How to Fix the WordPress White Screen of Death

The “White Screen of Death” (WSOD) is an error that occurs on websites and web applications. It leaves you facing a white dormant screen with no meaningful details on what is going on.

The best you’ll see is a few error messages to indicate the white screen of death. Messages depend on browser types:

“500 Internal Server Error”

“Fatal Error”

“Out of Memory Error”

“Connection Timed Out”

“Database Connection Error”

These error messages are traceable to the major issues which are explained below.

Major Causes of the WordPress White Screen of Death: WSOD

As a WordPress user, you’ll come in contact with the white screen of Death once in a while. Admittedly, it can appear like an end game, however, it’s quite easy to resolve as it is common to happen. You just need to point your fingers in the right direction.

Follow me as I make some accusations about possible causes of the WSOD. All in the good fate of solving the issue when it arises.

Plugin or Theme Conflict:

One of the most common causes of the white screen of death is a conflict between plugins or between a plugin and the active theme. This can happen if the plugin or theme is not coded properly, is outdated, or is not compatible with other plugins. Keep in mind that a plugin or theme update may also cause this error.

PHP Errors:

WordPress is built using the PHP programming language. The white screen of death can occur as a result of errors in the PHP code.

Errors in the PHP programming language are traceable to syntax errors, a missing function, or if the PHP version on your server is outdated or not compatible with WordPress.

Memory Limit Exhaustion:

WordPress and its plugins require a certain amount of memory to function properly. If the memory limit set by your hosting provider is too low or if a plugin or theme uses too much memory, it can cause the white screen of death.

Corrupt WordPress Files:

If any of the core WordPress files are missing, corrupted, or have incorrect permissions, it can cause the white screen of death. That is why you; a user shouldn’t modify a file manually. If you don’t understand it, seek help. Sometimes it may just be a problem with the update.

Server Issues:

Issues with the web server that hosts your WordPress site can also cause the white screen of death. This can happen if the server is down or experiencing high traffic, or if there is a problem with the server configuration.

Database Issues:

WordPress uses a database to store content, and if there is an issue with the database, it can cause the white screen of death. Expect a white screen of death if there is a problem with the database connection if the database is corrupted, or if there are too many queries running at once.

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Fixing the WordPress White Screen of Death

Here is the “How Tis” on how to resolve the WordPress White screen of death nightmares:

Disable Your WordPress Plugins:

Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
Click on the “Plugins” menu option in the left-hand menu.
Select all the plugins.
From the bulk action block, select “Deactivate.”
Click on the “Apply” button to deactivate the selected plugins.
Try out your site; pay attention to the plugins with the issue and delete them.

Switch to a Default WordPress Theme:

Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
Click on the “Appearance” menu option in the left-hand menu.
Click on the “Themes” submenu option.
Hover over any theme except the default one and click on the “Activate” button.
Wait for the page to refresh, and the default theme will now be activated.

Clear Browser and WordPress Plugin Cache:

Clear browser cache:

– In Google Chrome, click on the three-dot menu in the top right-hand corner and select “More tools” > “Clear browsing data.”

– In Mozilla Firefox, click on the three-line menu in the top right-hand corner and select “Options” > “Privacy & Security” > “Cookies and Site Data” > “Clear Data.”

Clear WordPress plugin cache:

– Install and activate a cache plugin like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache.

– Go to the cache settings page of the plugin and click on the “Clear Cache” button.

Switch on Debugging Mode:

Go to your WordPress root folder
Select the “wp-config.php” file
Navigate to “define(‘WP_DEBUG’, false);”
Edit it to “define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);” and save it in a folder.
upload the file to your server.

Increase Your Memory Limit:

Enter the root folder of your WP.
Select the “wp-config.php” file
From the code “define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ’64M’);”, change memory limit ’64M’ to something like “128M” or “256M”.
Save and upload the new file to your server.

Check File Permission Issues:

Use an FTP client and connect to your server.
Navigate to the root folder of your wp.
Check the file permissions of all the files and folders. They should be set to 644 or 640 for files and 755 for folders.
If any files or folders have incorrect permissions, right-click on them and select “File Permissions” from the dropdown menu.
Change the permissions to the correct values and click on the “Apply to directories only” or “Apply to files only” button, depending on the type of item.

Check for Failed Auto-Update Issues:

Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
Click on the “Updates” menu option in the left-hand menu.
Look for any failed updates and try to re-run them by clicking on the “Re-install Now” button.

Increase the PHP Text Processing Capability:

Open the “php.ini” file on your server.
Convert ’30’ in the code line “max_execution_time = 30” to a higher value, such as “60
Find the line that says “max_input_time = 60” and change it to a higher value, such as “120”.
Find the line that says “memory_limit = 64M” and change it to a higher value, such as “128M” or “256M”.
Save the file.
Restart your website server and changes will automatically apply.

FAQS

How do I troubleshoot the white screen of death?

There are several steps you can take to troubleshoot the white screen of death, including disabling all plugins and themes, increasing your PHP memory limit, checking for PHP errors, and updating your WordPress installation.

What if the troubleshooting steps don’t work?

If the troubleshooting steps don’t work, you may need to contact your web host or a developer for assistance. They can help diagnose the issue and provide a solution.

Can the white screen of death be prevented?

While it may not always be possible to prevent the white screen of death, you can take steps to minimize the likelihood of it occurring. This includes keeping your WordPress installation and plugins up-to-date, using reputable themes and plugins, and regularly backing up your website.

Conclusion

The WordPress white screen of death can be a frustrating issue, but it can be fixed with a little bit of troubleshooting.

By following the steps outlined above and seeking help if needed, you can get your website back up and running in no time.

Remember to take steps to prevent the issue from occurring in the future, such as keeping everything up-to-date and backing up your site regularly. Happy blogging.

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Debashrita @ The WP Website Help Team

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