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How to Fix the WordPress 'Critical Error' and Get Your Site Back Online

58 threads Sep 16, 2025 Core → Fixing wordpress

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Encountering the generic "There has been a critical error on this website" message can be alarming. This message is WordPress's way of saying a fatal PHP error has occurred, preventing a page or your entire site from loading. This guide will walk you through the most common causes and the step-by-step troubleshooting process to resolve it.

Why This Error Happens

A "Critical Error" or "White Screen of Death" is typically a symptom of a deeper conflict or problem. Based on common community reports, the culprits are usually one of the following:

  • Plugin Conflicts: A newly installed or updated plugin is the most frequent cause. It might be incompatible with your current version of WordPress, PHP, or another plugin.
  • Theme Issues: An outdated or faulty theme (especially a custom or premium one) can trigger fatal errors, particularly after a core WordPress or PHP update.
  • Outdated PHP Version: WordPress heavily relies on PHP. Running an old, unsupported version of PHP (e.g., 7.0 or below) is a common source of compatibility errors.
  • Corrupted Core Files: Sometimes, a failed update can corrupt the core WordPress files.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Important: Before you begin, if you can access your site's admin email, check it for a detailed error message from WordPress. This email often names the specific plugin or theme causing the issue, which can save you significant time.

1. Check Your Server's Error Log (The Fastest Method)

Your web hosting server keeps a log of errors that is often the quickest way to identify the problem.

  • Access your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel).
  • Look for a section called "Error Log," "Logs," or "Metrics."
  • Open the latest error log file. It will contain detailed error messages that point directly to the faulty plugin, theme, or code.
  • If you cannot find it, your hosting provider's support team can help you locate it.

2. Enable WordPress Debugging

If the server logs don't provide a clear answer, you can enable WordPress's built-in debug mode to generate a specific log file.

  1. Connect to your site via FTP or your hosting provider's File Manager.
  2. Locate the wp-config.php file in your WordPress root directory.
  3. Edit the file and find the line that says define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );.
  4. Replace it with the following lines: 
    define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );
  5. Save the file and upload it back to your server.
  6. Now, revisit your website to trigger the critical error again. This will silently create a debug.log file in the /wp-content/ directory.
  7. Check this log file for detailed error messages that identify the problem.

3. Isolate the Problem: The Quick Fix

If you cannot access your WordPress dashboard (/wp-admin), you will need to deactivate components manually.

A. Deactivate All Plugins

  1. Via FTP/File Manager, navigate to the /wp-content/ folder.
  2. Rename the plugins folder to plugins.deactivate.
  3. This will disable all plugins at once. Check if your site loads normally.
  4. If it does, rename the folder back to plugins.
  5. Then, go into the plugins folder and rename individual plugin folders one by one (e.g., change plugin-name to plugin-name.deactivate), checking your site after each change. This will help you identify the problematic plugin.

B. Switch to a Default Theme

  1. If deactivating plugins doesn't work, the issue may be your theme.
  2. Via FTP/File Manager, navigate to /wp-content/themes/.
  3. Rename your current active theme's folder (e.g., change my-theme to my-theme.deactivate).
  4. WordPress will automatically switch to a default Twenty Series theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Four) if one is installed. If your site works now, you know your theme was the cause.

4. Check Your PHP Version

An outdated PHP version is a common cause of errors. Log into your hosting control panel and check which version of PHP your site is using. The 'Fixing WordPress' team suggests using PHP 8.0 or 8.2 for the best compatibility and performance. Update if necessary, but always test on a staging site first if possible.

What to Do Next

  • If you found a problematic plugin: Keep it deactivated and check the plugin's support forum for updates or known issues. You may need to find an alternative.
  • If you found a problematic theme: Contact the theme's developer for support. Ensure the theme is updated to the latest version.
  • If a plugin/theme update caused the issue: Sometimes, rolling back to a previous version of the plugin can resolve the conflict until a patch is released.

By methodically working through these steps, you can almost always identify and resolve the cause of a WordPress critical error.

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