
After updating your WordPress to the latest version 5.5+, you are likely to encounter a fatal error “Call to undefined function wp_unregister_GLOBALS() in…. /public_html/wp-settings.php:70”
Problem: Call to undefined function in wp_unregister_GLOBALS()
The complete error is like this:
“Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function wp_unregister_GLOBALS() in /home/examplesite/public_html/wp-settings.php:70 Stack trace: #0 /home/examplesite/public_html/wp-config.php(77): require_once() #1 /home/examplesite/public_html/wp-load.php(37):
/home/examplesite/public_html/wp-login.php(12): require(‘/home/example…’) #3 {main} thrown in /home/examplesite/public_html/wp-settings.php on line 70”
Cause of Error: This is error is likely to be caused by an automatic WordPress update failure
Solution: How to fix Call to undefined function in wp_unregister_GLOBALS()
The solution to the problem is to manually install WordPress by carefully following the procedure below.
- Backup your website just in case anything goes wrong
- Download Zip file of the latest WordPress version from WordPress Download
- Unzip the File
- After Unzipping, open the WordPress folder
- Delete wp-content folder (MUST BE DELETED)

- Select all the remaining files and folders and Zip them (It is important to select all the files and folders and zip them. Do not just zip the WordPress folder)

- Login to your cPanel or FTP software and go to File Manager
- Click Public HTML folder
- Click Upload Tab and then upload the WordPress file that you just saved in zip format above (the one without the wp-content folder).

- Confirm that the Zip file has been uploaded to public HTML folder
- Then Extract it
- You are done
NOTE: The reason we deleted wp-content folder is to avoid it being overwritten or files being lost.
Important tip: If you cannot backup your website, login into your cPanel or FTP, go to file manager>public html>right click wp-content>Compress>Select Zip Archive> Then click Compress Files. This will create a backup of your wp-content folder in zip format.
How the solution works
The zip file that you just extracted above will override the existing WordPress version therefore update your WordPress CMS to the latest version.
Let us know in the comment section below whether the solution above addressed your problem or if you have a specific WordPress plugin or theme related issue that you want us to help you fix.
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