If your WordPress site is suddenly showing a message like “There has been a critical error on this website”, it’s easy to feel panicked. But take a deep breath, this is a common issue, and in most cases it’s fixable without calling in an expert.
A WordPress critical error typically means something went wrong in the PHP code (a plugin, theme, or core file) that stopped your site from loading properly. As you’ll see in this guide, many of those errors stem from conflicts, updates, or resource limits. We’ll walk through what this error means, what often causes it, and most importantly how to fix WordPress critical error step by step so your site is back online quickly.
By the end of these first sections, you’ll understand the nature of the problem, and you’ll be ready to dig into specific solutions confidently.
What Is the Critical Error in WordPress?
When WordPress can’t properly load crucial PHP files or execute scripts required to run your site, it triggers a critical error in WordPress. Instead of seeing a functional site, visitors (and sometimes the admin) will be greeted with an error screen or message.
In earlier versions of WordPress, such fatal errors often resulted in a completely blank page (sometimes called the “white screen of death”).
Nowadays, WordPress is a bit more user-friendly: it often displays a message along the lines of:
“There has been a critical error on this website. Please check your site admin email inbox for instructions.”
Along with this message, WordPress may send an email to the administrator’s address. That email often contains details about the file or plugin that caused the problem and a special recovery mode link.
The key take-away: a WordPress critical error doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your site. It’s WordPress’s way of saying, “Something broke at the code level, and I can’t load right now.” In many scenarios, it simply requires identifying the source (plugin, theme, PHP, etc.) and applying the right fix.
What Causes the Critical Error in WordPress?
From our experience, the WordPress critical error usually happens when something prevents WordPress from loading its core files correctly. In simple terms, it means a plugin, theme, or custom code is breaking the site before it can fully load.
Most of the time, this error is caused by one of the following:
- A malfunctioning plugin or theme – When a plugin or theme isn’t coded properly or is incompatible with your WordPress version, it can stop your site from working. This often happens right after you install or update a plugin or theme.
- Faulty or untested code snippets – If you recently added a piece of code from a tutorial or made a manual change in the functions.php file, that code might contain an error. Even a missing semicolon or bracket can cause a critical error in WordPress.
- Plugin conflicts – Sometimes, two plugins that work fine individually may not work well together. This kind of conflict can crash your site and trigger the critical error message.
- Outdated or incompatible PHP version – WordPress relies on PHP to run. If your hosting server uses an older or unsupported PHP version, it might not handle the latest WordPress or plugin code properly.
- Low memory limit – When your site tries to use more memory than your hosting allows, the process stops, and WordPress can’t complete loading.
- Corrupted WordPress core files – In some cases, an incomplete update or a corrupted file can make WordPress fail to load important scripts.
- Custom code or scripts – Adding third-party scripts or modifying theme and plugin files directly can lead to unexpected issues if the code isn’t tested.
Most trusted plugins and themes are thoroughly tested before release, so they rarely cause such issues. However, conflicts between multiple plugins or small mistakes in custom code can still trigger this problem.
If you’re currently seeing the message “There has been a critical error on this website”, don’t worry — it’s fixable. In the next section, we’ll walk you through how to fix the WordPress critical error step-by-step so your website runs smoothly again.
Fixing the Critical Error in WordPress (2 Methods)
The WordPress critical error message by itself doesn’t give much information about what went wrong. You might see the message “There has been a critical error on this website” without any hint about what caused it.
Luckily, WordPress also tries to send an email to your site’s admin address when a critical error occurs. That email includes more details and a special link that allows you to enter recovery mode to fix the problem easily.
However, many WordPress sites are not configured to send emails correctly (especially if you haven’t set up SMTP). This means some users never receive the message even though WordPress says it was sent. In other cases, the site may not even show the “check your email” message if certain files failed to load properly.
But don’t worry — whether you received the recovery email or not, you can still fix the issue.
There are two methods to fix the critical error in WordPress depending on your situation:
- Using the WordPress debugging email (Recovery Mode) – if you received an email from WordPress saying “Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue.”
