The error message ‘The site is experiencing technical difficulties’ is a frequent issue encountered by WordPress users. It indicates that your website has encountered a serious PHP code problem.
This error can prevent you from accessing your WordPress admin area and block visitors from viewing your content. Therefore, it is crucial to resolve it as soon as possible.
We have dedicated significant time to assisting our readers with troubleshooting and resolving WordPress errors. In this guide, we will walk you through identifying the problematic code and fixing the ‘The site is experiencing technical difficulties’ error message.
Understanding the Technical Difficulties Error in WordPress
Your WordPress site is powered by the PHP programming language, and any issues with this code can result in your website malfunctioning.
Previously, a fatal PHP error would cause what is known as the White Screen of Death.
With the introduction of WordPress 5.2, a new feature has enhanced fatal error protection, displaying an error message instead of a blank screen: ‘The site is experiencing technical difficulties.’
If you attempt to log in to your site, you will encounter a slightly different error message.
The website is currently facing technical difficulties. Please check your admin email for further instructions.
Alternatively, you might encounter this error message: ‘A critical error has occurred on this website.’
Since PHP is utilized in the WordPress core, themes, and plugins, these could be potential sources of the issue. For instance, you may have recently added code snippets to your site, or there could be a conflict between plugins, a theme, or some custom code.
Your task is to identify the source of the WordPress error and resolve it.
Now, let’s explore how to resolve the ‘This site is experiencing technical difficulties’ error in WordPress. We will discuss various methods, starting with the easiest, especially if you have received an email regarding the error:
- Method 1: Resolving the Technical Difficulties Error Using Recovery Mode
- Method 2: Manually Fixing the Technical Difficulties Error
Method 1: Resolving the Technical Difficulties Error Using Recovery Mode
The technical difficulties error message is not very informative. Fortunately, WordPress sends an email to your admin email address with details about the error’s cause.
If you are using Bluehost or a WordPress auto-installer, your admin email address is likely the same as the one associated with your WordPress hosting account.
Many WordPress websites encounter email delivery issues, so if you haven’t received the email, you can still proceed with Method 2 to resolve the error.
In your inbox, look for an email titled ‘Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue.’ This email will provide valuable information about the cause of the error on your website.
For example, the email may indicate that the error was triggered by the Porto theme. It will also include a unique link that allows you to access your site’s backend in recovery mode for troubleshooting and resolution.
Simply click on the link to enter WordPress recovery mode, which will direct you to your WordPress admin dashboard.
You will first need to log in to your WordPress account.
After logging in, you will see a notification indicating that you are in recovery mode, along with a link to help you address the issue.
For example, the message may inform you that one or more plugins did not load correctly and will provide a link to the plugins page.
After clicking the link, you will identify the problematic plugin along with the specific line of code that triggered the error.
For the time being, you can deactivate the plugin.
Next, consider finding an alternative WordPress plugin or reaching out to the plugin developers for support. Be sure to provide them with a detailed description of the error.
If the problem lies with your theme, you will find a link to the themes page, where you can identify the theme responsible for the issue.
You have the option to switch your WordPress theme or remove the faulty theme and install a fresh copy from the official source to see if that resolves the problem.
Once you have resolved the issue, click on the ‘Exit Recovery Mode’ button located at the top.
In most instances, your WordPress website should now function normally.
If you continue to encounter the technical difficulties error in WordPress, you can follow the troubleshooting steps outlined in the next section.
Method 2: Manually Resolving the Technical Difficulties Error
If you did not receive the WordPress notification email regarding the technical difficulties error, you can use this method to troubleshoot and fix the issue.
If the error occurred due to a recent change you made, you can resolve the issue by simply reversing that change.
For example, if you installed a new plugin and its activation led to the technical difficulties, you will need to deactivate it. The first step below will guide you on how to do this.
If you are uncertain about the cause, you can follow these steps to troubleshoot.
Deactivate All WordPress Plugins
The technical difficulties error might stem from faulty or conflicting plugin files. Disabling the plugin is the simplest way to eliminate the issue.
However, you face two challenges: you cannot access the WordPress dashboard, and you are unsure which plugin to deactivate.
