The Link You Followed Has Expired

How to Fix “The Link You Followed Has Expired” Error in WordPress (Step-by-Step)

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Have you ever tried uploading a WordPress theme or plugin and seen the frustrating message:

“The link you followed has expired”?

Don’t worry — you’re not alone. This is a very common error in WordPress, and the good news is: it’s easy to fix. In this post, I’ll explain why this happens and show you three simple ways to fix it in less than 5 minutes.

🔍 What Causes “The Link You Followed Has Expired” in WordPress?

This error usually appears when you’re uploading a theme or plugin that is larger than the upload limit set on your server.

By default, WordPress (and your hosting provider) may set limits like:

  • upload_max_filesize = 2MB
  • post_max_size = 8MB
  • max_execution_time = 30 seconds

If your theme or plugin is larger than this limit, the upload fails and WordPress shows this error.

✅ How to Fix the Error (3 Easy Methods)

You can fix this by increasing your server’s upload limit. Here are three methods:

1. Edit the .htaccess File

You can add these lines to the bottom of your .htaccess file (found in your root WordPress folder):

php_value upload_max_filesize 64M
php_value post_max_size 64M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

Save the file and try uploading your theme/plugin again.

⚠️ Make sure to back up your .htaccess file before editing.

2. Edit the php.ini File

If your hosting allows custom php.ini files, add or edit these lines:

upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300

Save the file and restart your server if needed.

3. Edit Your functions.php File

You can also add this code to your theme’s functions.php file:

@ini_set(‘upload_max_size’, ’64M’);
@ini_set(‘post_max_size’, ’64M’);
@ini_set(‘max_execution_time’, ‘300’);

⚠️ Tip: Always use a child theme to make this change so you don’t lose it during updates.

🛠 Best Practice: Use a Plugin or Contact Hosting

If you’re not comfortable editing code, you can use plugins like:

  • WP Increase Upload Filesize
  • WP Maximum Execution Time Exceeded

Or contact your hosting provider to increase the limits for you.

🎯 Final Thoughts

“The link you followed has expired” is not a serious error, and it’s easy to fix with a quick update to your server limits.

If you frequently upload large files or themes, increasing these limits can save you a lot of time and frustration.

How to Fix the WordPress Critical Error (Step-by-Step Guide for 2025)

How to Fix the WordPress Critical Error (Step-by-Step Guide for 2025)

by with No Comment fix wordpress errorhow to fix wordpress critical errorwordpress critical error fixWordPress Sitewordpress site not working

Facing the “There has been a critical error on this website” message? Don’t panic. Here’s how to fix it easily and get your website back online.

🧠 Why This Blog Post?

  • Highly searched keyword: WordPress critical error fix
  • Helps establish your expertise in solving real user problems
  • Good chance to rank if optimized we

If you’ve landed on this page, your WordPress site probably just crashed with a “There has been a critical error on your website” message.
Don’t worry — this is one of the most common WordPress problems, and you can fix it even without being a developer

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact steps to fix the WordPress critical error and bring your site back to life.

What Causes the WordPress Critical Error?

The critical error is usually caused by:

  • A faulty plugin or theme
  • PHP version conflicts
  • Memory limit exhaustion
  • File corruption or malware
  • Database connection issues

🛠️ Step-by-Step Solution

✅ Step 1: Enable Debug Mode

Add this to your wp-config.php file:

define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );
define( ‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true );

This helps you track down what caused the error.

✅ Step 2: Access Site via FTP or File Manager

Login using cPanel > File Manager or via an FTP client like FileZilla.

✅ Step 3: Deactivate All Plugins

Navigate to /wp-content/plugins/ and rename the folder to plugins_old.
Now reload your site. If it works, a plugin caused the issue.
Rename the folder back and reactivate one-by-one

✅ Step 4: Switch to Default Theme

Rename your active theme folder (e.g., astra ➜ astra_old) to force WordPress to load a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.

✅ Step 5: Increase PHP Memory Limit

In wp-config.php, add:

define( ‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’ );

✅ Step 6: Check for Core File Corruption

Re-upload fresh WordPress core files (except wp-content and wp-config.php) from wordpress.org.

✅ Step 7: Contact Hosting Support

If the issue persists, your hosting provider may help you restore your site or check server errors.

📈 Bonus: Prevent Future Critical Errors

  • Use a reliable theme and plugins
  • Keep WordPress, plugins, and themes updated
  • Install a backup plugin (like UpdraftPlus)
  • Enable server-side malware scanning
  • Avoid editing theme files directly

✅ Final Thoughts

The WordPress critical error can feel like a nightmare, but with the right steps, it’s totally fixable. If you’re still stuck or don’t want to risk breaking more things — Contact me now and I’ll personally help you fix it.

👉 Also Read: How to Fix “How to Increase Maximum Upload File Size in WordPress (3 Proven Methods)” in WordPress.