The White Screen of Death (WSOD) is a frustrating issue that many WordPress users face. It causes your website to display a completely blank page with no error message or indication of what went wrong. This can happen due to various reasons such as plugin conflicts, theme issues, or server problems. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot and resolve the White Screen of Death in WordPress.
Step 1: Enable Debugging Mode
The first step in diagnosing the issue is to enable WordPress debug mode. This will help you identify any PHP errors or warnings that may be causing the problem.
1.Access your site’s root directory using FTP or your hosting file manager.
2.Locate and open the wp-config.php file.
3.Look for the following line:
define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );
4.Change it to:
define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
5.Save the file and refresh your website.
If there is an error on your site, it will now be displayed on the screen. This can provide clues to what’s causing the White Screen of Death. Make sure to turn off debug mode once you’re done troubleshooting by setting WP_DEBUG back to false.
Step 2: Increase PHP Memory Limit
A common cause of the White Screen of Death is insufficient PHP memory. To increase the memory limit:
1.Open the wp-config.php file.
2. Add the following line just before /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
3.Save the file and check if your site loads properly.
If this resolves the issue, it means that your website was exceeding the default memory limit, and increasing it fixed the problem.
Step 3: Disable Plugins
Sometimes, plugins conflict with each other or with WordPress, causing the White Screen of Death. To determine if a plugin is causing the issue:
1. Access your site’s directory via FTP or File Manager.
2.Go to the wp-content folder and locate the plugins folder.
3.Rename the plugins folder to something like plugins_backup to disable all plugins.
4.Refresh your website. If it loads, it means one of the plugins was causing the issue.
5.To find the problematic plugin, rename the folder back to plugins, and then deactivate each plugin one by one via the WordPress dashboard.
If you find the plugin causing the issue, you can delete it or contact its developer for support.
Step 4: Switch to a Default WordPress Theme
A broken or incompatible theme can also lead to the White Screen of Death. To rule out theme issues:
1. Access your site’s directory using FTP or File Manager.
2.Go to the wp-content folder and locate the themes folder.
3.Rename the active theme’s folder to something like theme_backup.
4.WordPress will automatically switch to the default theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-One or Twenty Twenty-Two).
5.Refresh your website. If it loads, your theme was likely the cause of the issue.
You can then either fix your theme or switch to a new one.
Step 5: Check for Server-Side Issues
Sometimes, server issues such as incorrect file permissions or a faulty .htaccess file can cause the White Screen of Death. Here’s how to address these problems:
Check File Permissions
1.Using FTP or File Manager, check the file permissions of your WordPress files and folders.
2.Files should have a permission of 644, and folders should have a permission of 755. If they are incorrect, update the permissions.
Reset .htaccess File
1.Access your site’s root directory.
2.Find the .htaccess file and rename it to .htaccess_backup.
3.Go to the WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to Settings > Permalinks.
4.Simply click Save Changes. This will generate a new .htaccess file.
5.Refresh your website to see if the issue is fixed.
Step 6: Check for a Corrupted WordPress Core File
Corrupted core files can cause the White Screen of Death. To fix this:
1.Download a fresh copy of WordPress from WordPress.org.
2.Extract the files on your computer.
3.Using FTP or File Manager, upload the fresh wp-admin and wp-includes folders to your website, replacing the old ones.
4.Do not overwrite the wp-content folder or any custom files.
Once the files are replaced, refresh your website to see if it resolves the issue.
Step 7: Contact Your Hosting Provider
If none of the steps above work, it could be a server issue. Contact your hosting provider and explain the problem. They may be able to check server logs and provide assistance in identifying any server-side problems that could be causing the White Screen of Death.
Conclusion
The White Screen of Death is a common issue in WordPress, but it can usually be fixed with a few troubleshooting steps. By following the steps above—enabling debugging, increasing PHP memory, disabling plugins, switching themes, and checking for server issues—you should be able to get your site back up and running.
If the problem persists, don’t hesitate to reach out to your hosting provider for further assistance.
