Title: Critical Error
Last modified: May 7, 2024

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# Critical Error

 *  Resolved [writeonsister](https://wordpress.org/support/users/writeonsister/)
 * (@writeonsister)
 * [2 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-670/)
 * I’ve been trying to update the theme on my website. I was instructed to update
   plugins and then update my PHP to the latest version via my host – but this took
   it offline. I’ve now reverted back to old PHP and when I activated my new theme’s
   plugin, this critical error message came up. I have not received any instructions
   from WordPress as the error message suggests.
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fcritical-error-670%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

 *  [shoaibqureshi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shoaibqureshi/)
 * (@shoaibqureshi)
 * [2 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-670/#post-17738437)
 * You can troubleshoot it by accessing your cPanel, then navigating to File Manager,
   locating your site folder, and opening the wp-config.php file. From there, adjust
   the WP_DEBUG setting to true.
 *     ```wp-block-code
       define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
       ```
   
 *  [Stef](https://wordpress.org/support/users/serafinnyc/)
 * (@serafinnyc)
 * [2 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-670/#post-17739126)
 * The proper process is, especially if your site is very outdated, is to create
   a staging environment and do all your updates and testing over there. That way
   you don’t crash your live site. Then as [@shoaibqureshi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shoaibqureshi/)
   stated turn debug mode on and fix each issue if you can or get the latest theme,
   plugins anything that you can to ensure everything is at its latest version.
 * Then once tested deploy back to live. That’s assuming nobody’s updating content
   on live.
 *  Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * (@macmanx)
 * [2 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-670/#post-17739299)
 * > when I activated my new theme’s plugin, this critical error message came up
 * Since theme and plugin compatibility is up to the theme and plugin developers,
   I recommend contacting your theme’s support about that.
 *  [Stef](https://wordpress.org/support/users/serafinnyc/)
 * (@serafinnyc)
 * [2 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-670/#post-17739331)
 * Hey you’re getting close there [@writeonsister](https://wordpress.org/support/users/writeonsister/)
   now add that debug and we’ll be able to see the errors that are firing off.
 *  [pattycake22](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pattycake22/)
 * (@pattycake22)
 * [2 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-670/#post-17739760)
 * Lots of good advice here but this is what I would do to debug this:
   Thru cpanel(
   or ftp), use the File Manager in cpanel, go to the wp-content folder, and then
   under that, go to the themes folder, find the folder of the theme that is causing
   the error… rename that folder to something like “theme_name.bku”. ie: If the 
   name of the theme is “Astra”, rename it “Astra.bku”. Then fire up WordPress. 
   Since wp can’t find your active theme, it’ll grab another. If it fires up, the
   theme is the issue. If it DOES NOT fire up, it’s a plugin
 *  Thread Starter [writeonsister](https://wordpress.org/support/users/writeonsister/)
 * (@writeonsister)
 * [2 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-670/#post-17740834)
 * Thank you so much for all these helpful suggestions. It looks like it’s a plugin
   issue. I’ve contacted the theme people. Really appreciate your insight.

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

The topic ‘Critical Error’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 6 replies
 * 5 participants
 * Last reply from: [writeonsister](https://wordpress.org/support/users/writeonsister/)
 * Last activity: [2 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-670/#post-17740834)
 * Status: resolved

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