You wake up one morning, and ready to update your WordPress site. The next moment when you try to log in, you are hit with a fatal error warning. Your site is stuck! And you can’t even access the admin dashboard. It feels frustrating, right?
Don’t worry! These errors are more common than you think. Also, there are ways to fix them.
Today, we will show three simple methods to regain access to your WordPress admin. By the end, you will have your site back up.
What Are WordPress Fatal Errors?
WordPress fatal errors happen when something goes wrong with your website. The error stops the site from working. These errors happen because of problems with plugins, themes, or the core WordPress files. When a fatal error happens, you may see a white screen. Or a message that may be says,
"There has been a critical error on your website."
These errors can be frustrating. They block access to your admin dashboard. This means you can't easily fix the problem through the usual WordPress settings. But don’t worry, there are ways to troubleshoot. Then you can solve fatal errors, like disabling plugins or using recovery mode.
3 Methods to Access WordPress Admin With a Fatal Error Warning
Here check these 3 methods to access your WP admin.
Method 1: Utilize WordPress Recovery Mode
When a fatal error happens in WordPress, it triggers Recovery Mode. This is a helpful feature as you can fix your site without much technical knowledge. Here’s how to use it,
Check Your Email
After the error occurs, WordPress sends an email to the admin account. This email includes a message. There you will get an explanation about what caused the problem. This is like a faulty plugin or theme. Inside the email, there will be a special link. So, check your inbox to find this email. Sometimes your spam folder is. Without it, you won't be able to access Recovery Mode.
Access Recovery Mode
Once you find the email, click the link. This link takes you directly into Recovery Mode. There you can bypass the error. You will be able to log in to your WordPress dashboard even if your website isn’t working properly. Once logged in, you can deactivate the plugin or theme. Because these themes were causing the issue. This way, your website can start running smoothly again.
Method 2: Manually Deactivate Plugins via FTP
If you can't access WordPress through Recovery Mode try deactivating plugins. You can do it using FTP. Here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: Connect via FTP
First, you will need an FTP client. You can use FileZilla. This will help to connect to your website's server. With FTP you can access your site's files from your computer. Install the FTP client.
Next, use your hosting login details. This is to connect to your site. You will need your FTP username, password, and the server address. You will find this information in your hosting account.
Step 2: Navigate to Plugins Folder
Once connected, you will see your website's files. Look for a folder named wp-content. Then click on it. Inside, you will find a folder called plugins. This folder has all the plugins installed on your site. Deactivate the right plugin to solve the issue.
Step 3: Deactivate Plugins
To deactivate a plugin, find the folder of the plugin causing the error. Rename that folder so you can remember it. By renaming it will automatically deactivate the plugin. You won’t need to access the WordPress dashboard.
When you are not sure which plugin is causing the problem, you can rename them all one by one. Then check which one fixes the issue.
Method 3: Restore from a Backup
Do you have a recent backup? Then it will be quicker to fix the fatal error by restoring your site. It brings your site back to the way it was before. Here's how to do it:
Step 1: Log into Your Hosting Account
Most hosting providers offer automatic backups. Or may let you create manual backups.
First log in to your hosting account. Look for a section related to backups. This is normally found in the control panel or dashboard. It may be labeled “Backup,” “Restore,” or something similar.
Step 2: Find the Backup
Now you are in the backup section. Then check for the most recent backup of your website. Hosting companies save daily or weekly backups. Choose the backup made just before the error. Make sure it has both your files and database. So everything gets restored correctly.
Step 3: Restore the Backup
Lastly, select the backup. Then click on the “Restore” button. The system will start the process of overwriting your current website with the older, working version. This may take a few minutes.
Conclusion
Dealing with a fatal error on your WordPress site can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be the end of the road. Follow the methods we shared,
- Using Recovery Mode
- Deactivating plugins via FTP
- Restoring from a backup
Then you can quickly get back into your admin dashboard and fix the problem.
