How to Fix Memory Exhausted Error in WordPress
WordPress Troubleshooting & Fixes
How to Fix Memory Exhausted Error in WordPress
Seeing the “Allowed memory size exhausted” or “Fatal error: Out of memory” message? This error occurs when WordPress, a plugin, or a theme uses more RAM than your hosting server has allocated. In this full guide, learn how to fix the memory exhausted error permanently—even on shared hosting.
1
What Causes the Memory Exhausted Error?
WordPress hits its assigned memory limit and stops execution.
This error usually appears as:
Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 134217728 bytes exhaustedIt happens due to:
- Heavy plugins (e.g., Elementor, WooCommerce)
- Memory-hungry processes (imports, backups)
- Faulty themes
- Low server memory
- Too many active plugins
- PHP memory limit too low (common on shared hosting)
The good news: it can be fixed in minutes.
2
Step 1: Increase WP Memory Limit via wp-config.php
This is the quickest & most reliable fix.
Edit wp-config.php and add this line above “That’s all, stop editing!”:
define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M' );
define( 'WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M' );
Recommended values:
- 256M → Minimum for WooCommerce sites
- 512M → Best for Elementor + WooCommerce
- 1024M → For VPS/Cloud hosting
3
Step 2: Increase Memory in PHP INI / Server Settings
Some hosts override wp-config settings.
Increase memory using hosting tools:
cPanel:
- Software → MultiPHP INI Editor
- Find memory_limit
- Set to 512M or more
php.ini (manual):
memory_limit = 512M.htaccess:
php_value memory_limit 512MCloud hosting (RunCloud / CyberPanel):
- PHP Config
- Increase memory limit
If your host limits memory to 128M or less → consider upgrading hosting.
4
Step 3: Disable Heavy or Faulty Plugins
Bad plugins over-consume memory and cause fatal errors.
If you cannot access WordPress admin:
- Open File Manager → /wp-content/
- Rename plugins → plugins-disabled
- Your site loads without plugins
Then activate plugins one by one to find which one triggers memory spikes.
Plugins known to trigger memory issues:
- Elementor + Elementor Pro
- WP Bakery (old versions)
- WooCommerce (large stores)
- Backup plugins (running jobs)
- Image optimization plugins
- Security scanners
Avoid installing overlapping functionality plugins.
5
Step 4: Switch Temporarily to a Default Theme
Bad theme code can create infinite loops consuming memory.
Steps:
- Go to /wp-content/themes
- Rename active theme
- WP activates Twenty Twenty-Four automatically
If the site works → theme was causing the memory error.
6
Step 5: Increase Server Resources (If Using Shared Hosting)
Some hosts limit RAM too much for modern WordPress setups.
Upgrade if you’re running:
- WooCommerce with 20+ plugins
- Elementor templates
- Heavy themes like Porto, WoodMart, Flatsome
- Large product catalogs
Recommended hosting environment:
- 1–2 GB RAM minimum for WooCommerce
- 2 GB+ RAM for Elementor-heavy websites
- Cloud hosting (Vultr / DigitalOcean / Linode) for large sites
7
Step 6: Fix Memory Leaks in Plugins/Themes
Some plugins continue increasing memory usage until the site crashes.
Signs of a memory leak:
- Site loads slowly over time
- Crash occurs after some minutes
- High CPU usage
- Memory goes from 128M → 256M → 512M continuously
Fix:
- Disable suspicious plugins
- Check debug.log
- Update everything to latest version
- Replace poorly coded plugins
8
Step 7: Clear All Caches (Server, WordPress, CDN)
Cached PHP processes may still run outdated memory-hog scripts.
- Clear LiteSpeed cache
- Clear Cloudflare cache
- Clear WP Rocket / W3TC cache
- Restart PHP in your hosting panel
This helps reset memory allocation.
9
Step 8: Check Error Logs for Exact Memory Issue
WordPress won’t show detailed errors unless debug is enabled.
Enable debug logging:
define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );
Check:
/wp-content/debug.log
This will show which plugin/theme consumes excessive memory.
10
Step 9: Fix File Permission Issues
Incorrect permissions can cause infinite loops → memory overload.
Correct permissions:
- Folders: 755
- Files: 644
- wp-config.php: 600
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