One of the more common errors we’ve seen WordPress users run into, especially on shared hosting, is the memory exhausted error.
Sometimes it shows up with a technical message like “Allowed memory size exhausted.” Other times, WordPress just displays the generic “There has been a critical error on this website” screen.
This usually means your site needs more PHP memory than the server is currently allowed to use. It can happen when you install resource-heavy plugins, upload large media files, or outgrow your hosting plan.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to safely increase your PHP memory limit in WordPress and fix the error. We’ll also share best practices to prevent it from coming back.
What Is the WordPress Memory Exhausted Error?
The memory exhausted error in WordPress usually happens when your website tries to use more PHP memory than your server allows.
This can cause pages to crash, break plugins, or trigger a full-site error. In many cases, you’ll now see a message saying: “There has been a critical error on this website.”
Behind the scenes, the actual error looks something like this:
Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 33554432 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 2348617 bytes)
WordPress is built with PHP, which runs on your server and needs memory to function. If your site pushes past the available memory limit, PHP stops working, and you get this error.
From helping many users fix this, we’ve seen it happen when sites have:
- One or more poorly coded plugins are installed
- Large images or videos that use extra server memory
- Limited hosting resources, especially on shared plans
WordPress does try to increase the memory limit automatically if it’s lower than 64 MB. But in many cases, that’s just not enough, especially for modern plugins and themes.
Why You May Not See the Actual Memory Error
Wondering why you aren’t seeing the actual memory error? This is important to understand before you try fixing it.
In older versions of WordPress, you would often see the full memory exhausted error message directly on your screen.
But in recent versions, WordPress shows a more generic message instead:
“There has been a critical error on this website. Please check your site admin email inbox for instructions.”
This happens because WordPress now hides sensitive error details by default. It’s part of a security feature that prevents visitors from seeing technical information about your site.
However, the real error is still logged in the background. You can view the full message by:
- Looking in the email inbox of your site admin address for instructions.
- Enabling WordPress debug mode in your
wp-config.phpfile. - Checking your site’s error logs via your hosting control panel.
If you check your email inbox you may find an email with subject line “Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue.”
Inside this email, you will find where the error occurred and the exact error message.
For instance, you will see that the error is caused by your WordPress theme or a plugin. At the end of the email, you will see the actual error message.
We recommend enabling debug mode only temporarily while troubleshooting. Once you find the error, don’t forget to turn it off to avoid showing technical details to your visitors.
Now, in the next sections, we’ll show you how to manually increase the PHP memory limit to fix the error and keep your site running smoothly.
📝 Note: Some of these methods require you to directly edit your WordPress files. We suggest backing up your website first to avoid further errors from appearing on your website.
Ready? Let’s jump right in!
Option 1: Editing the wp-config.php File
First, you need to edit the wp-config.php file on your WordPress site. This is one of the core WordPress files located in the root directory, usually named public_html.
You will need to use an FTP client like FileZilla or the File Manager in your web hosting control panel.
Next, you need to paste the following line in the wp-config.php file just before the one that says, That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging.
define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M' );
This line requests WordPress to allocate up to 512MB of PHP memory.
However, the final limit depends on your server’s configuration. If your host enforces a lower cap, this change may not take effect.
For more details, you can see our step-by-step guide on how to find and edit the wp-config.php file.
Once you are done, you need to save your changes and upload your wp-config.php file back to your server.
You can now visit your WordPress site, and the memory exhausted error should have disappeared.
Option 2: Editing the .htaccess File
The next method is to edit the .htaccess file. This file is also located in the WordPress website’s root folder.
Here, you need to paste the following code before the line that says #END WORDPRESS.
php_value memory_limit 512M
Similar to the previous code, it will tell WordPress to increase the PHP memory limit to 512MB.
That said, keep in mind this method only works if your server runs Apache with mod_php. If you’re using PHP-FPM or NGINX, this method may not have any effect.
After that, simply save your changes and upload the file back to your web server. You can now open your WordPress website again to see if the memory limit error has gone.
If you can’t find the .htaccess file, you can check out our guide on why the .htaccess file may be missing and how to find it.
Option 3: Checking Your php.ini File
If the above methods don’t work, you may want to look at your php.ini file.
php.ini is a file that controls your PHP settings, including the PHP version and PHP scripts. It’s not a WordPress core file, as your hosting provider usually manages it.
You can check its code to see your PHP memory usage limit. For more details, you can see our guide on how to find and edit the php.ini file.
