{"id":2808,"date":"2026-03-19T20:39:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T20:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/?p=2808"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:34:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:34:19","slug":"critical-error-on-this-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/critical-error-on-this-website\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix &#8220;There Has Been a Critical Error on This Website&#8221; in WordPress"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"standard-markdown grid-cols-1 grid [&amp;_&gt;_*]:min-w-0 gap-3\">\n<h2 id='how-to-fix-critical-error-on-this-website-in-wordpress'  id=\"boomdevs_1\" class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">How to Fix &#8220;Critical Error on This Website&#8221; in WordPress<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2811\" title=\"Fix there has been a critical error on this website WordPress\" src=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Fix-there-has-been-a-critical-error-on-this-website-WordPress.webp\" alt=\"Fix there has been a critical error on this website WordPress\" width=\"501\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Fix-there-has-been-a-critical-error-on-this-website-WordPress.webp 1408w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Fix-there-has-been-a-critical-error-on-this-website-WordPress-300x164.webp 300w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Fix-there-has-been-a-critical-error-on-this-website-WordPress-1024x559.webp 1024w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Fix-there-has-been-a-critical-error-on-this-website-WordPress-768x419.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 501px) 100vw, 501px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You open your WordPress website and see it \u2014 that dreaded white screen with the message: <strong>&#8220;There has been a critical error on this website.&#8221;<\/strong> Your heart sinks. Your site is down. Visitors can&#8217;t reach you. And you have no idea what just happened or how to fix it.<\/p>\n<div data-test-render-count=\"1\">\n<div class=\"group\">\n<div class=\"contents\">\n<div class=\"group relative relative pb-3\" data-is-streaming=\"false\">\n<div class=\"font-claude-response relative leading-[1.65rem] [&amp;_pre&gt;div]:bg-bg-000\/50 [&amp;_pre&gt;div]:border-0.5 [&amp;_pre&gt;div]:border-border-400 [&amp;_.ignore-pre-bg&gt;div]:bg-transparent [&amp;_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&amp;_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&amp;_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&amp;_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8\">\n<div class=\"standard-markdown grid-cols-1 grid [&amp;_&gt;_*]:min-w-0 gap-3 standard-markdown\">\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">You&#8217;re not alone. This is one of the most common WordPress errors faced by <a href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/digital-marketing-for-small-business\/\"><strong>small business owners<\/strong><\/a>, bloggers, freelancers, and beginners across the USA \u2014 including right here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The good news? <strong>This error is fixable.<\/strong> In this step-by-step guide, we&#8217;ll walk you through exactly what causes the &#8220;there has been a critical error on this website WordPress fix&#8221; and how to resolve it \u2014 even if you&#8217;re not a developer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Whether you&#8217;re a non-technical blogger, a DIY website user, or a small business owner trying to get your site back online fast, this guide is written specifically for you.<\/p>\n<h2 id='what-does-this-error-mean'  id=\"boomdevs_2\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">What Does This Error Mean?<\/h2>\n<h3 id='when-it-appears'  id=\"boomdevs_3\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">When It Appears<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The &#8220;there has been a critical error on this website&#8221; message typically appears when:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">You just updated a plugin or theme<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">You installed a new plugin or switched themes<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Your hosting server made a PHP version change<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">A file was accidentally edited or corrupted<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Your WordPress core files were partially updated<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">WordPress shows this message instead of a white blank screen (which used to be called the &#8220;WordPress White Screen of Death&#8221;) because newer versions (5.2+) now include a built-in fatal error protection mode. It&#8217;s WordPress trying to protect you \u2014 but it still means something is broken underneath.<\/p>\n<h3 id='common-symptoms'  id=\"boomdevs_4\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Common Symptoms<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Here&#8217;s what you might experience alongside this error:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Your homepage loads a white screen with the critical error message<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Your WordPress admin dashboard (\/wp-admin) is also inaccessible<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">You receive an automated email from WordPress titled &#8220;Your Site Is Experiencing a Technical Issue.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Only certain pages are affected, while others load fine<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">The error appears right after an update or new installation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">If any of these sound familiar, keep reading \u2014 the solution is closer than you think.<\/p>\n<h2 id='what-causes-this-error-in-wordpress'  id=\"boomdevs_5\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">What Causes This Error in WordPress?