How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step)

Introduction

When you see the dreaded “There has been a critical error on your website” message in WordPress, it can feel like your whole site just vanished into thin air. Don’t panic—it’s a common problem, and thankfully, it can be fixed. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to fix the critical error in WordPress step by step, even if you’re not super tech-savvy.

This error usually happens because of plugin conflicts, theme issues, or problems with your site’s PHP code. The good news? You don’t need to be a developer to get your site back up and running. With some simple troubleshooting steps, you can diagnose the issue and apply a fix without losing your content. Let’s dive in and get your site back online.

What Does the Critical Error in WordPress Mean?

The “critical error” message is WordPress’s way of telling you something went wrong behind the scenes. Unlike a minor glitch, this error is serious enough to stop your site from loading properly.

Usually, the causes are:

• A plugin that conflicts with another plugin or your theme
• A broken or outdated theme
• Issues with PHP code or version mismatches
• Low server memory limits
• Corrupted WordPress core files

Luckily, WordPress also sends an email (if you have admin email set up) with more technical details, which can help you pinpoint the root cause.

Step 1: Enable Debugging Mode

The first step in fixing the critical error is to see what’s really going on. WordPress has a built-in debugging tool that can reveal the problem.

1. Access your site files through FTP or your hosting’s file manager.
2. Open the wp-config.php file.
3. Look for this line:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );

4. Change it to:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );

Now WordPress will create a debug log file inside the wp-content folder. This log will tell you exactly what caused the crash.

Step 2: Deactivate Plugins

Most critical errors are caused by plugins. To check:

• Log in to your hosting file manager or use FTP.
• Go to the wp-content folder.
• Rename the plugins folder to something like plugins_old.

This deactivates all plugins instantly. Refresh your site—if it works again, one of your plugins was the culprit.

Next, rename the folder back to plugins and then reactivate your plugins one by one from your WordPress dashboard until the error returns. That way, you’ll know exactly which plugin is causing the issue.

Step 3: Switch to a Default Theme

If plugins aren’t the issue, your theme might be. Switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.

• Go to your hosting file manager or FTP.
• Navigate to wp-content/themes.
• Rename your active theme folder.
• WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme if it’s installed.

If your site loads, you’ll know your theme is the problem.

Step 4: Increase PHP Memory Limit

Sometimes, WordPress runs out of memory, especially if you’re using heavy plugins. To fix this:

1. Open your wp-config.php file.
2. Add this line before the “That’s all, stop editing!” comment:

define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );

This increases your memory limit to 256MB, which should solve most memory-related issues.

Step 5: Update WordPress, Themes, and Plugins

Outdated software often causes compatibility issues. Make sure you’re running the latest versions of:

• WordPress core
• Your active theme
• All plugins

If you can’t log into your dashboard, update them manually via FTP or your hosting file manager.

Step 6: Restore a Backup

If none of the steps above work, restoring a backup is the fastest way to recover your site. Many hosts provide automatic backups, or you might have set up a plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy.

• Log in to your hosting account.
• Look for the backup or restore option.
• Roll back your site to the most recent working version.

Step 7: Contact Your Hosting Provider

If you’ve tried everything and your site still isn’t working, don’t stress. Your hosting provider may be able to help. They can check error logs on the server side and fix deeper issues like corrupted PHP or database errors.

Preventing Future Critical Errors

To avoid seeing this error again in the future:

• Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated.
• Only install trusted plugins and themes from reliable sources.
• Regularly back up your site.
• Use a staging site to test major updates before applying them to your live site.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with the critical error in WordPress can feel overwhelming, but once you break it down into steps, it’s completely manageable. Start by enabling debugging, then check plugins, themes, memory limits, and updates. In most cases, one of these fixes will bring your site back online.

The key is to stay calm and methodical—don’t try to change everything at once. And remember, having regular backups is the best safety net you can give yourself.

Now that you know how to fix the critical error step by step, you’ll feel more confident handling WordPress issues in the future. If you’d like to explore more WordPress troubleshooting tips, check out our other guides to keep your site running smoothly.