However, because this is an advanced method, we recommend contacting your web hosting provider’s support team instead to see if they can increase the WordPress memory limit manually. Otherwise, this can result in further errors.
Plus, some shared hosting plans don’t allow users to access or modify the php.ini file.
You can read our guide on how to properly ask for WordPress support for more information.
Tired of dealing with WordPress errors? Then, you can leave the stress behind and let our expert team provide fast and reliable emergency support. With our on-demand service, you get quick fixes without the hassle of ongoing contracts. Call our Emergency WordPress Support team now!
Option 4: Upgrading Your WordPress Hosting
If you constantly encounter the memory exhausted error, it might be a sign that your website has outgrown its current hosting plan.
As your website attracts more visitors and adds more content, it requires more resources to function smoothly. Upgrading a plan with a higher memory allocation can be a permanent solution.
Consider upgrading your WordPress hosting if:
- You’ve tried the previous solutions, but the error persists.
- Your website has significantly grown in traffic or content.
- You plan to add features or functionality that require more resources.
Bluehost offers affordable and reliable WordPress hosting plans that can scale with your website’s needs. They provide a user-friendly platform specifically optimized for WordPress, making it easy to manage your website.
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How to Avoid Exhausting Your WordPress Memory
Now that you’ve fixed the WordPress memory exhausted error, here are some proactive steps to prevent it from happening again:
- Deactivate unused plugins. Many plugins contribute to memory usage. Regularly review your installed plugins and deactivate any you’re not actively using to free up memory for essential tasks.
- Optimize images. Large images can be memory hogs. Consider using a plugin like EWWW Image Optimizer to automatically compress images before uploading them to your site.
- Use a caching plugin. Caching plugins store website data, reducing the need for WordPress to regenerate it on every visit. This can significantly improve website performance and lower memory usage.
FAQs About the WordPress Memory Exhausted Error
What causes the memory exhausted error in WordPress?
This error happens when WordPress needs more memory than your server allows PHP to use. It’s often triggered by resource-heavy plugins, large images, or growing traffic on lower-tier hosting plans.
Why do I only see a “critical error” message instead of the memory error?
Newer versions of WordPress hide the technical error behind a generic “There has been a critical error on this website” message. You can still view the full error by enabling debug mode or checking your error logs.
How much PHP memory should I allocate?
We recommend setting the memory limit to at least 256MB. This is typically enough for most websites unless you’re running a large WooCommerce store or using heavy plugins.
Can shared hosting cause this error more frequently?
Yes. Shared hosting plans often come with limited resources. As your website grows, it can hit those memory limits faster. Upgrading to a better hosting plan can prevent this issue.
Is it safe to increase PHP memory manually?
Yes, it’s safe if done properly. We recommend backing up your website before editing files like wp-config.php or .htaccess. If you’re not comfortable doing this, our Pro Services team can help.
Additional WordPress Error Guides
If you’re troubleshooting other WordPress issues, here are some helpful guides we’ve written to make things easier for you.
- How to Fix WordPress Posts Returning 404 Error (Step by Step)
- How to Fix ‘Cookies Are Blocked Due to Unexpected Output’ Error in WordPress
- How to Fix WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode (The Easy Way)
- How to Fix the WordPress Admin Ajax 400 (Bad Request) Error
We hope this article helped you solve the WordPress memory exhausted error by increasing the PHP memory limit. You may also want to see our step-by-step beginner’s guide to troubleshooting WordPress errors and our expert list of the most common WordPress errors.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
Nilanjan Roy
That fixed my issue too
Thanks a lot 
Alasdair MacNeill
This fixed my issue – thank you for the advice!
Momodu Oladapo Ibraheem
Thanks works for me!!! Your site has been a source of refuge always for WP
Joshua
Great article, i encountered this problem when i installed a new wordpress theme. While you have accurately told us how to solve this problem, i’m thinking what is the impact of having a website that runs on high php memory on web hosting resources, etc?
Many thanks.
WPBeginner Support
Hey Joshua,
It depends. If you are on shared hosting and your website is continuously using more memory than it should, then your web host will automatically kill that particular process.
Admin
Aaron Silva
Thanks a lot! it worked!!!!!
Olayika Olumayokun
Thanks so much for this type of post, really helped.
Waqas Gulraiz
Worked! thanks
Nicole
I always forget how to fix this error when I encounter it. Luckily I found your post, and it worked like a charm. Panic mode is now over. Thank you!
Laercio
I had to edit php.ini and increase memory_limit from 64M to 256. It worked fine!
