Can't I just raise the memory limit myself?

Sometimes — but it depends on your host, and a memory error is often a symptom of something using too much, not too little. Raising the limit can hide a plugin problem that resurfaces later, so it's worth checking the cause first.

Will this keep happening?

If the real cause is a heavy or faulty plugin, yes — until it's dealt with. If your site has simply grown, a properly raised limit usually settles it. The right fix depends on which one it is.

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How to Fix the WordPress Memory Exhausted Error

Updated October 27, 2026

Allowed memory size of bytes exhausted

What's happening

The "Allowed memory size exhausted" error means WordPress needed more memory than your hosting allows for a task, so it stopped partway through. It's usually a heavy plugin, a big import or upload, or a site that has outgrown its limit, and your existing content is safe.

The full message looks something like "Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 268435456 bytes exhausted." It often shows up while you're uploading media, installing a plugin, or loading a heavy page. Visitors may see "There has been a critical error on this website" instead, with the memory message only in the error email WordPress sends you.

Why it happens

Every WordPress site has a memory limit set by its host. A lean site rarely gets near it; a site with lots of plugins, a heavy theme, or a big import can bump into the ceiling. Sometimes it's a genuine need for more memory — and sometimes it's a single badly-behaved plugin eating far more than its fair share.

What you can safely try

Note what you were doing when it appeared — uploading, updating, or opening one specific page is a strong clue. If uploading an image shows "HTTP error" instead, that's a related upload problem with its own fix.
Deactivate a plugin you added recently, if you can still reach your dashboard.
Don't edit wp-config.php or server files by trial and error — raising the limit the wrong way, or papering over a real problem, tends to cause bigger ones.

When to call us

The fix is either raising the limit properly on the server or finding the plugin that's wasting memory — and knowing which one you're dealing with matters. That's a routine call for us. If your site keeps hitting its memory limit, send it our way and we'll sort out whether it needs more room or a misbehaving plugin dealt with.

Common questions

Can't I just raise the memory limit myself?: Sometimes — but it depends on your host, and a memory error is often a symptom of something using too much, not too little. Raising the limit can hide a plugin problem that resurfaces later, so it's worth checking the cause first.
Will this keep happening?: If the real cause is a heavy or faulty plugin, yes — until it's dealt with. If your site has simply grown, a properly raised limit usually settles it. The right fix depends on which one it is.

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