---
title: WordPress critical error and no dashboard access
description: "Your WordPress site shows \"There has been a critical error on this website\" and you cannot get into the dashboard. **Why this happens.** A plugin or theme…"
url: "https://homerunner.io/docs/my-wordpress-site-shows-there-has-been-a-critical-error-on-this-website-and-i-ca/"
updated: "2026-10-26"
category: General
---

# WordPress critical error and no dashboard access

Your WordPress site shows "There has been a critical error on this website" and you cannot get into the dashboard.

**Why this happens.** A plugin or theme on the site is crashing. When this happens, WordPress emails the site's admin address with a subject like "Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue."

**Using the recovery email.** The email contains a recovery mode link. The link logs you into the dashboard with the crashing component switched off, and the email names the plugin or theme that is causing the issue. Deactivate that plugin or roll it back to its previous version. The site usually comes right back.

**If you cannot find the email.** Ask your hosting company's support to:

1. Check the PHP error log.
2. Identify the plugin named in the fatal error.
3. Deactivate that plugin by renaming its folder.

**After the site is back.** Update or replace the failing plugin before you reactivate it.

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