Important: This article does not apply to Secure WordPress.
If you are experiencing an error inside of your WordPress® Administrator panel that reads Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 33554432 bytes exhausted…” , or if you see the white screen of death, you may need to increase your memory allocation for PHP. For more information about the white screen, please consult this article—How Do I Troubleshoot WordPress White Screen of Death?
Please follow these steps to increase your memory by modifying your php.ini file for Unix-based hosting packages and also user.ini for Windows-based hosting packages.
To complete these steps, you will need to connect to your website with either an FTP program or the File Manager. For more information, please see:
How to Modify the php.ini File and Increase PHP Memory
Follow these instructions:
- 1. Use the FTP program of your choice to connect to your website, then open the /cgi-bin folder,
- 2. Locate the php.ini file, then download the file to your computer.
- If the file does not exist, you can use any notepad program to create a new file. Name the new file php.ini. Ensure .ini is the file extension of the file.
Note: We recommend that you make a second copy of this file before making any edits.
- 3. Open the php.ini file.
Note: The php.ini file can be opened in any editor of your choice. If you do not have an editor, then you can use another program, such as Notepad.
- 4. Add the following lines of code into the php.ini file:
- memory_limit = 64M
- output_buffering = 2048
- 5. Save the file.
Note: Make sure that the file is still named php.ini.
- 6. Upload the php.ini back to the /cgi-bin folder.
- 7. If there is a file inside of your /cgi-bin folder named php.ini.coalesced, then delete it.
- 8. Browse to any PHP-enabled website, such as your WordPress Administrator panel.
- This will enable your settings.
- You have updated the php.ini file and increased the PHP memory.
How to Modify the user.ini File and Increase PHP Memory
Follow these instructions:
- 1. Use the FTP program of your choice to connect to your website, then open the www folder.
- 2. Locate the user.ini file, then download the file to your computer.
- If the file does not exist, you can use any notepad program to create a new file. Name the new file user.ini. Ensure .ini is the file extension of the file.
Note: We highly recommend that you make a second copy of this file before making any edits.
- 3. Open the user.ini file.
Note: The php.ini file can be opened in any editor of your choice. If you do not have an editor, then you can use another program, such as Notepad.
- 4. Add the following lines of code into the php.ini file:
- memory_limit = 64M
- output_buffering = 2048
- 5. Save the file.
Note: Make sure that the file is still named php.ini.
- 6. Upload the user.ini back to the www folder.
- 7. If there is a file inside of your /cgi-bin folder named php.ini.coalesced, then delete it.
- 8. Browse to any PHP-enabled website, such as your WordPress Administrator panel.
- This will enable your settings.
- You have updated the user.ini file and increased the PHP memory.