The Fatal Error
If you are getting a fatal error during uploading a theme or importing data into WordPress, you are not alone. This is a common issue that often frustrates developers and site owners alike.
The Cause: PHP Execution Time Limit
It is due to the PHP Execution Time Limit in your server's PHP settings. By default, PHP scripts are given a specific amount of time to execute. If a task (like uploading a large theme file) takes longer than this limit, the server kills the process and returns a fatal error.
The Solution: Modifying php.ini
You can increase the PHP Execution Time Limit by opening your php.ini file and changing the setting. Setting it to 0 generally means "unlimited" time.
Universal Application
This fix can be applied to any script that is giving a "Maximum execution time" error. It is not limited to WordPress only. Whether you are running a custom PHP application, Joomla, Drupal, or a simple script, adjusting the execution time limit is the universal solution for this specific timeout error.
- Locate your
php.inifile (often in the root or /etc/ directory). - Search for
max_execution_time. - Change the value to
0or a higher number (e.g., 300 for 5 minutes). - Restart your web server (Apache/Nginx) for changes to take effect.
