Troubleshooting Guide: Resolving 'There has been a Critical Error on Your Website'

Encountering the "There has been a critical error on your website" message in WordPress can be alarming as it indicates a significant issue affecting your website's functionality. This error typically occurs due to conflicts, incompatible plugins or themes, PHP errors, or insufficient server resources.

1. Enable Debugging Mode: a. Connect to your website using FTP or a file manager. b. Locate the wp-config.php file in your WordPress installation's root directory. c. Open the wp-config.php file using a text editor. d. Look for the line that says define('WP_DEBUG', false);. e. Replace false with true to enable debugging mode. f. Save the changes and upload the modified wp-config.php file back to the server.
   
   
2. Identify the Error Message: a. Visit your WordPress website again to trigger the critical error. b. You should now see a more detailed error message instead of the generic "There has been a critical error on your website" notice. c. The error message will help identify the specific issue causing the error.
   
   
3. Disable Recently Installed Plugins/Themes: a. Access your WordPress admin dashboard by appending "/wp-admin" to your website's URL (e.g., www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin). b. Navigate to "Plugins" > "Installed Plugins". c. Deactivate and delete any recently installed or updated plugins. d. If the error is still present, navigate to "Appearance" > "Themes" and switch to a default WordPress theme temporarily. e. Check if the error persists after disabling the plugins or switching themes. If the error disappears, one of the plugins or the theme was likely causing the conflict.
   
   If you're unable to access your website dashboard, you can still reach your website files through FTP. Here's what you can do: Go to the WP-Content folder, find the Plugins folder within it, and change its name to something like "Plugins_old". After making this change, try accessing the WordPress dashboard again. Once you successfully log in, navigate to the plugins page. Now, you can go back and restore the original name of the Plugins folder.
   
   
4. Check Plugin/Theme Compatibility: a. Ensure that your plugins and theme are compatible with your WordPress version. b. Visit the respective plugin and theme websites to check for any known compatibility issues or updates. c. Update your plugins and theme to their latest versions. d. If the error persists, consider contacting the plugin or theme developers for assistance or consider alternative plugins/themes.
   
   
5. Increase PHP Memory Limit: a. Access your website files using FTP or a file manager. b. Locate the wp-config.php file and open it. c. Add the following line before the "/* That's all, stop editing! */" comment:
   
   

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

   This will increase the PHP memory limit to 256MB. Adjust the value as needed.
   d. Save the changes and upload the modified wp-config.php file back to the server.
   
   
6. Contact Your Hosting Provider or WordPress Support:
   a. If the above steps do not resolve the error, it's recommended to reach out to your hosting provider's support team or the Support team like PrettyWP.
   b. Inform them about the critical error and provide details of the steps you have taken so far.
   c. They can assist you in diagnosing the issue further and provide guidance specific to your hosting environment.

With careful investigation and troubleshooting, you can regain access to your WordPress website and ensure its smooth functionality.