How to Fix “There Has Been a Critical Error on This Website” in WordPress

Seeing the message “There has been a critical error on this website” can be alarming—especially when your site suddenly goes down. This error usually appears when WordPress encounters a fatal PHP error and cannot continue loading the site.

In this guide, we’ll explain what causes this error and provide step-by-step solutions to fix it safely.

What Does “There Has Been a Critical Error on This Website” Mean?

This error indicates that WordPress encountered a fatal error—most often due to:

• Faulty or incompatible plugins
• Theme conflicts
• PHP version issues
• Corrupted WordPress core files
• Server memory limits

Unlike older WordPress versions that showed a blank white screen, newer versions display this user-friendly error message.

Step 1: Enable WordPress Debug Mode

Debug mode helps identify the exact error.

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

Edit the wp-config.php file and add the above lines. Reload your site to view the exact error message.

Step 2: Check the Admin Email for Error Details

WordPress automatically sends an email to the site admin email address with:

• The file causing the error
• The plugin or theme name
• A recovery mode login link

Use the recovery link to log in and fix the issue.

Step 3: Deactivate All Plugins via FTP

Plugins are the most common cause of critical errors.

1. Connect to your site using FTP or File Manager
2. Navigate to /wp-content/
3. Rename the plugins folder to plugins_old

If the site works, rename the folder back and activate plugins one-by-one to find the culprit.

Step 4: Switch to a Default WordPress Theme

If plugins aren’t the issue, the theme might be.

1. Go to /wp-content/themes/
2. Rename your active theme folder
3. WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four

Step 5: Increase PHP Memory Limit

Low memory limits can trigger fatal errors.

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

Add this line to wp-config.php and refresh your site.

Step 6: Check PHP Version Compatibility

Some plugins and themes are not compatible with newer PHP versions.

Try switching between PHP 7.4 or PHP 8.0 from your hosting control panel.

Step 7: Re-upload WordPress Core Files

If core files are corrupted:

1. Download a fresh copy of WordPress
2. Upload only the wp-admin and wp-includes folders
3. Do NOT overwrite wp-content

Step 8: Check Server Error Logs

Look for error logs in:

• /wp-content/debug.log
• Hosting control panel → Error Logs

These logs often reveal the exact cause.

How to Prevent This Error in the Future

• Update plugins and themes regularly
• Avoid using nulled or outdated plugins
• Use a staging site before updates
• Take daily backups
• Monitor PHP compatibility

Final Thoughts

The “There Has Been a Critical Error on This Website” message may look serious, but in most cases, it can be fixed within minutes by identifying plugin, theme, or PHP issues.