- Fixing the critical error manually – if you didn’t receive the email or recovery mode isn’t working.
We’ll walk you through both methods step by step, starting with the easier one — using the email recovery link.
Method 1: Fixing the Critical Error With the WordPress Debugging Email
If you’ve received an email titled “Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue”, that’s your clue. This message goes to the admin email address you used when setting up WordPress. If you installed WordPress through your hosting account (like Bluehost, Hostinger, or SiteGround), it’s usually the same email linked to your hosting.
Inside this email, WordPress will tell you exactly which plugin, theme, or file caused the error.
It will also include a recovery mode link. Click that link — it will open a secure login page for your WordPress site. After logging in, you’ll see a message showing which plugin or theme triggered the critical error.
👉 Here’s what to do next:
- If it shows a plugin issue, click the link to the Plugins page and deactivate the faulty one.
- If it’s a theme problem, switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four. You can reinstall your original theme later.
Once you deactivate or replace the issue-causing item, click “Exit Recovery Mode.” Your website should now load normally.
If the critical error persists even after recovery mode, don’t worry. In the next section, we’ll show you how to fix it manually, even if you never got the recovery email.
Method 2: Fixing the Critical Error in WordPress Manually (Without Email)
If you didn’t receive the WordPress technical issue email, don’t worry — you can still fix the critical error manually. This method is simple, even for beginners. We’ll go step-by-step to help you identify the cause and restore your website without losing any data.
1. Deactivate All WordPress Plugins
The most common cause of a WordPress critical error is a plugin conflict. This happens when two plugins don’t work well together or when a plugin isn’t compatible with your WordPress version. Since the error locks you out of your admin dashboard, you’ll need to use an FTP client (like FileZilla) or your hosting control panel’s File Manager.
Once connected, open the wp-content folder and find the plugins directory. Right-click on it and rename it to something like plugins.deactivated. Doing this temporarily disables all plugins. Now, refresh your website — if it loads normally, a plugin caused the issue.
To find the faulty plugin, rename the folder back to plugins, then go to your WordPress dashboard and reactivate each plugin one by one. When your site breaks again, you’ve found the problem plugin. You can then delete or replace it with a safer alternative.
2. Switch to a Default WordPress Theme
Sometimes, your theme can trigger the critical error — especially if it contains outdated or broken code. To test this, connect to your site via FTP or File Manager again and open the /wp-content/themes folder.
Download your existing themes as a backup, then delete all theme folders from the directory. Next, upload a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four from the official WordPress.org site. Once uploaded, try reloading your site. If it works, your previous theme was the culprit. You can reinstall or update it later after fixing the issue.
3. Reinstall WordPress Core Files
Corrupted or missing WordPress files can also cause the critical error. You can fix this by reinstalling the WordPress core safely. Download the latest version of WordPress from WordPress.org, unzip the package, and upload the files (except the wp-content folder) to your website’s root directory via FTP. Choose Overwrite when prompted.
This replaces all core WordPress files with fresh copies — without affecting your themes, plugins, or content. Once done, refresh your website to see if the issue is resolved.
4. Enable WordPress Debug Mode
If your site still shows the error, enabling debug mode can help identify what’s wrong. To do this, edit the wp-config.php file and replace the line:
| define(‘WP_DEBUG’, false); |
with:
| define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true); define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true); define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, true); |
Now reload your site. You’ll see detailed error messages and logs saved in the /wp-content/debug.log file. This information will show exactly which file or function is causing the problem.
5. Increase PHP Memory Limit
Sometimes, WordPress runs out of memory, especially on shared hosting plans. You can fix this by increasing your PHP memory limit. Add the following line to your wp-config.php file:
| define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘512M’); |
Save and upload the file. Then refresh your website. If low memory was the cause, the critical error should now disappear.
6. Update Your PHP Version
WordPress requires PHP 7.4 or higher. If your hosting provider is using an older PHP version, it can lead to critical errors. Log in to your hosting control panel and locate the PHP Version Manager option. Update it to the latest stable version, ideally PHP 8.1 or newer.
