How to fix the PHP error «maximum execution time exceeded» on WordPress

Walid Sadfi
22 January 2023

If you use WordPress for your website, you may encounter the error «maximum execution time exceeded» when trying to access certain pages or save changes. This error occurs when the PHP script being executed takes longer than the allowed execution time.

Why does this error occur? There are several reasons why this error may occur. One of the most common reasons is that you have plugins or themes that take a long time to load or execute. Scripts that perform intensive calculations, such as statistical calculations or complex database queries, can also cause this error.

How can I resolve this error?

There are several ways to resolve this error, here are a few:

Increase the execution limit: You can increase the PHP execution limit by modifying the PHP configuration file on your server. You can also add this line of code to the wp-config.php file of your WordPress site:
```
set_time_limit(300);
```
(300 means 300 seconds or 5 minutes).
Disable unnecessary plugins and themes: If you have plugins or themes that are no longer in use, it is best to disable them to reduce the load on your server.
Optimise database queries: If you use complex database queries, you can optimise them to reduce execution time.
Use a cache plugin: Cache plugins such as WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache can help speed up loading times by caching your website's pages.
also help reduce script loading and execution times. Web hosts such as WP Engine or Kinsta offer servers optimised for WordPress and can help prevent errors such as «maximum execution time exceeded».
Utilise a CDN: A content delivery network (CDN) can also help speed up loading times by distributing your site's resources across multiple servers around the world. This can help reduce the load on your main server and improve loading times for users who are geographically distant.
Check for syntax or coding errors: The «maximum execution time exceeded» error may be caused by syntax or coding errors in your PHP scripts. It is therefore important to regularly check your code to ensure that it is written correctly and does not contain any errors.

In conclusion, the «maximum execution time exceeded» error can be frustrating when it occurs on your WordPress site, but there are several steps you can take to resolve it. By increasing the execution limit, optimising database queries, using a caching plugin, and utilising a quality web host, you should be able to resolve this issue quickly.