How to Fix the WordPress White Screen of Death (Step-by-Step)

As a WordPress expert with 15 years of experience, I’ve seen my fair share of the infamous “White Screen of Death” (WSOD). It’s a dreaded error that leaves website owners staring at a blank page, offering no clues about what went wrong. But don’t despair! In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through every step to fix this common WordPress issue, helping you restore your website’s functionality.

The WSOD can be incredibly frustrating, but it’s usually not a sign of a major problem. In most cases, it’s a simple issue that can be resolved with a few troubleshooting steps.

To make this guide even more helpful, I’ve included expert opinions and high-engagement tips throughout, ensuring you have everything you need to tackle the WSOD and get back to your WordPress website smoothly.

Understanding the WordPress White Screen of Death

Before we dive into solutions, let’s understand why you’re seeing the WSOD in the first place. This error is often a symptom of a script on your website running into a problem. The most common culprit is when a script exhausts the memory limit set for your WordPress hosting server.

Think of it like this: Imagine a car trying to carry a heavy load. If the car’s engine isn’t powerful enough, it might stall or run out of gas. Similarly, if your WordPress website’s script tries to use more memory than your server can handle, it will crash, leaving you with the dreaded white screen.

While a memory limit issue is the most common reason, other problems can lead to the WSOD, including:

• Poorly coded themes or plugins: A poorly written theme or plugin can introduce bugs that cause conflicts and lead to the WSOD.
• Database errors: Issues with your WordPress database can prevent your website from loading properly.
• Web hosting server problems: Sometimes, the WSOD might be caused by temporary server downtime or issues on your web hosting provider’s end.

Troubleshooting the WordPress White Screen of Death

Now that you understand the potential causes, let’s get into the practical steps to fix the WSOD. Remember, before making any changes, it’s essential to create a backup of your WordPress website. This will safeguard your data in case something goes wrong.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to troubleshoot the WSOD:

1. Check Other Websites on the Same Hosting Account

If you have multiple WordPress sites on the same hosting account, check if the WSOD is affecting all of them. If it is, the problem likely lies with your hosting provider. Contact their support team to investigate the issue.

However, if the WSOD only impacts one specific website, the problem is likely isolated to that site. Proceed to the next step.

2. Use WordPress Recovery Mode

WordPress 5.2 and later versions introduced a helpful “Fatal Error Protection” feature. This feature may automatically detect and handle some errors, preventing the WSOD from appearing. You might see a message indicating technical difficulties instead.

WordPress will also send an email to your admin email address with the subject “Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue.” This email will identify the problematic plugin or theme and provide a link to access WordPress recovery mode.

In recovery mode, you can deactivate the faulty plugin or theme, resolving the issue.

If you see the WSOD without any recovery mode email or message, you need to manually fix it.

3. Increase the PHP Memory Limit

As mentioned earlier, a memory limit issue is the most common cause of the WSOD. To fix this, you need to increase the PHP memory available to WordPress. This allows your website’s scripts to use more memory to finish their tasks.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Edit the wp-config.php file: Access your WordPress site using FTP or your hosting provider’s file manager. Locate the wp-config.php file in the root directory of your website.
2. Add the memory limit code: Before the line /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */, add the following line:

   “`php
   define( ‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’ );
   “`

   This code increases the memory limit to 256MB. You can adjust the value to a higher number if needed, but start with 256MB for most cases.

3. Save the changes: Save the wp-config.php file and upload it back to your server using FTP.

After increasing the memory limit, refresh your website. The WSOD should disappear if this was the issue.

4. Deactivate All Plugins

If increasing the memory limit doesn’t work, or if you already have a high memory limit (256MB or higher), it’s time to troubleshoot potential plugin conflicts.

Here’s how to deactivate all your plugins:

1. Through the WordPress Admin Dashboard: If you can access the WordPress Admin Dashboard, go to Plugins » Installed Plugins. Select all plugins and choose Deactivate under the Bulk Actions dropdown.
2. Via FTP: If you cannot access the dashboard, use FTP to deactivate plugins. Navigate to the wp-content/plugins folder. Right-click on the plugins folder and choose Rename. Rename it to plugins-deactivated. WordPress will no longer be able to load plugins, effectively deactivating them.

Once you’ve deactivated all plugins, refresh your website. If the WSOD disappears, you know a plugin was causing the problem. To identify the culprit, reactivate plugins one at a time, testing your website after each reactivation until the WSOD reappears.

5. Activate the Default Theme

If plugin troubleshooting doesn’t solve the issue, try switching to the default WordPress theme. This will eliminate the possibility of your active theme causing the problem.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Access the themes folder: Connect to your website using FTP and navigate to the /wp-content/themes/ folder. This folder contains all installed themes.
2. Backup and delete your current theme: Right-click on your current theme’s folder and download it to your computer as a backup. Then, delete the theme’s folder from your website.
3. Switch to the default theme: If you have a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Two or Twenty Twenty-Three installed, WordPress will automatically use it. If not, you’ll need to manually install a default theme via FTP.

If this fixes the WSOD, there might be an issue with your theme’s functions.php file. Check for extra spaces at the bottom of the file and remove them.

