Memory Exhausted Error in WordPress – What It Means & How to Fix It

If you have been working on your WordPress website and suddenly see an error like this:

“Allowed memory size of XXX bytes exhausted”

Don’t panic! You are not alone. This issue, also known as the WordPress Memory Exhausted Error, is one of the most common problems faced by website owners.

In this blog, we will explain why it happens, how it affects your site, and most importantly – how you can fix it easily.

What Does “Memory Exhausted” Mean?

Just like your computer or mobile phone needs memory (RAM) to run apps, your website also needs memory to run themes, plugins, and scripts.

• WordPress comes with a default memory limit.

• If your website uses heavy plugins, large images, or complex themes, it may consume more memory than the limit allows.

• When this happens, WordPress “runs out of memory” and throws the Memory Exhausted Error.

Think of it like having too many apps open on your phone – eventually, it slows down or crashes.

Common Reasons for Memory Exhausted Error

1. Too Many Plugins Installed – Every plugin consumes resources.

2. Heavy Theme or Page Builder – Some themes are designed with lots of features that eat memory.

3. Large Media Files – Unoptimized images or videos increase memory usage.

4. Default PHP Memory Limit Too Low – Many hosting providers set the memory limit too low.

How to Fix the Error (Step by Step)

Here are some practical ways to fix the error and keep your website running smoothly:

1. Increase the PHP Memory Limit

You can manually increase the memory limit by editing your wp-config.php file.

• Go to your website’s root folder.

• Find the file named wp-config.php.

• Add this line just before the line that says “That’s all, stop editing!”:

This increases the memory limit to 256MB, which is enough for most websites.

2. Use Fewer Plugins

• Remove plugins that you don’t really need.

• Use lightweight alternatives.

• Remember: every plugin adds to memory usage.

3. Optimize Your Media

• Compress large images using tools like TinyPNG or Smush plugin.

• Avoid uploading very large videos directly to your site. Instead, use YouTube or Vimeo.

4. Choose a Better Hosting Plan

Sometimes the real problem is limited hosting resources.

• Shared hosting often has low memory limits.

• If your site is growing, consider upgrading to VPS or Managed WordPress Hosting.

5. Contact Your Hosting Provider

If you have tried everything and the error still appears, simply contact your hosting provider. They can increase the server memory limit for you.

Final Thoughts

The Memory Exhausted Error in WordPress may look scary, but it’s usually easy to fix. By increasing your PHP memory limit, optimizing your site, and keeping plugins under control, you can avoid this problem in the future.

At the end of the day, your website should run smoothly so that visitors enjoy a fast and error-free experience.

If you are facing repeated memory issues, it might be time to think about upgrading your hosting or optimizing your site design.

👉 Keep your WordPress site clean, lightweight, and optimized – and you won’t have to worry about memory errors slowing you down.

✅ Published on SmartLifeSol.com