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

Introduction

If you’ve ever encountered the white screen of death or the dreaded “There has been a critical error on this website” message on your WordPress site, you’re not alone. This frustrating problem can bring your website to a standstill, affecting traffic, sales, and credibility. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step). We’ve tailored this resource for both beginners and experienced WordPress users, ensuring it’s packed with clear, actionable solutions. By the end of this post, you’ll understand the most common causes, learn how to identify the root issue, and resolve it using proven methods.

What Is the WordPress Critical Error?

Before diving into How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step), it’s crucial to understand what this error really means. A critical error typically occurs when a script halts your WordPress site’s core operations. This is often due to a plugin, theme, or PHP compatibility issue.

  • White Screen or Message Error:
    If you’re seeing a white screen or the message, “There has been a critical error on this website,” it’s usually related to a PHP fatal error. WordPress can’t execute essential scripts, resulting in the complete shutdown of front-end and back-end access.
  • Causes of the Critical Error:
    Common causes include outdated themes or plugins, a recent update conflict, server configuration changes, low PHP memory limit, or corrupted core files. It may even stem from hacked or compromised files.
  • Why This Error is Urgent:
    Since your entire site may be inaccessible, fixing the issue is time-sensitive. The sooner you learn How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step), the better your chances of avoiding lost visitors and revenue.

Step 1: Enable WordPress Debug Mode

To start resolving How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step), the first step is enabling debugging. This helps you identify the source of the error.

  • Edit the wp-config.php File:
    Access your site files via cPanel or an FTP client like FileZilla. Open the wp-config.php file in the root directory and locate the line define('WP_DEBUG', false);. Replace it with:

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

    This logs all PHP errors to a debug log located at /wp-content/debug.log, without displaying them on your live site.

  • Benefits of Debug Mode:
    Using debug mode allows you to pinpoint which theme, plugin, or file is causing the problem. It’s essential in our journey on How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step) because without this, you’re guessing in the dark.

Step 2: Access the Site via Safe Mode or Recovery Mode

When discussing How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step), Recovery Mode is a powerful feature introduced in WordPress 5.2.

  • Automatic Recovery Link:
    WordPress may send an email with a recovery mode login link. Use this to access the admin panel without loading problematic plugins or themes.
  • No Email Received? Use FTP:
    If you haven’t received the email or can’t access it, use FTP or cPanel File Manager to disable problematic plugins or themes manually.

Step 3: Deactivate All Plugins

Deactivating plugins is one of the quickest ways to resolve How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step) because plugin conflicts are the most common source.

  • Use FTP to Rename Plugin Folder:
    Navigate to /wp-content/plugins/ and rename the folder to something like plugins_backup. This disables all plugins at once.
  • Reactivate One by One:
    Rename the folder back and reactivate plugins individually via wp-admin. Check after each activation to identify the faulty one.
  • What If You Can’t Access wp-admin?
    Continue managing plugin activation by renaming individual plugin folders until the issue is found.

Step 4: Switch to Default Theme

When learning How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step), don’t overlook themes. A corrupted or incompatible theme can crash your site.

  • Via FTP or cPanel:
    Go to /wp-content/themes/ and rename your active theme’s folder. This forces WordPress to switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
  • Install Default Theme if Missing:
    If no default theme is installed, download it from the WordPress.org repository, upload it via FTP, and activate it manually.

Step 5: Increase PHP Memory Limit

A low PHP memory limit often causes site crashes, and boosting this setting is an essential part of How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step).

  • Edit wp-config.php:
    Add the following line before the line that says /* That's all, stop editing! */:

    define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
  • Alternative Methods:
    If the wp-config method doesn’t work, you can increase memory via .htaccess or php.ini depending on your hosting provider.

Step 6: Check for Corrupted Core Files

Sometimes WordPress core files may be corrupted. Re-uploading fresh core files is a safe step in How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step).

  • Download Fresh WordPress Zip File:
    Go to wordpress.org and download the latest version. Extract and upload only the wp-admin and wp-includes folders via FTP.
  • Don’t Touch wp-content:
    Avoid overwriting the wp-content folder to preserve your themes, plugins, and uploads.

Step 7: Review Error Logs

Reading logs is a vital troubleshooting step in How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step).

  • PHP Error Logs:
    Your hosting control panel might have an error log section. Look for recent fatal errors and their file paths.
  • Debug.log File:
    Located in /wp-content/, this file logs all errors if debugging is enabled. Review the latest entries to locate the error source.

Step 8: Contact Hosting Provider

If you’ve tried all the above and still need help, contacting your host is the next logical step in How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step).

  • Check Server Configurations:
    They can help identify PHP issues, server restrictions, or malicious attacks.
  • Restore from Backup:
    Many hosting providers offer one-click backups. Restoring your site to a previous stable version may fix the issue instantly.

Step 9: Restore a Clean Backup

One final strategy in How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step) is to restore your site from a clean backup.

  • Manual Restore via FTP or cPanel:
    Upload your backed-up files and import the database using phpMyAdmin.
  • Use a Plugin (if accessible):
    If your site’s backend works, plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy can restore backups easily.

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

Q1: Will fixing the critical error delete my content?
No. Fixing this error doesn’t delete your posts, pages, or media unless you intentionally delete files or databases.

Q2: Why didn’t I receive the recovery email from WordPress?
Ensure your site has proper email settings or SMTP configurations. Sometimes, emails land in the spam folder or get blocked by your host.

Q3: Can I prevent the critical error from happening again?
Yes. Keep themes and plugins updated, use reliable plugins, increase memory limits, and maintain regular backups.

Q4: What if none of the above steps work?
Hire a WordPress developer or contact your hosting provider. There might be deeper issues like malware or file permission problems.

Q5: Is this error a sign of my site being hacked?
Not always, but if you suspect a hack, scan your site using security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned How to Fix the Critical Error in WordPress (Step by Step), you should feel more confident in troubleshooting and restoring your site quickly. The critical error may be intimidating, but with this step-by-step approach, you’re well-equipped to handle it without panic. Regular maintenance, cautious plugin use, and routine backups are key to avoiding such interruptions.

Ready to fix your site today? Follow these steps, and don’t forget to bookmark this guide for future emergencies. If you found this post helpful, share it with other WordPress users facing similar issues!