A step-by-step guide on fixing the critical error on a WordPress website

How to Fix “There Has Been a Critical Error on This Website” in WordPress (Step by Step) Guide

Are you facing a critical error (There Has Been a Critical Error on This Website) on your WordPress site?
Whether you’re seeing an error message or just can’t access your site, this article will guide you through the essential steps to fix the critical error on your WordPress website. We’ll explore the causes, solutions, and troubleshooting steps that you can take to restore your site.

In this article, we will help you understand the root causes of a “critical error” on a WordPress site and provide actionable solutions that can quickly resolve the issue. Whether you are dealing with plugin conflicts, mpmory limits, or PHP errors, we’ve got you covered with proven methods to troubleshoot and fix the issue effectively

If you’re experiencing any of the issues shown in these images, then this article is for you!

Why Read This Guide About Fixing Critical Error on WordPress?

  • Step-by-step troubleshooting: Check for updates and fixes for the critical error and resolve broken website issues. We’ll walk you through various ways to resolve the broken website issues, including how to access WordPress support. A critical error can cause your website to crash if not addressed promptly, so access your WordPress admin to troubleshoot quickly.
  • Common causes explained: Understand why this error occurs so you can prevent it in the future.
  • Easy-to-follow solutions: Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced WordPress user, you’ll find an effective solution here.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Why Read This Guide?
  3. Understanding the Critical Error in WordPress
  4. Common Causes and Ways to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress
  5. How to Identify the Critical Error Message in WordPress
  6. Deactivating Plugins to Fix the Critical Error
  7. Switching to a Default WordPress Theme
  8. Increasing the PHP Memory Limit
  9. Fixing PHP Version Conflicts
  10. Restoring Core WordPress Files
  11. Checking the WordPress Error Log
  12. Fixing a Broken WordPress Update
  13. Restoring Your Site From a Backup
  14. Preventing Critical Errors in the Future
  15. Summary: Key Takeaways
  16. Final Thoughts



Understanding the Critical Error in WordPress

Before we dive into fixes, let’s first understand what causes the critical error on your website. This error typically occurs due to:

  • Conflicts with plugins or themes
  • Corrupted WordPress core files
  • PHP errors or memory limits
  • Incompatibility with the PHP version
  • Broken WordPress updates

Now, let’s troubleshoot and fix the problem step by step.

Common causes and fixes for the critical error on WordPress websites.
A visual guide to fixing common critical errors on your WordPress website, including switching themes, increasing PHP memory, updating PHP, and restoring core files

Common Causes and Ways to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress

1️⃣ How to Identify the Critical Error Message in WordPress

If you’re seeing “There has been a critical error on this website,” WordPress also sends an email to your site admin inbox with details about the error.

Steps to Find the Error Details:

  • Check your site admin email inbox for an email from WordPress.
  • Open your WordPress site. If you encounter an error message (Critical Error on This Website), consider enabling WordPress debug to get more details and note any plugin, theme, or function causing the error.
  • If you can’t access your email, check the WordPress error log.

2️⃣ Deactivating All Plugins to Fix the Critical Error

A broken website can lead to a 500 internal server error, which may indicate that a WordPress plugin is malfunctioning. A faulty plugin causing the error is a common issue. You can disable all plugins to troubleshoot if a critical error occurs, and reactivate them one by one to find the culprit.

If you still have access to your WordPress dashboard, follow these steps:

A. Disable Plugins Via WordPress Dashboard (if accessible):

  • Log in to your WordPress admin panel.
  • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
  • Select all plugins and choose Deactivate from the Bulk Actions menu.
  • Click Apply and check if the issue

B. Disable Plugins via File Manager (cPanel or Hosting Panel)

If you can’t access the WordPress dashboard, use your hosting’s File Manager:

  • Log in to your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, or other).
  • Navigate to File Manager > public_html > wp-content.
  • Find the plugins folder and rename it to plugins-disabled.
  • Check your website; if it works, rename the folder back to plugins.

