The error "There has been a critical error on this website." often occurs when the PHP mail() function is disabled or when there are issues with PHP extensions. We disable the PHP mail() function to prevent email outbursts from malformed or poorly written PHP scripts. You can easily solve the error.
Error:
"There has been a critical error on this website.
Please check your site admin email inbox for instructions. If you continue to have problems, please try the support forums."
Note:
The exact error might be different on your website.
Applies To:
This guide applies to Web Hosting, Semi Dedicated Hosting, and Reseller Hosting.
Solution 01: Configure SMTP
How to send an email from WordPress?
If the issue persists, apply Solution 02.
Solution 02: Reset PHP Extensions
- Go to cPanel > Select PHP Version > Extensions.
- Click "Reset to Default".
- Done! Check your website.
If the issue persists, apply Solution 03.
Solution 03: Increase Memory Limit
Inspect the error_log file to check if the website is trying to use more memory than allocated.
- Go to cPanel > File Manager > public_html.
- Right-click on the
error_logfile and click "View".
There might be an error that looks like the following:
[07-Jan-2026 15:15:08 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 536870912 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 4295229440 bytes) in
If you have resource-hungry plugins or themes, they might be causing the excessive memory consumption. It is possible that a security or backup plugin (e.g., Wordfence, Duplicator) is misconfigured or needs additional tweaking, causing the memory consumption.
Temporarily uninstall them (not just disable). For some plugins, disabling them alone is not enough, as they leave residues.
You can increase the memory_limit to resolve the issue:
How to change PHP configuration (memory, upload limit, and others)?
However, it is recommended to determine the exact reason your website needs so much memory.
You can also follow this guide to reduce resource consumption:
How to reduce resource consumption?