Daniel
Updating the php.ini file from 32M to 64M worked for me! Thanks!
Roger
Thank you, this helped me a lot!
Cole Ryan
Simple. Effective. Thank you.
Jos Schuurmans
Thanks for the tut, good stuff!
QUESTION: After increasing from the default 64M to 256M, my white screen disappeared and the site is up. Is there a reason to scale down the memory again?
Cheers,
Jos
WPBeginner Support
No, you can continue using the new memory limit.
Admin
Chris
Today is the second time that I’ve needed to refer to this post (bad memory – much like my site).
Great info, keep up the fantastic work.
Nathalie
God bless you guys!!!
Luiz
Thank you, this article helped me a lot!
Arjuna
Hi!
How can I mixed this error?
Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 176160768 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 78 bytes) in /home/brandkpl/public_html/wp-includes/taxonomy.php on line 3146
Kay
Hi there,
Is there a way to increase the memory and make sure it stays that way when updating WP?
Everything I update my site, I have to do it all over again…
Thanks for your help!
Fazzy
i also found that there could be a chance that in the root folder there will be a “maint” folder, although normally this will give you a screen saying its under maint which you will then know what to do.
but in my instance the “Maint” in the root folder just showed the WSOD once it was removed i was back up and running.
anand
its working , thanks
Avinash
Thank you so much
Jake
Thank you so much! Helped like a charm!
shibby
What a legend!! Been frustrated by this all weekend and now sorted
Tom
Thank you!!!!!
Dee
Thanks a bunch!
Nitin Yadav
Allowed memory size of 67108864 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 229376 bytes)
My Problem is this
Kendra
Thank you! It’s been a while since I ran into this problem and forgot how to fix it!
lauren
this saved me hours of struggle, thank you so much!
kandra
Nice one, i wonder I could increase the memory of instant wp aplication in order to successfully migrate my blog in blogger to wordpress.
Mitra
OMG! Thanks so much for this article.
goatlady
Thank you so much.. works perfectly..
Laxmanrao
Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 134217728 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 78 bytes) in /home/xxxx/public_html/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 1837
lexspark daville
increasing the memory limit worked for me….thanks a lot
Vikash Kumar
Thanku you soo much… i was facing this issue and your post saved my day
Neha Srivastava
Hi,
i am getting this error, while importing demo and uploading plugin.
i have already try out these methods. pls help.
500 – Internal server error.
There is a problem with the resource you are looking for, and it cannot be displayed.
Sue P.
Thank you, it worked!
Taim
I increased the limit to 128M but the same problem. Then I increased it to 256M and now its working fine.
sheila
Thank you! Worked like a charm!
Amit Sharma
Now its working. Thanks a lot for sharing such a great information.
akshay
work like charm thank you very much…..
Emily
Hi, this sounds like the issue I’m having with Prophoto – however I can’t login to the admin area – as I get a blank white screen – to make the changes you suggest, is there another way? Thanks so much
ginger
Hey, I probably have a huge problem here.. but the only wp-config file I can find on my Air is wp-config-sample.php.
total blank webpage situation – i doubt it’s memory since i don’t have more than a couple pages…
maría
Thank you so much!!
Steven
Thanks! I had to use 128M, but it works like a charm!
Jeff Moyer
It’s usually easier to get your web host to do this rather then doing it manually, if you screw something up you can make your website worse.
kelvin carter
which line of code should i past it
khasim
Thank you so much my issue is solved .
AmigoGeek
Thank you so much.
I had to put: 70MB and went back to work.
Blogger
“First open your wp-config.php which is located in the root WordPress directory. Then add the following line inside the main php tag:”
I really have no idea what to click to find the wp-config.php or the root WordPress Directory. Is it in the Settings?
Sorry. I just can’t figure out. 
Thanks.
WPBeginner Support
Please take a look at our guide on how to edit wp-config.php file in WordPress.
Admin
Ahan Jain
I can’t find it. Where can I find my we-configure.php file.
Francois
Hi,
In order to locate your wp-config.php file, you will need to access your clientzone of your web host and locate file manager.
In your public_html folder, you will find your wp-config.php file.
Hope this helps you.
Brittany Goldsby
Thank you so much for this! Me and my office manager was about to pull our hair out because we couldn’t figure out how to increase the memory limit on a website we were working for a client. We actually increased the memory to ‘128M’ because ’64M’ was already there and it worked like a charm. Thanks!
Olufunmilola Soewu
Thank you sooooo much, I’h highly grateful. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks.