Fixing Site Kit's Critical Errors: A Troubleshooting Guide for WordPress Users

If you've encountered a critical error or 'E-ERROR' message related to Google's Site Kit plugin, you're not alone. These errors can be alarming, often making your WordPress admin panel inaccessible or causing functionality to break. Based on common community reports, this guide will help you understand why these errors occur and how to resolve them.

What Causes Site Kit Critical Errors?

Critical errors with Site Kit typically fall into several categories:

• Failed File Inclusion: The plugin cannot find required PHP files (e.g., "Failed opening required '.../Screen.php'"). This often happens due to incomplete plugin updates, file permission issues, or conflicts with server configurations.
• PHP Version Compatibility: Errors related to specific PHP functions or classes may indicate compatibility issues with your PHP version.
• Plugin Conflicts: Other plugins, especially those that modify Site Kit's functionality (as seen with Newspack plugin in Thread 9), can cause fatal errors.
• Corrupted Updates: Automatic updates that don't complete properly can leave the plugin in an unstable state.
• Data Encoding Issues: Problems with encrypted data storage can lead to type errors, such as passing an array where a string is expected.

How to Fix Site Kit Critical Errors

1. Restore Site Access (If Admin Panel Is Inaccessible)

If the error prevents you from accessing your WordPress admin area:

1. Use FTP or your hosting control panel's file manager to navigate to your WordPress installation.
2. Go to the wp-content/plugins/ directory.
3. Locate the google-site-kit folder.
4. Rename this folder to something like google-site-kit-disabled.
5. This will deactivate Site Kit and should restore access to your WordPress admin area.

2. Reinstall Site Kit Cleanly

After regaining access to your admin panel:

1. Delete the renamed/disabled Site Kit plugin folder completely.
2. Go to your WordPress dashboard > Plugins > Add New.
3. Search for "Site Kit by Google" and install it fresh.
4. Reactivate and reconfigure the plugin (you may need to reconnect your Google services).

3. Check for Plugin Conflicts

Conflicts with other plugins are a common cause of issues:

1. Temporarily disable other plugins, especially those that integrate with Google services or modify Site Kit.
2. Reactivate them one by one while checking if the error returns.
3. Pay particular attention to plugins like Newspack or any custom-coded extensions that might hook into Site Kit.

4. Verify PHP Compatibility

Ensure your server environment meets requirements:

1. Check that you're running at least PHP 7.4 (though PHP 8.0 or higher is recommended).
2. Review your error logs for any PHP version-specific warnings or errors.
3. Contact your hosting provider if you need assistance updating your PHP version.

5. Review Error Logs

For more specific troubleshooting:

1. Check your WordPress debug logs by enabling WP_DEBUG in your wp-config.php file.
2. Look for PHP error logs in your hosting control panel.
3. Examine WooCommerce status logs (if available) under WooCommerce > Status > Logs.

6. Reset Site Kit (Advanced)

If reinstallation doesn't work, you may need to reset Site Kit completely:

1. Use WP-CLI if you have server access: wp google-site-kit reset
2. Alternatively, use the "Reset Site Kit" option in the plugin's settings (if accessible).
3. Note: This will remove all current settings and require reconnecting all services.

When to Seek Additional Help

If these steps don't resolve your issue:

• Check the official WordPress support forums for similar issues and solutions.
• Share your specific error message (without sensitive data) when seeking help from the community.
• Provide your Site Health information (found under Tools > Site Health > Info) if asking for assistance, as it helps others understand your environment.

Remember that critical errors are often temporary and caused by update glitches. A clean reinstallation of Site Kit resolves most cases. The Site Kit by Google team regularly releases updates to address known issues, so ensuring you have the latest version after troubleshooting is recommended.