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How to Fix a WordPress Fatal Error?

Written By: author avatar Seahawk
author avatar Seahawk
WordPress fatal error

WordPress fatal error can occur for various reasons like incompatible plugins or themes, PHP memory limit exhaustion, coding errors, or server issues. These errors halt WordPress development and disrupt website functionality, rendering the site inaccessible to visitors. 

They often display cryptic error messages, complicating diagnosis. At Seahawk, our comprehensive WordPress support can help you build a solid foundation to stave off the occurrence of such errors. 

So, how does WordPress fatal error affect website owners?

  • Fatal errors disrupt user experience, potentially leading to: Loss of traffic, Loss of revenue, and Damage to reputation
  • Rectifying fatal errors through site updates demands technical expertise, involving: Disabling problematic plugins, Switching themes, Adjusting server configurations
  • Failure to promptly address fatal errors can result in: Prolonged downtime, Adverse impact on website performance, Undermining of business objectives

What Causes WordPress Fatal Error?

WordPress fatal error

WordPress fatal errors stem from several compatibility issues, failure to update WordPress PHP version to expand memory limits, coding errors, and server problems. Seahawk’s WordPress maintenance services offer regular updates and troubleshooting support, minimizing fatal errors. Also, our team conducts thorough plugin and theme compatibility checks.

Which error aggravators should you look out for?

Here is a list of few —

Plugin Conflicts: Installation or activation of incompatible or poorly coded plugins can clash with WordPress core functions, triggering fatal errors and site downtime.

Theme Compatibility Issues: Themes not built according to WordPress standards or outdated themes may conflict with core functionalities, leading to fatal errors.

PHP Memory Limits: Exhaustion of PHP memory limits due to resource-intensive plugins or inefficient coding can result in fatal errors, disrupting site functionality.

Read More: Safely Update WordPress from Version PHP 7 Without Breaking the Site

Coding Errors: Syntax errors, 301 error, missing files, or deprecated functions within custom code or theme files can cause fatal errors, halting site operation.

Server Problems: Misconfigured server settings, server downtime, or resource limitations can cause fatal errors, rendering the website inaccessible.

Common WordPress Fatal Errors

WordPress is a powerful platform, but like any technology, it’s not immune to issues. When a fatal error occurs, it can disrupt your website’s functionality, often making it completely inaccessible.

Understanding these errors is essential for getting your site back on track quickly. Below is a detailed look at some of the most common WordPress fatal errors, what causes them, and how you can fix them.

Internal Server Error (500) – WordPress Fatal Error

Internal-Server-Error-(500)

The infamous 500 Internal Server Error is one of the most common and frustrating issues WordPress users encounter. It indicates that something has gone wrong on the server, but the server can’t be specific about what.

This error can be caused by a variety of issues, including problematic plugins, a corrupted .htaccess file, or conflicts with your theme. Troubleshooting usually involves disabling plugins, refreshing the .htaccess file, and checking server logs for more detailed clues.

Learn More: How To Fix The 500 Internal Server Error In WordPress?

Error Establishing a Database Connection

Error-Establishing-a-Database-Connection

When your website can’t connect to its database, you’ll see the dreaded “Error Establishing a Database Connection.” This critical error effectively brings your site to a halt.

Common causes include incorrect database credentials, a corrupted database, or server-side issues. Resolving this error often involves double-checking your wp-config.php file to ensure your database name, username, password, and host are correct or restoring a backup if the database is corrupted.

White Screen of Death (WSOD)

White-Screen-of-Death-(WSOD)

The White Screen of Death is as unsettling as it sounds—a completely blank screen with no error messages, leaving you with little to go on. This mysterious issue is often caused by PHP errors, memory exhaustion, or conflicts between plugins and themes.

To troubleshoot, you can try increasing your site’s memory limit, disabling all plugins, or switching to a default theme to pinpoint the issue. Enabling debug mode in WordPress can also provide more insight into what’s going wrong.

