What the message actually means
Since version 5.2, WordPress catches fatal PHP errors and shows "There has been a critical error on this website" instead of a blank white screen. Behind it is a specific error: a plugin calling a function that no longer exists, a theme that doesn't work with your PHP version, a memory limit being hit, or a file that didn't finish uploading during an update.
WordPress usually also sends an email to the site's admin address with the subject "Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue." That email often names the plugin or theme involved and includes a special recovery-mode link. Check the admin inbox, including spam, before anything else. If the admin email belongs to a former web designer or an old employee, that's worth fixing once the site is back.
First steps you can take safely
- Write down what changed. Did someone update plugins, install something new, change hosting plans or edit the theme today? The most recent change is the most likely cause.
- Use the recovery-mode link. The link in the WordPress email lets you log in with the broken plugin or theme paused. From there you can deactivate it and the rest of the site often comes back.
- Check your host's dashboard. Many hosts show PHP error logs and let you switch PHP versions. If the host upgraded PHP recently, an older plugin may not be compatible.
- Look for a recent backup before changing files. Most hosts keep automatic backups. Note the date of the last good one. Restoring is a reasonable option if you know the site worked yesterday, but it will undo any posts, orders or form entries made since.
- If you're comfortable with file access: renaming a plugin's folder in
wp-content/pluginsthrough your host's file manager disables that plugin. Rename it back to restore it. Avoid deleting anything.
Things that tend to make it worse
Reinstalling WordPress from scratch, deleting plugins you don't recognize, or clicking "update all" again while the site is down can create a second problem on top of the first. Editing wp-config.php without a copy of the original is another common way a fixable issue gets harder. If you're unsure, stop and get the error details first.
Why it happens to busy small business sites
For a Los Angeles law office, salon or contractor, the site often gets attention only when something breaks. Plugins pile up, a few stop being maintained by their developers, and updates get run all at once months apart. That's the situation where one update collides with another. Updating on a regular schedule, after a backup, and checking key pages afterward lowers the odds a lot, though no process can rule out every error.
When it's time to get help
Get help if there's no recovery email, you can't reach the hosting account, the error returns after you deactivate plugins, or the site takes orders or bookings and every hour matters. Gather your hosting login, WordPress admin access (or the name of whoever has it) and a note of what changed. That shortens the time anyone, including us, spends diagnosing.
KeptWeb is based in Beverly Hills and helps WordPress sites across Los Angeles. We look at the actual error, fix the cause where we can, and then explain what happened in plain English. We can't promise every site can be repaired the same day, especially if files are damaged and no backup exists, but we will tell you honestly what we find. See our WordPress maintenance plans if you'd like updates handled before they cause trouble.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my content because of a critical error?
Usually not. Your posts and pages live in the database, which a plugin error doesn't normally erase. Be careful with restores, though: restoring an older backup can remove content added since that backup.
I never got the recovery email. What now?
The admin email address may be outdated or the email may have gone to spam. You can still find the error in your host's PHP error log, or turn on WordPress debug logging if you are comfortable editing wp-config.php.
Can my hosting company fix it?
Some hosts will help find the error or restore a backup. Most won't debug plugin or theme conflicts, since those are outside the hosting service.
How do I stop it happening again?
Update on a regular schedule rather than all at once, take a backup first, remove plugins you don't use, and check your main pages and forms after each round of updates.
This guide is general information. Every site is different, and following these steps doesn't guarantee a particular result. Product names belong to their owners; KeptWeb is not affiliated with them.