Title: Fatal error: Call to undefined function esc_html()
Last modified: August 19, 2016

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# Fatal error: Call to undefined function esc_html()

 *  Resolved [dreadknux](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dreadknux/)
 * (@dreadknux)
 * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-call-to-undefined-function-esc_html/)
 * I have recently moved servers and all of my WordPress installations (mostly pre-
   2.8, but one installation has already been upgraded to 2.8) have been moved and
   are working without problems.
 * I’m attempting to upgrade one of my pre-2.8 installs to 2.8, and it’s all going
   wrong. First I tried auto-install, which made the install page hang. I then tried
   manually uploading the 2.8 files… after doing this I’m still getting the “WordPress
   2.8.2 is available! Please update now.” message, even though the version at the
   bottom of the admin page says “Version 2.8.2”.
 * On top of this, almost every admin page I try to enter gives me a similar error
   message, related to some function called “esc_html()”. In going to the ‘Categories’
   page for example, I get:
 * “Fatal error: Call to undefined function esc_html() in /[xxx]/[xxx]/wp-admin/
   categories.php on line 132”
 * Going into the Tags page:
 * “Fatal error: Call to undefined function esc_html() in /[xxx]/[xxx]/wp-admin/
   edit-tags.php on line 149”
 * etc. I have tried doing a fresh installation, thinking it was something I have
   done wrong. Nope. WordPress 2.8.2 still gives me that error – even on the install
   page!
 * Now I don’t know why this version is so bodged up, but I’d really like some sort
   of fix. The only other thing I can think of is if my new server is needing something
   that is required of WordPress.
 * Does anyone familiar with the WP code know if the esc_html() function is tied
   to something specific that needs to be installed server-side? If not, I’m quite
   annoyed that I’ve been given this hassle from such a dodgy stable release.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  [Samuel B](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samboll/)
 * (@samboll)
 * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-call-to-undefined-function-esc_html/#post-1155348)
 * so are all the plugins disabled? Sounds like one is messing things up
    try renaming
   your/plugins folder and trying
 *  Thread Starter [dreadknux](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dreadknux/)
 * (@dreadknux)
 * [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-call-to-undefined-function-esc_html/#post-1155543)
 * I’m not quite sure what it was, but I think it was something serverside – I wiped
   the account and rebuilt it and there were no more problems.
 * Thanks for the reply either way! Appreciated! 🙂

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘Fatal error: Call to undefined function esc_html()’ is closed to new 
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## Tags

 * [esc_html](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/esc_html/)
 * [fatal error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/fatal-error/)
 * [function](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/function/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [dreadknux](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dreadknux/)
 * Last activity: [16 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-call-to-undefined-function-esc_html/#post-1155543)
 * Status: resolved

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