{"id":13623,"date":"2024-10-04T09:36:27","date_gmt":"2024-10-04T09:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bodhost.com\/kb\/?p=13623"},"modified":"2026-02-26T14:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T14:02:09","slug":"how-to-fix-the-critical-error-on-your-website-in-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bodhost.com\/kb\/how-to-fix-the-critical-error-on-your-website-in-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix the ‘Critical Error on Your Website’ in WordPress"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ‘There Has Been a Critical Error on Your Website’ message is a common WordPress error that occurs when there’s a PHP fatal error on your site. This guide will walk you through several methods to diagnose and fix this issue.<\/p>\n

1. Enable WordPress Debug Mode<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

First, enable WordPress debug mode to get more information about the error:<\/p>\n

1. Access your WordPress site files via FTP or file manager in your hosting control panel.
\n2. Locate and edit the `wp-config.php` file.
\n3. Find the line that says `define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, false );`
\n4. Change it to:
\n“`php
\ndefine( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );
\ndefine( ‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true );
\ndefine( ‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false );
\n“`
\n5. Save the file and refresh your website.<\/p>\n

Now, check the `wp-content\/debug.log` file for error messages that can help identify the problem.<\/p>\n

2. Deactivate All Plugins<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Plugins are a common cause of this error. To deactivate them:<\/p>\n

1. Connect to your website via FTP.
\n2. Navigate to the `wp-content` folder.
\n3. Rename the `plugins` folder to `plugins_old`.
\n4. WordPress will automatically deactivate all plugins.
\n5. Check if your website loads correctly.<\/p>\n

If the site works, reactivate plugins one by one to identify the problematic one.<\/p>\n

3. Switch to a Default Theme<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If the problem persists, your theme might be the culprit:<\/p>\n

1. Via FTP, go to `wp-content\/themes\/`.
\n2. Rename your current theme’s folder.
\n3. WordPress will default to a standard theme.
\n4. Check if your site loads correctly.<\/p>\n

4. Increase PHP Memory Limit<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, the error occurs due to insufficient PHP memory:<\/p>\n

1. Edit your `wp-config.php` file.
\n2. Add this line before “That’s all, stop editing!”:
\n“`php
\ndefine( ‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’ );
\n“`
\n3. Save the file and refresh your site.<\/p>\n

5. Check for Corrupt WordPress Core Files<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If the issue persists, core WordPress files might be corrupted:<\/p>\n

1. Download a fresh copy of WordPress from wordpress.org.
\n2. Extract the files.
\n3. Via FTP, upload and overwrite the `wp-admin` and `wp-includes` folders.<\/p>\n

Do not overwrite your `wp-content` folder or `wp-config.php` file.<\/p>\n

6. Review Server Logs<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re still encountering issues:<\/p>\n

1. Access your server’s error logs through your hosting control panel.
\n2. Look for PHP fatal errors or other issues related to your WordPress installation.<\/p>\n

7. Restore from a Backup<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If all else fails, restore your site from a recent backup:<\/p>\n

1. Access your backup files (from your hosting provider or a backup plugin).
\n2. Restore both your files and database to a point before the error occurred.<\/p>\n

Prevention Tips<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To prevent this error in the future:<\/p>\n

1. Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated.
\n2. Use reputable plugins and themes.
\n3. Regularly back up your website.
\n4. Monitor your site’s performance and errors.<\/p>\n

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the “There Has Been a Critical Error on Your Website” error in WordPress. If the problem persists, consider seeking help from our tech support.<\/p>\n

Read Also: How to Access Your WordPress Dashboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The ‘There Has Been a Critical Error on Your Website’ message is a common WordPress error that occurs when there’s a PHP fatal error on your site. This guide will…<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[863],"tags":[1574],"class_list":["post-13623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-wordpress","tag-critical-error-on-your-website"],"yoast_head":"\nFix 'Critical Error on Your Website' in WordPress | bodHOST<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The 'There Has Been a Critical Error on Your Website' message is a common WordPress error that occurs when there's a PHP fatal error on your site.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bodhost.com\/kb\/how-to-fix-the-critical-error-on-your-website-in-wordpress\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" 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