NB Critical Block

A comprehensive fail-safe and recovery toolkit for WordPress. Prevents the "White Screen of Death" by catching fatal errors early and auto-restoring safe backups.

Description

Never get locked out by the WordPress "critical error" screen again!

NB Critical Block provides multiple layers of protection that actually work. Unlike other recovery plugins that load too late to help, this plugin includes early error handlers that catch fatal errors BEFORE WordPress fully loads - so they can actually disable the crashing plugin and keep your site running.

NEW in 2.13.0: Recovery script now uses your WordPress admin login - same URL on all sites (yoursite.com/nb-recovery.php), no separate passwords to remember!

Part of the NetBound Tools suite.

Protection Layers (All One-Click Install Except One)

Layer 1: Main Plugin (Active when you install this plugin)

• Catches errors after WordPress loads
• Auto-disables plugins that cause fatal errors
• Backs up and restores functions.php on crash
• Maintenance mode control with bypass URL

Layer 2: Must-Use Plugin (One-Click Install from Settings)

• Installs with a single button click - no FTP needed
• Loads BEFORE regular plugins
• Catches fatal errors in other plugins before they crash the site
• Shows a friendly recovery page instead of the dreaded "critical error" screen
• Provides emergency bypass URL (?netbound_emergency=1)

Layer 3: wp-config.php Snippet (Optional - Requires FTP/File Manager)

• The ONLY component requiring manual installation (for security)
• Catches errors before ANYTHING else loads
• Easy Copy/Download buttons provided in admin
• Ultimate protection - even catches mu-plugin errors

Key Features

Automatic Plugin Auto-Disable

• When a plugin causes a fatal error, it gets automatically renamed/disabled.
• Your site keeps running on the remaining plugins.
• View and re-enable disabled plugins from the admin dashboard.
• Email notifications tell you exactly what happened.

functions.php Fail-Safe (Child Themes)

• Automatically creates a backup of your theme's functions.php.
• Detects fatal PHP errors in real-time.
• Instantly restores the safe backup when a fatal error is detected.
• Saves the faulty file for debugging (renamed with timestamp).

Maintenance Mode Control

• Toggle maintenance mode on/off from admin.
• Secret bypass URL so you can access your site while in maintenance.
• Detects "stuck" maintenance mode files (.maintenance) from failed updates.

Standalone Emergency Recovery Script

• Password-protected recovery script works even when WordPress is completely broken.
• Generates with a random, secure filename.
• Can disable all plugins, remove stuck maintenance files.
• Allows emergency functions.php uploads.

Child Theme Creator

• One-click child theme generator.
• Enables the fail-safe features instantly.

Installation

1. Upload the nb-critical-block folder to /wp-content/plugins/
2. Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu
3. Go to NetBound Tools > Critical Block
4. Click "Install Must-Use Plugin" button for early error protection
5. (Optional) Set a recovery script password for emergency access
6. (Optional) Add the wp-config.php snippet via FTP for ultimate protection

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the protection layers?

• Main Plugin: Catches errors after WordPress loads. Good but can't prevent the critical error screen.
• Must-Use Plugin: Catches errors BEFORE regular plugins load. One-click install. Can prevent most critical error screens.
• wp-config.php Snippet: Catches errors before ANYTHING loads. Requires FTP access. Maximum protection.

Why can't the wp-config.php snippet be installed automatically?

Security. Automatically modifying wp-config.php could be exploited by malicious code. It's safer to require manual interaction (FTP or File Manager) for this one core component. We provide easy Copy/Download buttons to help.

Why does functions.php protection only work with child themes?

Modifying a parent theme's functions.php directly is risky - changes get wiped out when the theme updates. A child theme is the proper way to customize themes, and our plugin includes a one-click Child Theme Creator.

How do I use the recovery script?

After setting a password in Settings > NetBound Tools, you'll get a secret URL. Save this URL. If your site crashes completely, open that URL in your browser to access recovery tools.

Screenshots

1. Dashboard Overview: See protection status, maintenance mode, and logs in one place.
2. Early Error Handler: One-click install for the Must-Use plugin and snippet tools for wp-config.
3. Recovery Script: The standalone emergency tool that works even when WordPress is dead.

Changelog

2.11.1

• Renamed to "NB Critical Block".
• Integrated with NetBound Shared Menu System v2.1.0.
• Added Copy/Download buttons for wp-config.php snippet.
• Formatting improvements for disabled plugin error messages.

2.14.0

• NEW: Debug mode toggle in recovery script - enable/disable WP_DEBUG remotely
• NEW: Error log viewer - read debug.log and NetBound logs without FTP
• NEW: One-click wp-config.php snippet installer from recovery script
• NEW: Clear individual log files from recovery interface

2.13.0

• NEW: Recovery script now uses WordPress admin credentials - no separate password!
• NEW: Fixed URL for all sites: yoursite.com/nb-recovery.php
• NEW: Auto-installs on plugin activation
• IMPROVED: Login form shows username + password fields (same as wp-admin)

2.12.0

• NEW: MU-Plugin error protection - catches fatal errors in must-use plugins.
• NEW: Full-featured emergency recovery script with file browser.
• NEW: Recovery script can disable/enable/delete mu-plugins, plugins, and themes.
• NEW: Admin UI section for disabled MU-plugins.
• NEW: Updated wp-config.php snippet with mu-plugin protection.
• IMPROVED: Recovery script now has login security with lockout after failed attempts.

2.9.0

• NEW: Must-Use Plugin - one-click install from admin.
• NEW: wp-config.php snippet - optional manual install for ultimate protection.
• NEW: Friendly recovery page instead of critical error screen.
• NEW: Emergency bypass URL (?netbound_emergency=1).
• NEW: Error log viewer in admin.
• NEW: Protection status summary dashboard.

2.8.0

• Plugin auto-disable on fatal error.
• Maintenance mode control with bypass URL.
• Email notifications for all actions.

1.0.0

• Initial release.
• Automatic functions.php fail-safe.
• Password-protected emergency recovery script.
• One-click child theme creator.