Once updated, clear your cache and check your site again. A newer PHP version often improves performance and prevents compatibility issues.
7. Get Expert Help
If you’ve tried all the above steps and still see the error, it’s best to get help from a WordPress expert. Professionals can quickly detect and fix deep code or server-level issues without risking your data.
Preventing Future Critical Errors in WordPress
Once you’ve fixed the critical error on your WordPress website, it’s important to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Preventing future errors saves you time, protects your site’s performance, and ensures your visitors always have a smooth experience. Below are some practical and beginner-friendly ways to prevent WordPress critical errors permanently.
1. Keep WordPress Core, Themes, and Plugins Updated
One of the main reasons WordPress sites break is outdated software. Developers often release updates to fix bugs, patch security holes, and improve compatibility with newer PHP versions.
Make it a habit to check for updates regularly. Go to your Dashboard → Updates section to update WordPress core, themes, and plugins. Alternatively, you can enable auto-updates for trusted plugins and themes.
Avoid updating everything blindly on a live site. It’s best to create a backup first or test updates on a staging site before applying them to your main website.
2. Use Reliable and Well-Maintained Plugins & Themes
Poorly coded or outdated plugins and themes are common causes of critical errors. Always download themes and plugins from reputable sources such as:
- WordPress.org repository
- Trusted developers’ official websites
- Well-known marketplaces like ThemeForest or Envato
Before installing a plugin, check the ratings, reviews, and last updated date. Avoid tools that haven’t been updated in a year or more. Also, try to keep the number of active plugins minimal — only use what’s truly necessary for your website.
3. Regularly Back Up Your WordPress Site
Backups are your safety net. If something goes wrong, you can restore your site in minutes without losing important data.
You can use free or paid backup plugins like UpdraftPlus, Jetpack Backup, or BlogVault. Many hosting providers like Hostinger, SiteGround, and Bluehost also offer automatic daily backups.
For best results, store your backups both online (cloud storage like Google Drive) and offline (your computer).
4. Use a Staging Site for Testing
A staging site is a safe copy of your live website where you can test changes before publishing them. You can use it to check plugin updates, new code, or design changes without affecting your main site.
Many web hosts offer a one-click staging environment, especially WordPress-managed hosts like Kinsta, WP Engine, or Hostinger. Always test updates or new plugins on your staging site first — this simple habit can prevent many errors.
5. Monitor PHP Version and Server Resources
Your hosting environment plays a big role in site stability. Make sure your server is running PHP 8.0 or higher, as older versions can cause compatibility issues.
If you notice slow performance or frequent errors, check your PHP memory limit and increase it if necessary. Many hosts let you do this directly from the control panel or through the wp-config.php file.
6. Regular Security and Performance Scans
Security issues, malware, or corrupted files can sometimes trigger a critical error. Run regular security scans using plugins like Wordfence, Sucuri Security, or iThemes Security.
Also, monitor your website’s performance using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. A sudden drop in performance can indicate a hidden issue.
7. Choose a Reliable Hosting Provider
A quality hosting provider is crucial for a stable WordPress site. Choose a host that offers automatic updates, backups, staging environments, and strong technical support. Providers like Hostinger, SiteGround, and Kinsta are well-known for their WordPress-optimized environments.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with a WordPress critical error can be stressful, especially when your website suddenly goes offline. But as you’ve seen in this complete guide, fixing it doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you use the recovery email or troubleshoot manually, you can resolve the issue and get your site running again in just a few steps.
Remember, most cases of a critical error in WordPress come from faulty plugins, themes, or outdated software. Keeping your site updated, using trusted plugins, and performing regular backups are the best ways to prevent it from happening again.
If you ever see the “There has been a critical error on this website” message, stay calm — follow the steps in this guide, and you’ll be able to fix it confidently.
And if you prefer expert help, our WordPress support team is always ready to diagnose and fix critical errors safely, so you can focus on growing your business.
Start securing your WordPress site today — keep it updated, optimized, and error-free!