Know: How to Fix WordPress White Screen of Death Error?

Memory Exhausted WordPress Fatal Error

Memory-Exhausted-Fatal-Error

If you see an error message saying, “Allowed memory size exhausted,” it means that a script on your site needs more memory than what’s currently allocated.

This error often arises when a plugin or theme demands more resources than your server can handle. The solution usually involves increasing the memory limit by editing your wp-config.php file or upgrading your hosting plan if you’re frequently running into this issue.

403 Forbidden Error

403-Forbidden-Error

A 403 Forbidden Error occurs when the server refuses to fulfill a request, indicating that access to the requested resource is restricted. This can happen due to incorrect file permissions, misconfigured security settings, or issues with your .htaccess file.

Fixing 403 Forbidden error often involves adjusting file permissions, temporarily disabling security plugins, or restoring the .htaccess file to its default state.

404 Not Found Error

404-fatal-error-in-wordpress

The 404 Not Found Error is one that we’ve all encountered—when you try to visit a page on your site, and it simply doesn’t exist. This can happen due to broken links, deleted pages, or incorrect URL structures.

To fix this, you can start by checking your permalink settings, creating redirects for moved content, and making sure all links on your site point to existing pages.

Learn: How to Easily Track 404 Pages And Redirect Them in WordPress?

Image Uploading Error

Few things are more frustrating than not being able to upload images to your WordPress media library. This issue can arise from a variety of causes, including incorrect file permissions, memory limits, or issues with your hosting environment. Solutions may include adjusting file permissions via FTP, increasing your PHP memory limit, or simply clearing your browser cache.

Read: How to Fix the “Failed to Import Media” Error in WordPress?

Top Ways to Correct WordPress Fatal Error 

A WordPress fatal error can be a frustrating and daunting experience, especially for those who are new to website management. Fortunately, with Seahawk support, you will have 24X7 troubleshooting facility to resolve these fatal errors, ensuring your website is back up and running smoothly.

Take Professional Help

Seahawk for WordPress fatal error

Taking professional help for fixing WordPress fatal errors can save you time and ensure a thorough resolution. Seahawk support services provide expert WordPress support, with a team of experienced WordPress developers well-versed in troubleshooting and resolving complex issues. Their knowledgeable technicians can quickly identify the root cause and implement effective solutions, minimizing downtime and ensuring your website’s smooth operation.

A standout advantage of Seahawk is its affordable pricing without compromising quality. Notably, Seahawk is trusted by leading WordPress web hosts like DreamHost, Pressable, Vendasta, GoDaddy Pro, and Alibaba Cloud. These industry giants rely on Seahawk’s pro services for web hosts to power their hosting services, testifying to Seahawk’s expertise in customer acquisition and retention. 

If you want to fix WordPress fatal errors yourself, you can try solutions like deactivating and reinstalling plugins, checking for file permission issues, increasing PHP memory limits, restoring from a backup, or seeking guidance from the WordPress support forums.

Encountering WordPress Fatal Error Out of the Blue?

Eliminate its chances at the roots with the help of our WordPress Support team, available for 24X7 troubleshooting

Increase your PHP Memory Limit

Fatal memory exhaustion errors can occur when WordPress requires more memory than is allocated by your server’s PHP settings. To resolve this, you’ll need to increase the PHP memory limit. You can do this by editing the php.ini file or adding a line of code to your wp-config.php file. 

Increasing the memory limit provides WordPress with more resources to handle memory-intensive tasks, such as processing large images or running complex plugins.

Deactivate Any New or Updated Plugins

Deactivate updates to avoid WordPress  fatal error

Conflicts between plugins and WordPress core files, theme functions, or other plugins can lead to fatal errors. If you have displayed a WordPress popular post with a plugin before encountering the error, try deactivating it temporarily. 

Access your WordPress admin area in safe mode, navigate to the Plugins section, and deactivate the suspected plugin. If the error is resolved, you may need to find an alternative plugin or contact the developer for assistance.

