugins one by one to find the problematic one.
3. Switch to a Default Theme
Sometimes the error may be caused by a theme compatibility issue.
To test this:
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Go to wp-content/themes
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Rename your active theme folder
WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme such as Twenty Twenty‑Four.
If the site works after switching themes, the issue is likely related to your previous theme.
4. Increase PHP Memory Limit
WordPress plugins and themes require sufficient server memory. If the memory limit is too low, it can cause fatal errors.
You can increase the memory limit by editing the wp-config.php file.
Add this line:
define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);
This allows WordPress to use more server memory.
5. Enable WordPress Debug Mode
Debug mode helps identify the exact cause of the critical error.
Edit the wp-config.php file and enable debugging:
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
6. Reinstall WordPress Core Files
If none of the above methods work, your WordPress core files might be corrupted.
Download a fresh version of WordPress and replace the following folders:
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wp-admin
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wp-includes
Avoid replacing the wp-content folder because it contains your plugins, themes, and uploads.
Preventing WordPress Critical Error on This Website in the Future
Preventing the “There has been a critical error on this website” issue in WordPress is easier when you follow a few best practices.
Always keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated to ensure compatibility with the latest PHP versions. Outdated plugins are one of the most common reasons websites break after updates.
It is also recommended to install plugins only from trusted sources and avoid installing too many unnecessary plugins. Regular backups are equally important because they allow you to quickly restore your website if an error occurs.
You can also monitor website performance using tools provided by Google, which help identify issues that may affect your site stability and performance.
The “There has been a Critical Error on This Website” message can be alarming, but it is usually caused by plugin conflicts, theme issues, or server configuration problems.
By disabling plugins, switching themes, and enabling debug mode, you can quickly identify and fix the issue.
If you need expert help fixing WordPress errors or debugging website issues, the developers at WebDeveloperin can quickly diagnose and resolve the problem.