Problem: WordPress website displays a “there has been a critical error on this website” message, preventing access to both the front end and back end. You also didn’t receive the promised troubleshooting email after clicking the “Learn more” link.
Why You are Facing (there has been a critical error on this website) Error?
- Outdated WordPress, Themes, or Plugins:Â Lack of updates can lead to incompatibility issues.
- Incompatible Themes or Plugins:Â Conflicts between plugins or themes and the current WordPress version can cause errors.
- Corrupted WordPress Core Files:Â Damaged core files can disrupt website functionality.
- Insufficient PHP Memory Limit:Â Limited memory allocation might trigger errors during complex operations.
- Malware Infection:Â Malicious code can interfere with website operations and generate errors.
Troubleshooting Steps:
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Check Error Logs: Access the error logs through your hosting provider to identify specific error messages and pinpoint the root cause.
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Debug in WordPress: Enable debugging mode in your wp-config.php file to capture detailed error messages in a debug.log file.
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Deactivate All Plugins: Temporarily deactivate all plugins through the CPanel file manager. If the error disappears, reactivate plugins one by one to identify the culprit.
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Switch to a Default Theme: Switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Two. If the error resolves, your current theme might be causing the issue.
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Reinstall WordPress: If the error persists, consider reinstalling WordPress while keeping the content intact. This ensures clean core files.
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Increase PHP Memory Limit: Contact your hosting provider to increase the memory limit if insufficient memory is the culprit.
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Scan for Malware: Use a security plugin or manual methods to scan for and remove any malware infections.
Specific Case Scenario:
You narrowed down the error to the Elementor Pro plugin. The reason could be a license issue or outdated plugin version.
Solution Of This Critical Error:
- Deactivate and delete Elementor Pro.
- Reinstall the latest version of Elementor Pro with a valid license.
Additional Notes:
- Back up your website before performing any major changes.
- If you’re not comfortable with technical steps, seek help from a WordPress developer or your hosting provider.
Key Takeaways:
- The “there has been a critical error on this website” message can have various causes.
- A systematic troubleshooting approach based on error logs and specific tests is crucial.
- Addressing outdated plugins, themes, or core files, managing memory limits, and checking for malware are common solutions.
- By understanding the troubleshooting steps and applying them correctly, you can effectively resolve this (there has been a critical error on this website) error and restore your WordPress website.