Update, Restore or Replace Your WordPress Theme

WordPress fatal error for theme management

In some cases, a faulty or incompatible theme can cause fatal errors. First, try updating your theme to the latest version, as it may include bug fixes or compatibility improvements. 

If the issue persists, you can attempt to restore your theme from a backup or replace it with a fresh copy from the theme repository. Alternatively, you can switch to a default WordPress theme temporarily to isolate the problem.

Also Read: Best Websites to Get WordPress Themes & Templates

Re-upload Core WordPress Files

Corrupted or missing core WordPress files can lead to fatal errors. To fix this, you’ll need to re-upload the latest version of the WordPress core files from the official WordPress repository. 

Use an FTP client or your hosting account’s file manager to replace the existing files with the new ones. Be careful not to overwrite your wp-config.php file or any custom code you’ve added, as this could cause further issues.

Check For Malware

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, which, unfortunately, makes it a frequent target for cyberattacks. If your site ever shows a critical error screen, it could be due to a malware infection.

The easiest way to check if your site has been attacked is by using security plugins or malware scanners. Some good options include All-in-One WP Security, Wordfence, or Sucuri.

These plugins make it easy to scan for malware with just one click, and you can even set up regular scans automatically. If malware is found, you’ll get a notification so you can quickly deal with the issue and protect your site.

Learn: How To Protect Your WordPress Site From Malware?

Use Seahawk’s WordPress Vulnerability Scanner, which has comprehensive and effective tools for scanning a website for vulnerabilities. 

Increase the Max Upload File Size

If you’ve ever tried uploading a large file to your site and received an error saying it “exceeds the maximum upload size for this site,” don’t worry—it’s a common issue.

This happens because most hosting providers set a limit on the size of files you can upload to WordPress. Typically, this limit is between 4 MB and 128 MB.

The good news is that you can easily increase this limit through your hosting control panel. Here’s how:

Step 1: Go to your hosting control panel and find the PHP Options section.

Step 2: Click to open the Options settings.

Step 3: Scroll down until you see the upload_max_file option.

Step 4: Use the dropdown menu next to upload_max_file to choose a higher limit that works for you.

Clear Your Site Cache

Sometimes, the solution to a WordPress fatal error is as simple as clearing your site’s cache. Cached files can hold onto outdated or corrupted data, which might be causing the error.

By clearing the cache, you’re making sure your site is running with the latest, cleanest files. You can usually do this through your caching plugin or your hosting control panel. It’s a quick fix that often solves the problem and helps your site run more smoothly.

Read: How HTTP Caching Works And How to Use It

Check Your Error Logs

Error logs can be like a treasure map, pointing you directly to the cause of your WordPress fatal error. These logs record what went wrong, when it happened, and sometimes even why it occurred.

You can access your error logs through your hosting control panel, typically under a section labeled “Logs” or “Error Logs.” Reviewing these logs can give you a clear idea of what needs to be fixed. It’s a bit like getting a hint before solving a puzzle—it makes the whole process a lot easier.

Contact Hosting Provider Support

When all else fails, don’t hesitate to reach out to your hosting provider’s support team. They have the tools and knowledge to dig deeper into server-related issues that might be beyond your control.

A quick chat or support ticket could lead to a fast resolution, getting your site back online with minimal downtime. Remember, you’re not alone in this—your hosting provider is there to help when things get tricky.

Conclusion

While WordPress fatal errors can be daunting, there are effective solutions available. By taking proactive measures like regularly updating plugins, themes, and WordPress core files, you can minimize the risk of encountering these issues. 

However, if you do face a fatal error, don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance from experienced WordPress support providers like Seahawk. Our expertise can ensure a swift resolution, minimizing downtime and safeguarding your website’s performance and reputation. Ultimately, a well-maintained WordPress site backed by reliable support is crucial for a seamless online presence.

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