You need to look at the debug logs. Errors like this are logged. Check the error log on your server. If you can’t find the log, please contact your host.
Meantime, enable wp_debug and wp_debug_log and after an error, look at wp-content/debug.log to see if anything gets logged there. https://ww.wp.xz.cn/support/article/debugging-in-wordpress/
You can also try this: Please attempt to disable all plugins, and use one of the default (Twenty*) themes. If the problem goes away, enable them one by one to identify the source of your troubles.
If you cannot access wp-admin, there are other ways to deactivate plugins: https://ww.wp.xz.cn/support/article/faq-troubleshooting/#how-to-deactivate-all-plugins-when-not-able-to-access-the-administrative-menus
Hello @rperozich , Hope you doing well.
This “There has been a critical error on this website” message usually means a PHP fatal error, most often caused by a plugin, theme, or PHP version incompatibility.
Since you can’t access the dashboard, please try these steps:
1. Check the recovery email WordPress automatically sends an email to the site admin with details about the error and the file/plugin causing it. Please check your inbox and spam folder.
2. Enable debug mode If you have file access, edit wp-config.php and add:
define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );
define( ‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true );
define( ‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, true );
Then reload the site to see the exact error message.
3. Disable plugins via FTP/File Manager
– Go to /wp-content/
– Rename the plugins folder to plugins-old
– Try logging into /wp-admin If it works, rename the folder back and activate plugins one by one to find the culprit.
4. Switch to a default theme Rename your active theme folder and let WordPress fall back to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four).
5. Check PHP version Make sure your PHP version is compatible with your WordPress version and plugins (PHP 8.x can cause issues with older plugins).
6. Check server error logs Your hosting control panel should have an error log that will show the exact fatal error.
Once you find the specific error message, please share it here so we can guide you further.
Hope this helps!
I did not get an email in the spam folder or in regular email. I did call godaddy to help me since I am completely locked out of any access to the suggestions you so kindly made
This error usually appears when a plugin, theme, or custom code causes a fatal PHP error on the site. Please check your admin email inbox (and spam folder) for the WordPress recovery mode email, which often shows the exact cause. If you can’t access the dashboard, try disabling all plugins via FTP/File Manager by renaming the plugins folder, or switch to a default theme by renaming the active theme folder. Enabling <code data-start=”490″ data-end=”500″>WP_DEBUG in <code data-start=”504″ data-end=”519″>wp-config.php can also help identify the specific error, and if needed, your hosting provider can check the server error logs.
Thanks to all who replied. All of your suggestions have been helpful. My access is restored. I was able to deactivate the plugins through godaddy but not quite in the logical manner that you all presented. I finally found the plugins on a page marked tools and applications. Under applications I found the tab for plugins. As suggested, I deactivated them all. I got right into my site and reactivated the plugins on the site which is up and running again. Thank you.
