Title: Fatal Error Message
Last modified: August 22, 2016

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# Fatal Error Message

 *  [marktcor](https://wordpress.org/support/users/marktcor/)
 * (@marktcor)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-message-117/)
 * I got this after installing a plugin this morning. Anyone know what to do?
 * Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 41943040 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate
   19456 bytes) in /home/sweat9/public_html/wp-admin/includes/screen.php on line
   85
 * I cannot access my dashboard but can get in via FileZilla.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * (@macmanx)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-message-117/#post-5560551)
 * If you’re seeing this error either suddenly (no specific task was done to cause
   the error) or frequently, try deactivating all plugins to rule-out a plugin-specific
   issue and try switching themes to rule-out a theme-specific issue.
 * Otherwise, here are three ways to increase PHP’s memory allocation:
 * 1. If you can edit or override the system `php.ini` file, increase the memory
   limit. For example, `memory_limit = 256M`
 * 2. If you cannot edit or override the system `php.ini` file, add `php_value memory_limit
   256M` to your `.htaccess` file.
 * 3. If neither of these work, it’s time to ask your hosting provider to temporarily
   increase PHP’s memory allocation on your account. Keep in mind that most decent
   hosting providers allocate 32 MB to PHP under each account, and most decent hosting
   providers allow users to temporarily increase the memory allocation. If your 
   hosting provider won’t accommodate you, perhaps it’s time to find a new hosting
   provider.
 * (in the above examples, the limit is set to 256MB)
 *  Thread Starter [marktcor](https://wordpress.org/support/users/marktcor/)
 * (@marktcor)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-message-117/#post-5560561)
 * The php.ini file is basically empty. Do I just put that line in there anywhere?
 * And where would I add the php_value memory_limit 256M in the .htaccess file? 
   Top or bottom? Does it matter?
 *  Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * (@macmanx)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-message-117/#post-5560565)
 * You’ll do either one or the other, not both.
 * If your php.ini file is empty, just add `memory_limit = 256M` to it. It’s probably
   set to override the system’s php.ini file.
 * If you do the .htaccess method, just add `php_value memory_limit 256M` to the
   very top.
 * Again, do only one, not both.
 *  Thread Starter [marktcor](https://wordpress.org/support/users/marktcor/)
 * (@marktcor)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-message-117/#post-5560567)
 * Okay, tried both of these and neither worked. I’ve got a message in to my host.
 * Any idea why this just appeared? I added a plugin and was working within it’s
   settings. When I refreshed this happened. Would it change if I could delete the
   plugin?
 *  Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * (@macmanx)
 * [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-message-117/#post-5560571)
 * Probably the plugin just pushed you past PHP’s memory limit. If you don’t want
   to use that plugin, deleting it will almost definitely solve the problem. If 
   you do want to use that plugin, getting PHP’s memory limit increased will work
   too.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘Fatal Error Message’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

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

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 5 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * Last activity: [11 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/fatal-error-message-117/#post-5560571)
 * Status: not resolved

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