When attempting to delete a WordPress plugin, you might encounter the following error message and be unable to remove a plugin as smoothly as expected. This error can be frustrating, but with some troubleshooting steps, it can be resolved.
Deletion failed: There has been a critical error on your website. Learn more about debugging in WordPress.
When you try to delete a plugin from your WordPress dashboard, the system performs a series of actions to remove the plugin files and database entries linked to it. If any of these steps encounter an unexpected issue, WordPress displays a critical error to prevent any potential harm to your site.
You can take the following actions to troubleshoot the error.
1: Check website logs: WordPress error logs can help you understand why a critical error occurred while deleting a plugin. You can access these logs via your hosting control panel or FTP. Look for any error messages or warnings that occurred around the time you encountered the deletion error. These can help pinpoint the root cause of the issue.
2: Enable WordPress Debug Mode. This mode displays detailed error messages on your screen, which helps you identify problematic plugins or code snippets.
3: Check for Plugin Compatibility: Before deleting plugins, ensure that they are compatible with your version of WordPress. Outdated or incompatible plugins may cause critical errors during deletion.
4: Switch to a Default Theme: If the error occurred due to a theme conflict, you can try switching to a basic WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three. This will help determine if your theme is the culprit.
5: Increase PHP Memory Limit: Sometimes, insufficient memory allocation can cause errors. You can increase the PHP memory limit from the hosting control panel to resolve the issue.
6: Deactivate the Plugin Manually: To deactivate a plugin manually, you can use the File Manager within the hosting control panel or via FTP. From there, navigate to the wp-content/plugins directory and find the folder that corresponds to the plugin you want to deactivate. Rename/delete the folder, and it will instantly deactivate the plugin, allowing you to access your WordPress dashboard again.
If you are having difficulty resolving the error on your own, it is advisable to contact support from the plugin developer or the WordPress community forums. They might have faced similar issues before and can provide you with guidance or solutions specific to your situation.
That's all. You can take the action mentioned above to resolve the error "Deletion failed: There has been a critical error on your website".