If you’re using a custom-coded function in your theme’s functions.php file, that could also be the cause. Consider downloading a fresh copy of your theme from its source and installing it manually via FTP.

6. Enable Debug Mode

If none of the above steps have worked, enable debug mode in WordPress. This will activate error logging, providing you with more information about what’s causing the WSOD.

Here’s how to enable debug mode:

1. Edit the wp-config.php file: Access your wp-config.php file using FTP.
2. Add debug mode code: Inside the file, add the following lines:

   “`php
   define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );
   define( ‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true );
   “`

   These lines enable debug mode and create a log file.

3. Save and upload: Save the file and upload it back to your server via FTP.

After enabling debug mode, the white screen might now show error messages, warnings, or notices. These can help you pinpoint the problem. If you don’t see any errors on the screen, check the debug log file (debug.log) located in your wp-content folder using FTP.

7. Clear the WordPress Cache

Sometimes, you might have access to the backend, but the front end of your website still shows the WSOD. This can happen because of a caching plugin. In such cases, clear your WordPress cache.

Here’s how to clear your cache:

1. Use your caching plugin’s settings: If you’re using a caching plugin like WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, or others, access its settings from your WordPress dashboard and find the option to clear the cache.
2. Manually delete cache files: If you don’t have access to your dashboard or can’t find the cache-clearing option in your plugin, use FTP to access your website’s files. Look for the cache folder (usually in the wp-content folder) and delete the files inside it.

8. Fix the White Screen Error for Longer Articles

If the WSOD only appears when you’re viewing a specific, very long post or page, this trick might work. This method increases PHP’s text processing capability by adjusting the recursion and backtrack limits.

Here’s how to implement it:

1. Edit the wp-config.php file: Access your wp-config.php file via FTP.
2. Add the code: Paste the following code into your wp-config.php file before the /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */ line:

   “`php
   /** Trick for long posts */
   ini_set(‘pcre.recursion_limit’, 20000000);
   ini_set(‘pcre.backtrack_limit’, 10000000);
   “`

   Save the changes and upload the file back to your server.

This code increases PHP’s text processing limits, allowing it to handle longer articles more effectively.

Other Fixes for the WordPress White Screen of Death

Besides the common troubleshooting steps, here are some other solutions to consider:

• Check the .htaccess file: If you’ve made recent changes to your .htaccess file, there’s a chance it might be corrupted. You can try reverting to a backup version of the file or simply deleting it to force WordPress to regenerate a new .htaccess file.
• Disable your security plugin: Occasionally, a security plugin might interfere with your website’s loading process. Deactivate your security plugin temporarily and check if that resolves the WSOD.
• Check your server’s error log: Access your server’s error log (usually accessible through your hosting control panel) for detailed information about the problem. The log might provide more specific error messages that can help you pinpoint the cause.
• Contact your hosting provider: If you’ve tried all the steps above and still haven’t resolved the WSOD, it’s time to contact your hosting provider’s support team. They can investigate the issue on their end, potentially resolving the problem quickly.

Conclusion

FAQs

FAQs

What is the WordPress White Screen of Death?

The WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) is an error that displays a blank white page instead of your website content. It’s often caused by a script running into a problem, such as exceeding memory limits or encountering a fatal error.

Why do I see the White Screen of Death?

The most common cause is a script exceeding the memory limit allowed by your server. Other reasons include poorly coded themes or plugins, database errors, or temporary server issues.

How do I fix the WordPress White Screen of Death?

Start by increasing the PHP memory limit for your WordPress site. If that doesn’t work, deactivate plugins and switch to the default theme. If the problem persists, enable debug mode to identify specific errors. Clearing your cache, checking the .htaccess file, and contacting your hosting provider are also valuable steps.

What if I can’t access the WordPress Admin Dashboard?

If you can’t access the dashboard, deactivate plugins and switch to the default theme using FTP. You can also enable debug mode via FTP and check the error log for clues.

What if the White Screen only appears on specific pages or posts?

This could be related to a plugin that affects only certain content types. Deactivate plugins and test each one to see if it’s the culprit. Also, ensure that the problematic page or post isn’t excessively long, which can cause memory issues.

Can a hacked website cause the White Screen of Death?

Yes, malware or a compromised website can cause the WSOD. If you suspect a hack, contact your hosting provider for assistance and follow security best practices to prevent future attacks.

How can I prevent the White Screen of Death from happening again?

To prevent future WSOD occurrences, maintain regular backups, update WordPress and your plugins, and use reliable hosting providers. Ensure your theme is properly coded and use a security plugin for protection against malware.

What if I’m using a managed WordPress hosting service?

If you’re using a managed WordPress hosting service, contact their support team. They often have tools and expertise to help diagnose and fix the WSOD quickly.

How do I know if the White Screen of Death is caused by a plugin?

Deact
ivate all your plugins and see if the WSOD disappears. If it does, then you know a plugin is the culprit. Reactivate plugins one at a time to identify the offending plugin.

Is it safe to disable all plugins?

Yes, it’s safe to temporarily disable all plugins to troubleshoot the WSOD. This is a common practice to isolate the problem. Make sure you back up your website before making any changes.

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