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Understanding the root cause is the first step to a permanent fix. The &#8220;there has been a critical error on this website WordPress fix&#8221; almost always comes from one of the following sources.<\/p>\n<h3 id='plugin-conflicts'  id=\"boomdevs_6\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Plugin Conflicts<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2813\" title=\"WordPress plugin conflict causing critical error on website\" src=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-plugin-conflict-causing-critical-error-on-website.webp\" alt=\"WordPress plugin conflict causing critical error on website\" width=\"501\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-plugin-conflict-causing-critical-error-on-website.webp 1408w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-plugin-conflict-causing-critical-error-on-website-300x164.webp 300w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-plugin-conflict-causing-critical-error-on-website-1024x559.webp 1024w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-plugin-conflict-causing-critical-error-on-website-768x419.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 501px) 100vw, 501px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">This is the <strong>#1 cause<\/strong> of critical errors in WordPress. When two or more plugins are incompatible with each other \u2014 or when a plugin is incompatible with your current PHP version or WordPress version \u2014 it throws a fatal PHP error that crashes your site.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">This happens most often right after:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Installing a new plugin<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Updating an existing plugin to a newer version<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Updating WordPress core while plugins haven&#8217;t been updated<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id='theme-issues'  id=\"boomdevs_7\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Theme Issues<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Your active WordPress theme contains PHP code. If that code has a bug, an outdated function, or a conflict with the current PHP version on your server, it will trigger a critical error. Custom themes built by less experienced developers are especially prone to this.<\/p>\n<h3 id='php-errors'  id=\"boomdevs_8\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">PHP Errors<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">PHP is the programming language that powers WordPress. A <strong>fatal PHP error<\/strong> \u2014 such as calling an undefined function, running out of memory, or using deprecated syntax \u2014 will bring your entire site down. Hosting providers sometimes upgrade their PHP version without warning, which can instantly break older themes or plugins not yet compatible with that version.<\/p>\n<h3 id='memory-limit'  id=\"boomdevs_9\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Memory Limit<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">WordPress has a PHP memory limit \u2014 typically set between 32MB and 128MB by default. If your site is running heavy plugins, <a href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/services\/e-commerce-website\/\"><strong>WooCommerce<\/strong><\/a>, page builders, or large databases, it may exceed that limit and trigger a critical error. This is one of the most overlooked causes of the WordPress fatal error and one of the easiest to fix.<\/p>\n<h2 id='quick-fix-beginner-friendly'  id=\"boomdevs_10\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Quick Fix \u2014 Beginner Friendly<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Before diving into <a href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/technical-seo-explained\/\"><strong>technical<\/strong><\/a> steps, try these two simple things first. They solve the problem more often than you&#8217;d expect.<\/p>\n<h3 id='refresh-+-cache-clear'  id=\"boomdevs_11\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Refresh + Cache Clear<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Sometimes the error is temporary \u2014 caused by a server hiccup or cached broken data.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>Hard refresh<\/strong> your browser: Press <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">Ctrl + Shift + R<\/code> (Windows) or <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">Cmd + Shift + R<\/code> (Mac)<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>Clear your browser cache<\/strong> completely<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">If you use a caching plugin like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache, <strong>clear the plugin cache<\/strong> from the WordPress dashboard (if you can still access it)<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Wait 2\u20133 minutes and reload your site<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">If the error persists, move to the next step.<\/p>\n<h3 id='check-email-from-wordpress'  id=\"boomdevs_12\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Check Email From WordPress<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">When WordPress detects a critical error, it automatically sends an email to your admin email address. This email:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Tells you <strong>which plugin or theme<\/strong> caused the error<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Provides a <strong>temporary recovery link<\/strong> to access a special admin mode<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Allows you to deactivate the problematic plugin directly from that link<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>Check your inbox<\/strong> (and spam folder) for an email from WordPress. This is your fastest route to identifying the exact cause without touching any files.<\/p>\n<h2 id='step-by-step-fix-most-important-section'  id=\"boomdevs_13\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Step-by-Step Fix \u2014 Most Important Section<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">If the quick fix didn&#8217;t work, follow these steps in order. Each step targets a different possible cause of the WordPress critical error.<\/p>\n<h3 id='step-1-enable-debug-mode'  id=\"boomdevs_14\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Step 1 \u2014 Enable Debug Mode<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2877 size-full\" title=\"WordPress Debug Mode Settings\" src=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-debug-mode-in-wp-config-php-file-1.webp\" alt=\"WordPress Debug Mode in wp-config PHP File\" width=\"1408\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-debug-mode-in-wp-config-php-file-1.webp 1408w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-debug-mode-in-wp-config-php-file-1-300x164.webp 300w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-debug-mode-in-wp-config-php-file-1-1024x559.webp 1024w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-debug-mode-in-wp-config-php-file-1-768x419.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">WordPress has a built-in debugging system that reveals exactly what&#8217;s causing the fatal error. To enable it, you&#8217;ll need to edit your <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">wp-config.php<\/code> file.<\/p>\n<h3 id='here-s-how'  id=\"boomdevs_15\" class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Here&#8217;s how:<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Access your website files via <strong>cPanel File Manager<\/strong> or an <strong>FTP client<\/strong> like FileZilla<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Navigate to your WordPress root folder (usually <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">public_html<\/code>)<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Find the file named <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">wp-config.php<\/code><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Right-click and select <strong>Edit<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Find this line:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"relative group\/copy bg-bg-000\/50 border-0.5 border-border-400 rounded-lg\">\n<div class=\"overflow-x-auto\">\n<pre class=\"code-block__code !my-0 !rounded-lg !text-sm !leading-relaxed p-3.5\"><code>define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\" start=\"6\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Replace it with:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"relative group\/copy bg-bg-000\/50 border-0.5 border-border-400 rounded-lg\">\n<div class=\"overflow-x-auto\">\n<pre class=\"code-block__code !my-0 !rounded-lg !text-sm !leading-relaxed p-3.5\"><code>define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );\r\ndefine( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );\r\ndefine( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\" start=\"7\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Save the file and reload your <a href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/choose-web-design-agency\/\"><strong>website<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Now WordPress will silently log all errors to a file called <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">debug.log<\/code> inside the <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">\/wp-content\/<\/code> folder. Open that file to see the <strong>exact line and file<\/strong> causing the critical error.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"ml-2 border-l-4 border-border-300\/10 pl-4 text-text-300\">\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">\u26a0\ufe0f <strong>Important:<\/strong> Always disable debug mode after you fix the issue. Set <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">WP_DEBUG<\/code> back to <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">false<\/code> before going live.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3 id='step-2-disable-plugins-manually'  id=\"boomdevs_16\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Step 2 \u2014 Disable Plugins Manually<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Since plugin conflicts are the most common cause, disabling all plugins is the most effective diagnostic step.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>If you can access wp-admin:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Go to <strong>Plugins \u2192 Installed Plugins<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Select all plugins<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Choose <strong>Deactivate<\/strong> from the bulk actions dropdown<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Reload your site<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>If you cannot access wp-admin (most common scenario):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Log in to your hosting account&#8217;s <strong>cPanel<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Open <strong>File Manager<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Navigate to <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">public_html\/wp-content\/<\/code><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Find the folder named <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">plugins<\/code><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>Rename it<\/strong> to something like <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">plugins_disabled<\/code><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Reload your website<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">WordPress will now load without any plugins. If your site comes back to life, a plugin was the cause.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>To find the specific plugin:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Rename the folder back to <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">plugins<\/code><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Re-enter File Manager and go inside the plugins folder<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Rename individual plugin folders one at a time (e.g., rename <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">woocommerce<\/code> to <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">woocommerce_off<\/code>)<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Reload your site after each rename<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">When the site breaks again, you&#8217;ve found the culprit<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Delete or update that plugin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id='step-3-switch-to-a-default-theme'  id=\"boomdevs_17\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Step 3 \u2014 Switch to a Default Theme<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">If disabling plugins didn&#8217;t fix the error, your <strong>active theme<\/strong> may be the problem.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>Via File Manager or FTP:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Navigate to <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">public_html\/wp-content\/themes\/<\/code><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Find your currently active theme folder<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>Rename it<\/strong> (e.g., <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">mytheme_backup<\/code>)<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">WordPress will automatically fall back to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Three or Twenty Twenty-Four)<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Reload your website<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">If your site works with the default theme, your custom theme has a fatal PHP error. Contact your theme developer or switch to a well-maintained premium theme.<\/p>\n<h3 id='step-4-increase-php-memory-limit'  id=\"boomdevs_18\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Step 4 \u2014 Increase PHP Memory Limit<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">A low PHP memory limit is a silent killer for WordPress sites running multiple plugins or WooCommerce.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>Method 1 \u2014 Via wp-config.php:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Open <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">wp-config.php<\/code> in your File Manager or FTP client<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Add this line <strong>before<\/strong> the line that says <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">\/* That's all, stop editing! *\/<\/code>:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"relative group\/copy bg-bg-000\/50 border-0.5 border-border-400 rounded-lg\">\n<div class=\"overflow-x-auto\">\n<pre class=\"code-block__code !my-0 !rounded-lg !text-sm !leading-relaxed p-3.5\"><code>define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\" start=\"3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Save and reload<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>Method 2 \u2014 Via .htaccess (if wp-config doesn&#8217;t work):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Find the <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">.htaccess<\/code> file in your root folder<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Add this line:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"relative group\/copy bg-bg-000\/50 border-0.5 border-border-400 rounded-lg\">\n<div class=\"overflow-x-auto\">\n<pre class=\"code-block__code !my-0 !rounded-lg !text-sm !leading-relaxed p-3.5\"><code>php_value memory_limit 256M<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\" start=\"3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Save and test<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>Method 3 \u2014 Via cPanel (PHP Settings):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Log in to cPanel<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Find <strong>&#8220;PHP Version&#8221;<\/strong> or <strong>&#8220;MultiPHP INI Editor&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Increase <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">memory_limit<\/code> to 256M or 512M<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Save changes<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3 id='step-5-check-error-logs'  id=\"boomdevs_19\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Step 5 \u2014 Check Error Logs<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Your server keeps detailed error logs that can help you pinpoint the exact cause. These are especially useful when you&#8217;ve enabled WordPress debug mode.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>Where to find error logs:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>WordPress debug log:<\/strong> <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">wp-content\/debug.log<\/code> (only if WP_DEBUG_LOG is enabled)<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>cPanel Error Logs:<\/strong> Login to cPanel \u2192 <strong>Metrics<\/strong> \u2192 <strong>Errors<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>Hosting Control Panel:<\/strong> Many hosts, like SiteGround, Bluehost, and Hostinger, have built-in error log viewers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Look for lines containing <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">Fatal error<\/code>, <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">Call to undefined function<\/code>, or <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">memory exhausted<\/code>. These tell you exactly which file and which line of code is causing the WordPress critical error.<\/p>\n<h2 id='fix-using-cpanel-or-ftp'  id=\"boomdevs_20\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Fix Using cPanel or FTP<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">For users who prefer working inside their hosting account without a separate FTP client, here&#8217;s how to handle file-based fixes directly from cPanel.<\/p>\n<h3 id='access-file-manager'  id=\"boomdevs_21\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Access File Manager<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2814\" title=\"Access WordPress files via cPanel file manager FTP\" src=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Access-WordPress-files-via-cPanel-file-manager-FTP.webp\" alt=\"Access WordPress files via cPanel file manager FTP\" width=\"503\" height=\"274\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Access-WordPress-files-via-cPanel-file-manager-FTP.webp 1408w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Access-WordPress-files-via-cPanel-file-manager-FTP-300x164.webp 300w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Access-WordPress-files-via-cPanel-file-manager-FTP-1024x559.webp 1024w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Access-WordPress-files-via-cPanel-file-manager-FTP-768x419.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 503px) 100vw, 503px\" \/><\/p>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Log in to your hosting account<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Open <strong>cPanel Dashboard<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Click on <strong>File Manager<\/strong> under the Files section<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Make sure <strong>&#8220;Show Hidden Files&#8221;<\/strong> is checked (important for seeing .htaccess)<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Navigate to <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">public_html<\/code> \u2014 this is your WordPress root directory<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">From here, you can access and edit <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">wp-config.php<\/code>, the plugins folder, the themes folder, <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">.htaccess<\/code>, and error logs all in one place \u2014 no FTP client needed.<\/p>\n<h3 id='edit-wp-config-php'  id=\"boomdevs_22\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Edit wp-config.php<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">wp-config.php<\/code> file is the control center of your WordPress installation. From this single file, you can:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Enable or disable WordPress debug mode<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Increase the PHP memory limit<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Change database connection settings<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Disable automatic updates (which can sometimes cause conflicts)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>To edit safely:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Right-click <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">wp-config.php<\/code> in File Manager<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Click <strong>Download<\/strong> first to keep a backup copy<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Then click <strong>Edit<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Make your changes carefully<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Click <strong>Save Changes<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<blockquote class=\"ml-2 border-l-4 border-border-300\/10 pl-4 text-text-300\">\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Never delete wp-config.php. Always download a backup before editing.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 id='when-nothing-works-advanced-fix'  id=\"boomdevs_23\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">When Nothing Works \u2014 Advanced Fix<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">If you&#8217;ve tried all of the above steps and the &#8220;there has been a critical error on this website&#8221; message is still showing, it&#8217;s time for the advanced solutions.<\/p>\n<h3 id='reinstall-wordpress-core-files'  id=\"boomdevs_24\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Reinstall WordPress Core Files<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Sometimes core WordPress files become corrupted, especially during a failed update. Reinstalling the core doesn&#8217;t delete your content, posts, pages, or database \u2014 it only replaces the core files.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>Here&#8217;s how:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Download the latest version of WordPress from <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wordpress.org<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Extract the zip file on your computer<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Delete the <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">wp-content<\/code> folder from the extracted files (<strong>do not upload this<\/strong>)<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Also delete <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">wp-config-sample.php<\/code><\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Connect to your site via FTP<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Upload all remaining files to your <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">public_html<\/code> folder<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Choose <strong>Overwrite<\/strong> when prompted<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">This replaces all core WordPress files with fresh versions while leaving your database, uploads, plugins, and themes untouched.<\/p>\n<h3 id='restore-a-backup'  id=\"boomdevs_25\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Restore a Backup<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">If reinstalling core files still doesn&#8217;t resolve the error, restoring a clean backup is your safest option.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>Where to find your backup:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>cPanel Backups:<\/strong> Go to cPanel \u2192 <strong>Backup Wizard<\/strong> \u2192 Restore<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>Your hosting provider&#8217;s backups:<\/strong> Most modern hosts (Kinsta, SiteGround, WP Engine) keep automated daily backups<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>Backup plugins:<\/strong> If you were using UpdraftPlus, BlogVault, or Jetpack Backup before the error occurred, restore the most recent clean version<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Restoring a backup takes your site back to a working state. After restoring, update the plugin or theme that caused the error \u2014 or remove it entirely.