How to Fix WordPress Installation Stuck at 89%
If you’ve ever encountered your WordPress installation getting stuck at 89%, you know how…
How to Fix WordPress Memory Exhausted Error — Complete Guide
- Error
WordPress Memory Exhausted Error Allowed Memory Size Exhausted- Affects
- WordPress Errors
What Is This Error?
When WordPress hits this error, you’ll typically see a message like “Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 67108864 bytes exhausted.” What this means is that PHP — the language WordPress runs on — has a memory ceiling, and something on your site pushed past it during a single page request.
Think of PHP memory like a work desk. Every plugin, theme, and database query needs some desk space to operate. When too many things pile on at once, there’s no room left, and PHP halts execution rather than crashing silently. That’s the error you’re seeing.
The good news: this is one of the most straightforward WordPress errors to resolve. In most cases, a single line of code fixes it immediately.
Why Does This Happen?
- Default memory limit is too low — Hosting providers often cap PHP memory at 32MB or 64MB, but a modern WordPress site with several active plugins can easily need 128MB or more just to load a page.
- A plugin is consuming excessive memory — Page builders like Elementor, WooCommerce with large product catalogs, or poorly written third-party plugins can spike memory usage dramatically during a single request.
- Large file uploads or image processing — Uploading high-resolution photos or regenerating thumbnails forces PHP to load the entire file into memory at once, which can push usage over the limit instantly.
- Too many plugins running simultaneously — Every active plugin adds to the total memory footprint. Running thirty plugins at once is a very different load than running five.
- A recent update changed memory behavior — A plugin or theme update can introduce new features or heavier dependencies that consume significantly more memory than the version before it.
How to Fix It — Step by Step
- Increase the memory limit in wp-config.php
Open
wp-config.phpin your WordPress root directory and add this line just before the comment that reads/* That's all, stop editing! */:define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');You should see: The error disappears and your site loads normally. If it persists, your server-level limit is overriding this setting — continue to Step 2.
- Edit your php.ini file
Create or edit a file named
php.iniin your WordPress root directory and add the following line:memory_limit = 256MYou should see: The site loads without errors. On some shared hosts, php.ini changes are silently ignored — try Step 3 if this doesn’t help.
- Edit your .htaccess file
For Apache-based servers, open
.htaccessin your WordPress root and insert this line near the top:php_value memory_limit 256MYou should see: The page loads cleanly. If you get a 500 Internal Server Error after saving, remove that line — your host doesn’t permit PHP directives in .htaccess.
- Track down the memory-hungry plugin
If the error keeps returning after raising the limit, the root cause needs identifying. Deactivate all plugins from the WordPress admin panel, then reactivate them one by one, checking memory usage each time using the Query Monitor plugin.
You should see: A noticeable memory spike in Query Monitor when you reactivate the offending plugin — that’s your target to replace, configure, or contact the developer about.
- Contact your hosting provider
If none of the file edits above take effect, your host has locked the memory limit at the server level and your changes are being overridden. Submit a support ticket asking them to raise PHP memory to at least 256MB — this is a routine request any reputable host will handle.
You should see: A support confirmation that the limit has been updated, after which your site should run cleanly without the error returning.
Common Mistakes When Fixing This
- Placing define() after the “stop editing” comment — If you add
WP_MEMORY_LIMITafter that comment block in wp-config.php, WordPress may never parse it. Always insert it before that line, not after. - Setting the limit unrealistically high — Values like 1024M on shared hosting are often silently rejected by the server. Start with 256M; if your site still needs more, step up to 512M and verify your plan supports it.
- Fixing the number without investigating the cause — Raising the limit treats the symptom, not the problem. A plugin with a genuine memory leak will eventually exhaust even a 512M cap. Always use Query Monitor to find and address what’s actually consuming the memory.
- Editing php.ini on managed WordPress hosts — Platforms like WP Engine, Kinsta, or Flywheel manage PHP configuration at the infrastructure level. Any php.ini file you create is ignored. Contact their support team directly to request a memory increase.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much memory should I set?
256M is a safe and widely recommended value for most WordPress sites. If you’re running WooCommerce with a large catalog, heavy page builders, or multiple premium plugins, consider 512M. Avoid going beyond that unless your hosting plan explicitly supports the higher allocation — more isn’t always better on shared infrastructure.
Why does this error keep coming back even after I fix it?
Either the limit you set is still lower than what a specific operation needs, or a plugin update reintroduced memory-heavy code. Re-examine your limit value and install Query Monitor to see live memory consumption per page load — it will tell you exactly which plugin or query is the biggest offender.
Can I fix this from inside the WordPress dashboard?
Not if the error prevents the dashboard from loading. PHP needs to execute successfully before WordPress can render the admin interface, so when memory is exhausted early in the request, you’ll have to edit files directly via FTP, SFTP, or your hosting provider’s file manager.
What if my host refuses to raise the memory limit?
That’s a strong signal that your current hosting plan is under-resourced for your site’s needs. Consider upgrading to a higher-tier plan or switching to a host with more generous PHP limits. A memory ceiling below 128MB is simply not suitable for a modern WordPress site running a typical plugin stack.