Therefore, you will need to deactivate all WordPress plugins. Don’t worry; you can easily reactivate them once you regain access to your WordPress admin area.
To do this, connect to your WordPress website using an FTP client like FileZilla or the file manager tool in your WordPress hosting control panel (such as cPanel). After connecting, navigate to the /wp-content/ folder.
Within the wp-content folder, you will find a folder named plugins. Right-click on this folder and select ‘Rename’ from the context menu.
First, rename the plugins folder to a new name of your choice. For this example, we will rename it to plugins-deactivated.
After doing this, all your plugins will be deactivated. You can then visit your website to check if the technical difficulties message has been resolved.
If the error message is still visible on your site, it indicates that the issue is not related to a plugin. You should rename the folder back to plugins and proceed to the next step below.
However, if the error message has disappeared, you’ll need to identify which plugin was causing the issue. Start by renaming the folder back to plugins.
Now, log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and go to the Plugins » Installed Plugins page. Reactivate the plugins one at a time to determine which one triggered the error.
Once identified, you can remove that plugin from your site using FTP or reach out to the plugin author for assistance.
Switch to Default Theme
If the issue wasn’t caused by a plugin, the next step is to check for theme conflicts. To do this, replace your current theme with a default theme.
Begin by connecting to your website using an FTP client and navigate to the /wp-content/themes/ directory, which houses all the themes installed on your site.
Next, right-click on your current WordPress theme and download it to your computer to create a backup.
Then, you can safely remove your current theme from your website by right-clicking on the theme folder and selecting ‘Delete’.
Your FTP client will proceed to delete the theme from your website.
If you have a default WordPress theme, like Twenty Twenty-Two, installed, WordPress will automatically switch to it as the default theme. If you don’t have a default theme, you will need to manually install one using FTP.
If the technical difficulties error no longer appears when you visit your site, then your theme was likely the source of the issue.
Another potential solution is to check your theme’s functions.php file. If there are any extra spaces at the bottom of the file, remove them, as this can sometimes resolve the problem.
If the issue persists, consider reinstalling a fresh copy of your theme. For further guidance, refer to our beginner’s guide on installing a WordPress theme.
Reinstall WordPress
If your website is not facing technical issues due to a malfunctioning plugin or theme, the cause might be a corrupted WordPress core file or the presence of malware on your site.
Visit WordPress.org to download a fresh copy of WordPress to your computer.
After downloading, unzip the file on your computer. This will create a folder named wordpress, which contains all the necessary files for reinstallation.
Next, connect to your WordPress site using an FTP client or the file manager provided in your hosting control panel.
Once connected, navigate to the root folder of your website in the right pane. The root folder includes the wp-admin, wp-content, wp-includes, and wp-admin folders.
Now, in the left pane, locate the new wordpress folder you just created. Select the files within this folder and upload them to your website.
Your FTP client will prompt you to choose whether to overwrite these files or skip them. Select ‘Overwrite’ and check the box for ‘Always use this action.’
Click the ‘OK’ button to proceed. Your FTP client will replace all core WordPress files with fresh copies from your computer.
After the process is complete, visit your website to check if the new WordPress installation has fixed the error.
If the error was due to a corrupted WordPress core file or malware, the error message should no longer be visible.
Upgrade Your PHP Version
An outdated PHP version can sometimes trigger the ‘The site is experiencing technical difficulties’ error in WordPress.
You can resolve this issue by upgrading to the latest PHP version. Refer to our step-by-step guide on how to upgrade your PHP version in WordPress for assistance.
Contact Your Hosting Provider
If you’ve followed all the steps above and still see the message ‘The site is experiencing technical difficulties’, it’s time to seek help.
Reach out to your WordPress hosting provider to see if they can assist you. Many providers offer excellent technical support and may help resolve your issue.
For instance, they might check the server error logs or restore a backup of your WordPress site. They will inform you of how they can assist and what steps to take next.
For optimal results, be sure to review our guide on effectively requesting WordPress support.
We trust this tutorial has assisted you in resolving the ‘The site is experiencing technical difficulties’ error in WordPress. You might also consider exploring our comprehensive WordPress troubleshooting guide or learning how to reach out to WordPress support.
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