<\/p>\n<h2 id='how-to-prevent-this-error-in-the-future'  id=\"boomdevs_26\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">How to Prevent This Error in the Future<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2815\" title=\"WordPress website maintenance prevent critical error future\" src=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-website-maintenance-prevent-critical-error-future.webp\" alt=\"WordPress website maintenance prevent critical error future\" width=\"503\" height=\"274\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-website-maintenance-prevent-critical-error-future.webp 1408w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-website-maintenance-prevent-critical-error-future-300x164.webp 300w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-website-maintenance-prevent-critical-error-future-1024x559.webp 1024w, https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WordPress-website-maintenance-prevent-critical-error-future-768x419.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 503px) 100vw, 503px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Fixing the error is important. Preventing it from happening again is even more important. Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/on-page-seo-checklist\/\"><strong>best practices<\/strong><\/a> every WordPress site owner should follow.<\/p>\n<h3 id='update-plugins-and-themes-regularly'  id=\"boomdevs_27\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Update Plugins and Themes Regularly<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Outdated plugins and themes are the single biggest security and stability risk for any WordPress site. Most critical errors happen because:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">A plugin hasn&#8217;t been updated in months<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">The theme was built for an older PHP version<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">WordPress core was updated, but plugins didn&#8217;t follow<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 id='best-practices'  id=\"boomdevs_28\" class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>Best practices:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Check for updates at least once a week<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Before updating, <strong>test on a staging site<\/strong> if possible<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Read plugin changelogs before updating \u2014 especially major version updates<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Remove plugins you no longer use<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id='use-reliable-hosting'  id=\"boomdevs_29\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Use Reliable Hosting<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Not all hosting is created equal. Cheap shared hosting often uses outdated PHP versions, has very low memory limits, and doesn&#8217;t provide proper error logging or staging environments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">For a stable, error-free WordPress experience, consider hosting providers that offer:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">PHP 8.1 or higher support<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">At least 256MB PHP memory limit<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Automated daily backups<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Staging environments<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">WordPress-specific server optimization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Recommended options include <strong>Kinsta, WP Engine, SiteGround, and Cloudways<\/strong> for small businesses and <a href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/modern-wedding-photography-websites\/\"><strong>growing websites in the USA<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id='regular-backups'  id=\"boomdevs_30\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-2 -mb-1 text-base font-bold\">Regular Backups<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Backups are your insurance policy. If you have a clean backup from yesterday, a critical error today is a 10-minute fix \u2014 not a multi-hour crisis.<\/p>\n<h4 id='backup-recommendations'  id=\"boomdevs_31\" class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong>Backup recommendations:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Use a plugin like <strong>UpdraftPlus<\/strong> (free) or <strong>BlogVault<\/strong> (paid)<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Schedule daily automated backups<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Store backups offsite \u2014 Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Test your backups periodically to make sure they actually restore correctly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id='need-help-get-expert-wordpress-support'  id=\"boomdevs_32\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Need Help? \u2014 Get Expert WordPress Support<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">You&#8217;ve just read one of the most complete guides to fixing the &#8220;there has been a critical error on this website WordPress fix&#8221; available anywhere online. But sometimes, despite following every step, the error persists \u2014 and that&#8217;s completely okay.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Not every website owner should have to become a WordPress developer to keep their site running.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">If you&#8217;re in <b>USA<\/b>\u00a0or anywhere across the <strong>USA<\/strong> \u2014 and you need fast, professional WordPress support, the team at <a href=\"https:\/\/share.google\/fmhznOa1yDEB4TCsW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Top Branding Altimeter<\/strong><\/a> is here to help.