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WordPress Memory Exhausted Error: How to Increase PHP Memory Limit

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Few WordPress errors are as confusing for beginners as the “Memory Exhausted Error”.

You may suddenly see a message similar to:

Fatal error: Allowed memory size exhausted

or

PHP Fatal Error: Allowed memory size of X bytes exhausted

When this happens, your website may stop loading completely, certain pages may become inaccessible, or WordPress may display a critical error message.

The good news is that this issue is usually easy to fix.

In this guide, you’ll learn what causes the WordPress Memory Exhausted Error and how to increase your PHP memory limit using several beginner-friendly methods.

What Is the WordPress Memory Exhausted Error?

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“WordPress Memory Exhausted Error” Notice

WordPress runs on PHP, and PHP requires memory to execute code. Every hosting account has a memory limit that controls how much memory PHP scripts can use.

When WordPress, a plugin, or a theme tries to use more memory than allowed, PHP stops execution and displays a fatal error.

A typical error message looks like:

Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 33554432 bytes exhausted

The number shown represents the memory limit configured on your server.

Common Causes of Memory Exhaustion

This error is often caused by:

  • Poorly coded plugins
  • Resource-heavy themes
  • Large WooCommerce stores
  • Image optimization processes
  • Backup plugins
  • Import/export tools
  • Low hosting memory limits
  • Plugin conflicts

In some cases, the memory issue is temporary.

In others, you may need to permanently increase your PHP memory limit.

How to Confirm a Memory Exhausted Error

Before making changes, confirm that memory exhaustion is actually the problem.

Look for messages such as the following:

Allowed memory size exhausted
Allowed memory size of 123456789 bytes exhausted
Out of memory
PHP Fatal Error

You may find these messages:

  • On-screen
  • Inside wp-content/debug.log
  • Inside hosting error logs

If you’re seeing a generic critical error message, check our guide on WordPress Critical Error Fix for additional troubleshooting steps.

Solution 1: Increase Memory Limit in wp-config.php

This is usually the quickest solution.

Step 1: Log In to Your Hosting Account

Open your hosting control panel.

Depending on your provider, this may be:

  • cPanel
  • Hostinger hPanel
  • DirectAdmin
  • Plesk

Step 2: Open File Manager

Locate:

public_html

This is normally your WordPress root directory.

Step 3: Find wp-config.php

Inside public_html, locate:

wp-config.php

Right-click the file and choose Edit.

Step 4: Add the Memory Limit

Find this line:

/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */

Immediately above it, add:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

The result should look like:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */

Step 5: Save the File

Click Save.

What Should Happen?

Refresh your website.

If the website loads correctly, you’ve successfully fixed the problem.

If the error remains, continue to the next solution.

Solution 2: Increase Memory Limit Through PHP Configuration

Some hosts ignore wp-config.php memory settings.

In that case, you may need to change PHP settings directly.

Using cPanel

  1. Log in to cPanel.
  2. Open the MultiPHP INI Editor.
  3. Select your domain.
  4. Locate:
memory_limit
  1. Change it to:
256M

or

512M
  1. Save changes.

What Should Happen?

Allow a few minutes for changes to take effect, then test your website again.

Solution 3: Increase Memory Limit Using .htaccess

If your host supports it, you can modify the .htaccess file.

Locate .htaccess

Inside:

public_html

find:

.htaccess

If hidden files aren’t visible, enable:

Show Hidden Files

Add This Line

php_value memory_limit 256M

Save the file.

What Should Happen?

Refresh your website.

If you receive a server error after editing .htaccess, remove the line immediately because your hosting provider may not support this method.

Solution 4: Disable Resource-Hungry Plugins

Some plugins consume excessive memory.

Common examples include:

  • Backup plugins
  • Security scanners
  • Page builders
  • Import/export tools
  • Database optimization plugins

How to Disable Plugins

If you can access WordPress Admin:

  1. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins.
  2. Deactivate all plugins.
  3. Test your website.

If you cannot access WordPress Admin:

  1. Open File Manager.
  2. Navigate to:
wp-content/plugins
  1. Rename:
plugins

to:

plugins-disabled

What Should Happen?

If the website starts working, a plugin is causing the memory issue.

Reactivate plugins individually until you identify the problematic one.

Solution 5: Switch to a Default Theme

Some themes require significantly more memory than others.

Disable Your Current Theme

Navigate to:

wp-content/themes

Rename your active theme folder.

For example:

astra

becomes:

astra-disabled

If a default WordPress theme is available, WordPress will activate it automatically.

What Should Happen?

If the website loads normally afterward, your theme is contributing to the memory issue.

Solution 6: Upgrade Your Hosting Plan

Sometimes the problem isn’t WordPress.

Shared hosting plans often impose strict memory limits.

Signs you may need better hosting include:

  • Frequent memory errors
  • Slow admin dashboard
  • High CPU usage
  • WooCommerce performance issues

If your site regularly hits memory limits, upgrading your hosting plan may be the most effective long-term solution.

Related WordPress Errors

Memory exhaustion often causes other WordPress issues.

If you’re seeing additional symptoms, these guides may help:

WordPress Critical Error Fix

Many critical errors are ultimately caused by PHP memory exhaustion.

WordPress White Screen of Death

A completely blank page often appears when PHP runs out of available memory.

WordPress 500 Internal Server Error

Some hosting environments display a 500 error instead of the memory exhaustion message.

Error Establishing Database Connection in WordPress

Although less common, overloaded servers can sometimes trigger both database and memory-related issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good PHP memory limit for WordPress?

For most websites:

  • 128M = Small websites
  • 256M = Recommended
  • 512M = WooCommerce or large websites

Can a plugin cause memory exhaustion?

Yes. Poorly optimized plugins are one of the most common causes.

Is increasing the memory limit safe?

Yes, provided your hosting plan supports it.

Will increasing memory limit fix all memory errors?

Not always.

If a plugin has a memory leak or your server lacks resources, the underlying issue may still need to be addressed.

Conclusion

The WordPress Memory Exhausted Error occurs when PHP runs out of available memory while executing WordPress code.

In most cases, increasing the PHP memory limit solves the problem quickly. If not, investigate plugins, themes, hosting resources, and server configurations.

Start with the simplest solutions first and test your website after each change. This makes it easier to identify the exact cause and avoid unnecessary troubleshooting.