---
title: WordPress critical error on the front end
description: "Your site shows a \"critical error\" message to visitors on the front end, but **wp-admin** still loads and works. **Why this happens.** A plugin or theme…"
url: "https://homerunner.io/docs/my-wordpress-site-shows-a-critical-error-on-the-front-end-but-wp-admin-still-wor/"
updated: "2026-10-27"
category: Theme and design
---

# WordPress critical error on the front end

Your site shows a "critical error" message to visitors on the front end, but **wp-admin** still loads and works.

**Why this happens.** A plugin or theme usually hit a fatal PHP error while rendering the front end. This often follows an automatic plugin update.

**How to fix it.**

1. Install a debug-log viewer plugin, such as **Debug Log Manager**, from your dashboard so you can see the real error. Reload the broken front end, then look for lines starting with "PHP Fatal error".
2. If the fatal error points at a recently updated plugin, check for version mismatches between paired plugins, such as Elementor and Elementor Pro.
3. Use the plugin's version control feature (for example, **Elementor > Tools > Version Control**) to roll back to matching versions.
4. As a quick stopgap, deactivate the problematic plugin to get the site loading while you fix the versions properly.
5. Turn off auto-updates on version-locked plugins to prevent this from happening again.

Still stuck? [Contact the HomeRunner team](https://homerunner.io/contact/) with your site address and what you tried, and we take it from there.