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">We are a full-service <strong><a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/services\/web-design-development\/\">Website Designer<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/services\/web-design-development\/\">WordPress Website Development USA<\/a><\/strong> agency with deep expertise in:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\">\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Emergency WordPress error fixes<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Plugin and theme conflict resolution<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">PHP and server-level debugging<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">WordPress maintenance and security<\/li>\n<li class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Full website rebuilds and migrations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Whether you need a one-time fix or ongoing WordPress maintenance, our experts handle it all \u2014 so you can focus on running your business.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><strong><a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/contact-us\/\">Contact Top Branding Altimeter Today<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 and get your WordPress site back online fast.<\/p>\n<h2 id='frequently-asked-questions'  id=\"boomdevs_33\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3 id='how-do-i-fix-a-critical-error-in-wordpress'  id=\"boomdevs_34\" class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">How do I fix a critical error in WordPress?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Start by checking your admin email for a WordPress recovery link. Then disable all plugins via File Manager, switch to a default theme, and increase the PHP memory limit. If those steps don&#8217;t work, enable WP_DEBUG in wp-config.php to read the exact error log and identify the source.<\/p>\n<h3 id='what-causes-a-critical-error-on-wordpress'  id=\"boomdevs_35\" class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">What causes a critical error on WordPress?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">The most common causes are plugin conflicts, outdated or incompatible themes, PHP fatal errors, exceeded PHP memory limits, and corrupted WordPress core files. A recent update \u2014 whether to a plugin, theme, or PHP version \u2014 is usually the trigger.<\/p>\n<h3 id='can-plugins-cause-a-critical-error'  id=\"boomdevs_36\" class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Can plugins cause a critical error?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Yes. Plugin conflicts are the number one cause of the WordPress critical error. This is especially common when a plugin is incompatible with your current PHP version, another plugin, or the latest WordPress core update.<\/p>\n<h3 id='how-do-i-enable-debug-mode-in-wordpress'  id=\"boomdevs_37\" class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">How do I enable debug mode in WordPress?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Open your <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">wp-config.php<\/code> file via cPanel File Manager or FTP. Add <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );<\/code> and <code class=\"bg-text-200\/5 border border-0.5 border-border-300 text-danger-000 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded-[0.4rem] px-1 py-px text-[0.9rem]\">define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );<\/code> before the stop-editing line. This will create a debug.log file inside wp-content\/ that records all PHP errors.<\/p>\n<h3 id='is-this-error-related-to-hosting'  id=\"boomdevs_38\" class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">Is this error related to hosting?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">It can be. If your hosting provider recently changed your PHP version, lowered your memory limit, or if the server is experiencing issues, it can cause a WordPress critical error. Check your cPanel error logs and contact your host if you suspect a server-side problem.<\/p>\n<h3 id='how-to-fix-wordpress-without-login-access'  id=\"boomdevs_39\" class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">How to fix WordPress without login access?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">When you can&#8217;t access wp-admin, use cPanel File Manager or an FTP client to disable plugins by renaming the plugins folder, switch themes by renaming your active theme folder, and edit wp-config.php to enable debug mode or increase memory. The WordPress recovery email also contains a direct link to a limited admin panel without needing to log in normally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"><em>Top Branding Altimeter serves small businesses, bloggers, and entrepreneurs across the USA. Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/\"><strong>TBA<\/strong><\/a> to explore our full range of web design, <a href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/services\/web-design-development\/\"><strong>WordPress development<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/seo-for-beginners\/\"><strong>SEO<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/services\/branding\"><strong>branding<\/strong><\/a>, and digital marketing services.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Fix &#8220;Critical Error on This Website&#8221; in WordPress You open your WordPress website and see it \u2014 that dreaded white screen with the message: &#8220;There has been a critical error on this website.&#8221; Your heart sinks. Your site &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2811,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[377,376,375],"class_list":["post-2808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-critical-error","tag-critical-error-on-this-website-wordpress-fix","tag-there-has-been-a-critical-error-on-this-website-wordpress-fix"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Fix-there-has-been-a-critical-error-on-this-website-WordPress.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2808"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2808\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2818,"href":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2808\/revisions\/2818"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topbrandingaltimeter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}