Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 67108864 bytes exhausted

  • Hi – I was getting an error message which stopped people from viewing my site. The error message indicated the Word Fence plugin, which had just been updated, as the cause of the issue. I deactivated the plugin and all was fine…

    Trying to reactivate the plugin to tweak some of the settings, I found on refreshing my browser that I can now view the front of the site, but any attempt to get to the back end via the dashboard brings up a new error message: Fatal error: ‘Allowed memory size of 67108864 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 122880 bytes) in /home/tunbridg/public_html/wp-admin/menu.php on line 79’

    I’ve read several suggestions for editing the PHP. ini file, but don’t have access to it and/or know how to go about it without having access to the dashboard.

    Any help greatly appreciated…

    Also, is there any way to ‘disable all plugins’ without using the dashboard, as at least that way I can start the process of disabling/re-enabling plugins systematically to confirm if that’s the problem?

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • Moderator James Huff

    (@macmanx)

    If you’re seeing this error either suddenly (no specific task was done to cause the error) or frequently, try deactivating all plugins to rule-out a plugin-specific issue and try switching themes to rule-out a theme-specific issue.

    Otherwise, here are three ways to increase PHP’s memory allocation:

    1. If you can edit or override the system php.ini file, increase the memory limit. For example, memory_limit = 256M

    2. If you cannot edit or override the system php.ini file, add php_value memory_limit 256M to your .htaccess file.

    3. If neither of these work, it’s time to ask your hosting provider to temporarily increase PHP’s memory allocation on your account. Keep in mind that most decent hosting providers allocate 32 MB to PHP under each account, and most decent hosting providers allow users to temporarily increase the memory allocation. If your hosting provider won’t accommodate you, perhaps it’s time to find a new hosting provider.

    Thread Starter Oddly Active

    (@oddly-active)

    Hi MacManX –

    Thanks for reply, but as stated in the original message I have no access to dashboard / back end of site to try your first two suggestions – unless you can an advise a way to disable ALL plugins without access to the dashboard.

    For the same reason I can’t edit the PHP.ini file or ht.access file..
    To clarify: the site in question was originally set up by a 3rd party who is no longer around. The only access I have as ‘admin’ is via the dashboard. I can only make changes via the dashboard, which I can’t access because of the memory allocation issue.

    I can contact the host server indirectly, but would need to tell them exactly what needs to be done as the intermediary is NOT the 3rd party who set up the original site and is probably even less technically minded than me!

    I know – it’s a mess, ennit? In my defence, I did tell the intermediary not to do it that way in case something like this happened, but… …

    Anyhoo, any further suggestions, preferably with ‘walkthroughs’ greatly appreciated ??

    Moderator James Huff

    (@macmanx)

    unless you can an advise a way to disable ALL plugins without access to the dashboard

    Yes, follow this guide: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/FAQ_Troubleshooting#How_to_deactivate_all_plugins_when_not_able_to_access_the_administrative_menus.3F

    For the same reason I can’t edit the PHP.ini file or ht.access file.

    You don’t need Dashboard access to edit these, just SFTP/FTP or Shell access.

    I can contact the host server indirectly, but would need to tell them exactly what needs to be done

    If resetting the plugins doesn’t do the trick, tell them that you need your memory allocation doubled or increased to at least 256M while you debug an issue.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • The topic ‘Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 67108864 bytes exhausted’ is closed to new replies.