Few things are more stressful than opening your WordPress site and seeing the message “There has been a critical error on this website.” It usually appears without warning, locks you out of your dashboard, and stops your visitors from accessing your pages. The good news is that this problem can be fixed quickly if you know what causes it and how to troubleshoot it. In this post, you’ll find real WordPress critical error solutions that work for both beginners and experienced users.
What Causes a Critical Error in WordPress
A critical error usually means that something in your WordPress code broke and stopped the site from loading. This can happen for a few common reasons:
- A plugin or theme conflict
- Corrupted files or a failed update
- PHP version incompatibility
- Memory limits reached on your hosting plan
- Custom code with syntax errors
Understanding these causes makes it easier to fix the issue without guessing.
Step 1: Enable Debug Mode to Find the Source
The first step is to locate the problem. WordPress has a built-in debug tool that helps you see what is going wrong behind the scenes.
- Log in to your hosting control panel (like cPanel or Hostinger).
- Open the File Manager and find the file named wp-config.php.
- Edit it and look for the line that says:
define( 'WP_DEBUG', false ); - Change false to true and save the file.
Now reload your site. You’ll see a specific error message that shows which plugin, theme, or file caused the issue. Once you find it, you can move to the next step.
Step 2: Deactivate Problematic Plugins
Plugin conflicts are the most common cause of the critical error.
- Go to your hosting File Manager or connect via FTP.
- Open the folder /wp-content/plugins/.
- Rename each plugin folder one by one (for example, rename “elementor” to “elementor-old”).
- Reload your site after each rename to see which plugin caused the problem.
Once the site loads again, delete or update that plugin. You can then rename the rest back to normal.
Step 3: Switch to a Default Theme
If disabling plugins does not solve the issue, your theme might be the problem.
- Go to /wp-content/themes/.
- Rename your active theme folder.
- WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
If your site loads after this, your old theme had broken code or outdated functions. Update it or contact the developer for help.
Step 4: Increase PHP Memory Limit
Sometimes the critical error happens when your site runs out of memory. You can fix this by increasing the PHP memory limit.
- Open the wp-config.php file again.
- Add this line just before “That’s all, stop editing”:
define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' ); - Save the file and reload your website.
This gives WordPress more memory to run your plugins and scripts smoothly.
Step 5: Reinstall Core WordPress Files
If none of the above steps work, your core WordPress files might be damaged.
- Download a fresh copy of WordPress from wordpress.org.
- Extract the ZIP file on your computer.
- Upload the new wp-admin and wp-includes folders through your hosting File Manager or FTP, replacing the old ones.
Your content and settings will stay safe in the wp-content folder and database.
Step 6: Check PHP Version Compatibility
Your WordPress installation and plugins must run on a compatible PHP version.
- Most current sites work best with PHP 8.0 or higher.
- You can check your PHP version in your hosting panel.
- If it’s older, update it with one click from the control panel.
After updating, clear your cache and test your site again.
Step 7: Restore a Backup
If you have regular backups, restoring your site to a working version can save a lot of time.
- Use your hosting backup tool or a plugin like UpdraftPlus or Jetpack VaultPress.
- Restore both the database and files to the last known good state.
Once your site is running again, check for outdated plugins or themes before updating anything new.
Preventing Future Critical Errors
Once you fix the issue, prevent it from happening again by following these tips:
- Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated.
- Use only trusted plugins with good reviews.
- Avoid editing core files directly.
- Always test updates on a staging site first.
- Schedule regular backups to a secure location.
At Webs Pulse, we often help clients set up safe update systems to avoid these breakdowns entirely. A little maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your site stable.
Final Thought
The WordPress critical error solutions above cover every major cause of this issue. Start by finding the error source with debug mode, then disable conflicting plugins or themes, and restore clean files if needed. With a calm, step-by-step approach, your website will be back online in minutes.
If you manage business websites or client projects, always keep a recovery plan ready. WordPress is reliable when handled correctly, and once you understand how to fix a critical error, you’ll never panic at that message again.