How to Resolve the “White Screen of Death” in WordPress

The “White Screen of Death” (WSOD) is one of the most frustrating issues WordPress users face. It’s characterized by a blank, white screen with no error message, making it difficult to diagnose and fix. Fortunately, there are several ways to resolve the WSOD in WordPress. In this guide, we’ll explore what causes the WSOD and how to troubleshoot it with practical steps and examples.

What Causes the White Screen of Death in WordPress?

There are several reasons why the WSOD may occur, and the most common ones include:

1. Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Faulty plugins or themes can cause WordPress to malfunction.
2. Exhausted Memory Limits: If your website exceeds the allocated memory, it may crash.
3. Corrupt Files: Core WordPress files may become corrupt due to incomplete updates or manual changes.
4. PHP Errors: Malfunctioning code in themes, plugins, or the WordPress core can trigger the WSOD.
5. Cache Problems: Cached data may lead to WSOD, especially if changes are not properly reflected.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fix the White Screen of Death

1. Check if the Problem Is on the Admin Side

Sometimes the White Screen of Death affects only the front end of the website, while the WordPress admin dashboard remains accessible.

• Access the Admin Panel: Try visiting yourwebsite.com/wp-admin. If you can access the admin area, the issue might be limited to the front end.

If you can’t access the admin panel, you can proceed with the following steps.

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2. Increase the Memory Limit in WordPress

One common cause of WSOD is insufficient memory allocated to WordPress. Increasing the memory limit often resolves the issue.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Edit the wp-config.php File: Access your site’s files using an FTP client or the file manager provided by your hosting provider.
2. Add Memory Limit Code: Open the wp-config.php file and add the following code before the line that says, “That’s all, stop editing!”: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
3. Save the File: After saving the changes, re-upload the file to the server.

This increases the memory limit to 256MB, which should be sufficient to prevent memory exhaustion.

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3. Disable All Plugins

Faulty or incompatible plugins are a frequent cause of the White Screen of Death. If the problem started after you installed a plugin or updated one, it’s worth investigating.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Access Your Site via FTP: Use an FTP client like FileZilla or your hosting provider’s file manager.
2. Navigate to the Plugins Folder: Go to wp-content/plugins/ and rename the folder to something like plugins_old. This will disable all plugins.
3. Check the Website: Visit your site to see if the WSOD issue is resolved.
4. Reactivate Plugins One by One: Rename the folder back to plugins and start activating each plugin individually to find the one causing the issue. Once you identify the problematic plugin, you can either delete it or contact its developer for support.

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4. Switch to a Default Theme

Sometimes, a faulty theme can lead to the WSOD. If you suspect your theme is the culprit, switching to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One may resolve the issue.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Access the Theme Folder: Use FTP to navigate to wp-content/themes/.
2. Rename the Active Theme: Rename your active theme folder to something like theme_old.
3. Activate a Default Theme: WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme (such as Twenty Twenty-One) if the active theme is unavailable.
4. Check the Website: See if the WSOD issue is resolved. If the problem is related to the theme, you can update or replace the theme.

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5. Enable Debugging Mode in WordPress

Enabling debugging mode can help you identify errors by displaying them instead of the WSOD. This will give you insights into what’s causing the issue.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Edit the wp-config.php File: Use FTP to access your wp-config.php file.
2. Enable Debugging: Add the following lines of code to enable debugging: define( 'WP_DEBUG', true ); define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true ); define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );
3. Check the Log File: After enabling debugging, WordPress will generate a log file in wp-content/debug.log. You can check this file to identify any errors or issues causing the WSOD.
4. Disable Debugging: Once you’ve identified and fixed the issue, disable debugging by setting WP_DEBUG to false: define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );

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6. Clear the WordPress Cache

If your site uses a caching plugin, outdated or corrupt cached data could cause the WSOD. Clearing your site’s cache can resolve the issue.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Clear Cache via Plugin: If you have access to the admin area, go to your caching plugin’s settings and clear the cache.
2. Clear Server Cache: Some hosting providers offer server-side caching. Log in to your hosting control panel and clear any server-side cache from there.
3. Clear Browser Cache: Clear your browser cache or try opening the website in incognito mode to see if that resolves the WSOD.

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7. Restore a Backup

If you have a recent backup of your WordPress site, restoring it may be the quickest way to fix the WSOD. Most hosting providers or WordPress backup plugins offer a restore option.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Access Your Hosting Backup Tool: Log in to your hosting account and navigate to the backup tool.
2. Select a Recent Backup: Choose a backup version from a date when your site was functioning correctly.
3. Restore the Backup: Follow the instructions to restore your site. Once restored, check if the WSOD is resolved.

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FAQs

Q1: What is the White Screen of Death in WordPress?

The White Screen of Death is a blank screen without any error messages. It usually happens due to plugin or theme conflicts, memory exhaustion, or PHP errors.

Q2: Can I fix the WSOD without technical knowledge?

Yes! Many solutions, like disabling plugins or increasing the memory limit, don’t require advanced technical skills. However, accessing your site’s files via FTP may require basic familiarity with file management.

Q3: Will enabling debugging mode harm my site?

Enabling debugging mode won’t harm your site, but it’s essential to disable it after troubleshooting since displaying errors publicly can expose vulnerabilities.

Q4: Can updating WordPress prevent WSOD?

Yes. Keeping your WordPress, themes, and plugins updated can prevent potential conflicts and bugs that lead to the WSOD.

 

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The White Screen of Death in WordPress can be a daunting issue, but it’s usually fixable with a bit of troubleshooting. By following the steps outlined in this guide—disabling plugins, switching themes, increasing memory limits, and clearing cache—you can resolve the WSOD and get your site back online. For complex issues, enabling debugging mode or restoring from a backup may be your best solution.

Staying proactive by keeping your WordPress site updated and regularly backing it up will help prevent such issues in the future.