How To Fix the WordPress White Screen of Death: Troubleshooting Tips and Solutions

How To Fix the WordPress White Screen of Death: Troubleshooting Tips and Solutions

The dreaded WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) is a common issue faced by website owners. When this happens, your website appears blank with no error message, leaving you frustrated and confused. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve this issue. Follow this beginner-friendly guide to get your site back up and running.

Step 1: Enable Debugging

The first step in diagnosing the issue is to enable WordPress debugging to uncover what might be causing the white screen. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Connect to your website using an FTP client (like FileZilla) or access your website files through your web hosting control panel.
2. Locate the wp-config.php file in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
3. Download the file and open it in a text editor.
4. Add the following lines of code right before /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);

define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);

define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

5. Save the file and upload it back to your server.

After reloading your website, if there’s a problem, error messages will be logged in the wp-content/debug.log file, which you can check for clues.

Step 2: Increase PHP Memory Limit

Sometimes, the WSOD can occur due to insufficient memory allocated to your website. To increase the PHP memory limit, follow these steps:

1. Open the wp-config.php file again.
2. Add the following line just before /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

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

This change will increase the memory limit available to WordPress, which may resolve the issue if it’s memory-related.

Step 3: Deactivate All Plugins

A faulty plugin might be responsible for the white screen. To check this, you need to deactivate all your plugins:

1. Connect to your website via FTP or a file manager.
2. Navigate to the wp-content directory.
3. Locate the folder named plugins. Rename it to something like plugins_old.
4. Check your website again. If it loads, it means one of the plugins was causing the issue.
5. To identify the faulty plugin, rename the folder back to plugins and then rename each plugin folder individually inside to isolate the problematic one.

Step 4: Switch to a Default Theme

If deactivating all plugins didn’t work, the problem might be with your WordPress theme. To switch to a default theme, follow these steps:

1. Connect to your website via FTP or file manager.
2. Navigate to wp-content/themes.
3. Look for your current theme’s folder and rename it (e.g., add _old to the name).
4. This action will force WordPress to revert to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One. Check your site to see if it loads.

Step 5: Check for Corrupted Core Files

Corrupted WordPress core files can also trigger WSOD. To restore the core files, you can manually update WordPress:

1. Download the latest version of WordPress from the official website.
2. Extract the downloaded zip file on your computer.
3. Using FTP or file manager, upload everything except the wp-content folder and the wp-config.php file to your server, overwriting existing files.
4. Once uploaded, check if your website functions correctly.

Step 6: Contact Your hosting Provider

If none of the above steps have resolved the issue, it may be necessary to contact your hosting provider. They can help identify server-related issues, such as server downtime, file permissions, or configuration problems that could cause the WSOD.

Conclusion

Encountering the WordPress White Screen of Death can be alarming, but with these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to identify and fix the problem. Remember to always back up your website before making changes, and you’ll be better prepared for any future issues. If all else fails, consulting a professional may be the best avenue to restore your website’s functionality.