Using Large Amounts of Memory

WP might still be using default, lower memory limit. Try adding this to your wp-config

define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '96M' );

If 96 not enough, try 120.

@ Viktor – I don’t want to offend you since you have been so diligently helping folks through the last 16 version releases of iThemes Security released back to back in such a short period of time, but defining the memory limit from within WP does not change the Servers PHP Configuration memory limit setting, nor does using the php ini_set function. The actual PHP Configuration maximum memory limit can only be changed in a php.ini file. Either in a custom php.ini file created locally under the website or the Servers php.ini file (for VPS and Dedicated Hosting folks who have access to this Server file directly). WordPress allows you to allocate memory for the site, but the Server actually controls what the real memory limit is. Example: you set the site’s memory limit to 256M. The Server only allows a maximum of 128M. The actual true/real memory limit will be 128M since you cannot actually change that locally without creating a custom php.ini file and if the maximum allowed Server memory limit is 128M then if you add 256M in your custom php.ini file then it will be ignored since the actual PHP Configuration maximum memory limit allowed by the Server will still be 128M as defined/allowed by the Server.

Oh and I hope iThemes acknowledges and thanks you for all of your efforts during this thing. You are a stellar person for doing what you are doing. Thanks. ??

Yes, I understand and know that server’s limit cannot be overridden by WP’s memory limit. This is the memory limit used by WP alone, and by default WP only uses 40MB.

From the Codex on memory limit:

This setting increases PHP Memory only for WordPress, not other applications. By default, WordPress will attempt to increase memory allocated to PHP to 40MB (code is at beginning of wp-settings.php), so the setting in wp-config.php should reflect something higher than 40MB.

WP sets that limit low because for most users that will suffice.

You’ll note in my answer I never mentioned anything over 120M, since that is the hosting limit.

iThemes is too busy breaking a good plugin to thank me ??

iThemes is too busy breaking a good plugin to thank me ??

ha ha ha. You have a great sense of humour too.

Yeah the WP memory thing is kind of mystery to me. Seems like if your Server allocates X amount of memory for ALL php apps/processes on the PHP Server then ALL php apps/processes are going to be able to use X amount of memory if needed????

Yes, correct. It’s like a public bathroom, and sometimes some people need more than one stall to do their duty ??

LMFAO – I’m still laughing right now. ha ha ha ha ha. AWESOME!!!