C. Disable Plugins Using FileZilla (FTP Client)

If you don’t have access to your hosting panel, you can disable plugins via FTP:

  • Download and install FileZilla if you haven’t already.
  • Open FileZilla and connect to your site using your FTP credentials.
  • Navigate to /public_html/wp-content/.
  • Locate the plugins folder, right-click, and rename it to plugins-disabled

3️⃣ Switching to a Default WordPress Theme

Sometimes, your theme could trigger a fatal error if not addressed promptly. Switching to a default theme in the WordPress admin panel can help with troubleshooting. These issues are often caused by free themes.To learn more about the differences between free and premium themes, check out this link:
Free vs. Premium WordPress Themes

Steps to Change Your Theme:

A. Change the Theme via the Dashboard

If disabling plugins didn’t solve the problem, your theme might be causing the error.
 Change the Theme via the DashboardNavigate to wp-content/themes/

  • Go to Appearance > Themes.
  • Activate a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Four).
  • If the issue is resolved, your previous theme was the cause.

B. Change the Theme via File Manager or FTP

  • Open File Manager (or connect using FileZilla).
  • Go to wp-content/themes
  • Rename your active theme folder (e.g.,themes to themes-disabled).
  • WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme.

Via phpMyAdmin:

  • Open phpMyAdmin from your hosting panel.
  • Select your database and find the wp_options table.
  • Change the template and stylesheet rows to ‘twentytwentyone’ to resolve the critical error.

4️⃣ Increasing the PHP Memory Limit

A PHP memory limit issue can trigger a critical error in WordPress. Increasing the limit helps WordPress run smoothly and can prevent a critical error If your site runs out of memory, it may error.

How to Increase PHP Memory Limit:

Access your wp-config.php file via File Manager or FTP.

Add the following line before /
* That's all, stop editing! */define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );

5️⃣ Fixing PHP Version Conflicts

WordPress requires PHP 7.4 or higher to function properly. If your PHP version is outdated, it can cause your site to display a WordPress error message.

Steps to Change PHP Version:

  • Log in to your WordPress admin area or hosting control panel.
  • Locate the PHP version settings in your hosting control panel.
  • Select a higher PHP version (preferably 8.0 or later).
  • Save changes and refresh your site to check if the error is resolved.


6️⃣ Restoring Core WordPress Files

Corrupted WordPress core files can cause errors. Replacing them could fix the issue without affecting your website content.

How to Restore WordPress Core Files:

  • Download a fresh copy of WordPress from the official website.
  • Extract the zip file and upload the files via FTP, replacing the old files.

7️⃣ Checking the WordPress Error Log

To troubleshoot critical errors, checking the error log helps you find the exact cause.

How to Enable WordPress Error Log:

  • Open wp-config.php.
  • Add the following code:
    define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
    define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
    define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );
  • Save the file and check the wp-content/debug.log for error messages.

8️⃣ Fixing a Broken WordPress Update

A failed WordPress update can cause critical errors.

How to Fix:

  • Manually update WordPress to ensure the latest version is installed.
  • Disable automatic updates using:
    define( 'AUTOMATIC_UPDATER_DISABLED', true );
    read this for more info

9️⃣ Restoring Your Site From a Backup

If nothing works, restoring your website from a backup is the easiest way to fix the critical error.

How to Restore a Backup:

  • From your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.).
  • Using a backup plugin like UpdraftPlus.
  • Manually restore files from an external backup.


Preventing Critical Errors in the Future

To avoid critical errors in WordPress:

  • Keep your site updated (WordPress core, plugins, and themes).
  • Use a staging site to test fixes before applying changes.
  • Regularly back up your site.
  • Monitor error logs to detect issues early.

Summary: Key Takeaways

  • The critical error on WordPress is often caused by plugin conflicts, theme issues, PHP memory limits, or corrupted core files.
  • You can fix the error by:
    • Deactivating plugins
    • Switching to a default theme
    • Increasing PHP memory limit
    • Checking the error log
    • Updating the PHP version

Prevent future errors by keeping WordPress updated, using backups, and troubleshooting errors early.

Final Thoughts

Fixing the critical error on your website may seem challenging, but by following these steps, you can resolve the issue and get your WordPress website running smoothly again. If you need further assistance, refer to the official WordPress website or admin dashboard for additional resources on fixing errors.

Did this guide help you resolve the issues with WordPress plugins? Share it with others facing the same issue!

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