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How to fix a white screen of death in WordPress?

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The WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) is a common yet frustrating issue that can make your website inaccessible. It usually happens due to plugin conflicts, theme issues, PHP memory limits, or corrupted files. This guide will walk you through step-by-step troubleshooting methods to fix the WSOD and restore your website quickly.

Table of content

  1. Introduction to White Screen of Death in WordPress
  2. Common Causes of WSOD
  3. How to Fix WSOD in WordPress
    • Clearing Browser and WordPress Cache
    • Disabling Plugins
    • Switching to a Default Theme
    • Increasing PHP Memory Limit
    • Checking for Corrupt Core Files
    • Enabling Debug Mode
    • Fixing File and Folder Permissions
    • Restoring a Backup
  4. Preventing WSOD in the Future

1. Introduction to White Screen of Death in WordPress

The White Screen of Death (WSOD) in WordPress is a situation where your website displays a blank white screen instead of your usual content. Unlike a standard error message, WSOD provides no clues about what went wrong, making it tricky to diagnose. It can affect both the front-end of your website and the WordPress admin dashboard. Since multiple factors can cause WSOD, fixing it requires a systematic approach.

2. Common Causes of WSOD

Understanding the root causes of WSOD can help in diagnosing and resolving the issue efficiently. The most common reasons include:

  • Plugin Conflicts: A faulty or incompatible plugin can cause a critical error.
  • Theme Issues: An outdated or broken theme may not function properly.
  • PHP Memory Limit Exceeded: If your server runs out of allocated memory, WSOD may appear.
  • Corrupt Core Files: Damaged WordPress files, such as wp-config.php or .htaccess, can lead to issues.
  • Server Errors: Hosting-related problems, including timeouts, can result in WSOD.
  • File Permission Issues: Incorrect file and folder permissions may prevent WordPress from functioning properly.

3. How to Fix WSOD in WordPress

3.1 Clearing Browser and WordPress Cache

A cached version of your website may be causing the WSOD. Try clearing your browser cache and using a caching plugin. Check out our guide on Best WordPress Cache Plugins to Boost Site Speed to find the most effective caching solutions.

3.2 Disabling Plugins

Faulty plugins often trigger WSOD. To disable them:

  1. Access your site via FTP or cPanel.
  2. Navigate to wp-content/plugins/.
  3. Rename the plugins folder to plugins-disabled.
  4. Check if the site loads. If it does, rename the folder back and enable each plugin one by one to identify the culprit.

3.3 Switching to a Default Theme

A theme-related error may be causing WSOD. To test:

  1. Access wp-content/themes/ via FTP.
  2. Rename your active theme’s folder.
  3. WordPress will revert to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
  4. Check if the site works. If it does, your theme is the issue, and you may need to update or replace it.

3.4 Increasing PHP Memory Limit

If WSOD results from insufficient memory:

  1. Edit your wp-config.php file.
  2. Add the following code:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
  1. Save and reupload the file.
  2. Refresh your site.

3.5 Checking for Corrupt Core Files

To fix corrupted WordPress files:

  1. Download a fresh WordPress copy from wordpress.org.
  2. Extract the files and upload everything except the wp-content folder via FTP.
  3. Overwrite existing files and check if the issue is resolved.

3.6 Enabling Debug Mode

To get error details:

  1. Open wp-config.php.
  2. Add or modify this line:
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
  1. Check the wp-content/debug.log file for errors.

3.7 Fixing File and Folder Permissions

Incorrect file permissions can lead to WSOD. To fix them:

  1. Set directories to 755 and files to 644 using FTP or cPanel.
  2. Apply permissions recursively.

3.8 Restoring a Backup

If all else fails, restoring a backup may be the fastest solution. If you use a backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy, restore the most recent working backup of your site.

4. Preventing WSOD in the Future

To avoid facing WSOD again, follow these best practices:

  • Regularly update WordPress, themes, and plugins.
  • Use a reliable hosting provider with adequate resources.
  • Keep backups of your website at all times.
  • Test new plugins and themes on a staging site before deploying them.
  • Monitor site performance and security using tools like Wordfence or Sucuri.

Conclusion

The WordPress White Screen of Death can be frustrating, but by following a step-by-step troubleshooting process, you can quickly restore your site. By identifying common causes, applying the right fixes, and taking preventive measures, you can minimize the chances of encountering WSOD in the future. Keeping your website well-maintained and secure will ensure smooth performance and better user experience.

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