Best Ways to Fix WordPress White Screen of Death

The visitor is set to find information about a particular query and has decided to visit your website for it. But as soon as they click the link, there’s nothing but a White Screen of Death. It is one of the most common WordPress errors and can occur suddenly, leaving your website inaccessible to visitors and causing potential damage to your online reputation.

WordPress White Screen of Death can be due to various underlying issues, like plugin conflicts, theme issues, PHP errors, and more. So in this blog, I’ll tell you how the WordPress experts fix and prevent the error effectively. But first, it’s important to understand the common causes.

So let’s begin.

Common Causes of WordPress White Screen of Death

Needless to say, the White Screen of Death can be a frustrating experience for website owners and visitors alike. While it can be caused by a variety of factors, here are some of the most common culprits:

Plugin Conflicts

When multiple plugins are not designed to work seamlessly together, they can clash, leading to the WSoD. Or you might be using outdated plugins, which can introduce vulnerabilities and compatibility issues.

Theme Issues

Errors or conflicts within the theme’s code can trigger the WSoD. And a poorly coded theme can clash with certain plugins, resulting in the error.

PHP Errors

If your WordPress site requires more memory than allocated, PHP errors can occur. Plus, mistakes in PHP code can lead to unexpected behavior and the WSoD.

Database Errors

Damaged or corrupted database tables can prevent WordPress from functioning correctly. And, problems with the database connection can also cause the WSoD.

Server-side Issues

A poorly configured or overloaded server can impact WordPress performance and trigger the WSoD. Incorrect server settings can lead to various issues, including the WSoD.

If you have one or more of these issues on your WordPress website, it may result in the White Screen of Death. For a more accurate analysis, opt for expert consultation with our developers.

How to Fix the White Screen of Death in WordPress Website?

No matter the cause of WSoD, there are a few ways to diagnose and fix this error. Let’s take a look.

Access WordPress in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a temporary state in WordPress that disables most plugins and themes. This can be helpful in troubleshooting the White Screen of Death as it isolates potential conflicts. Here’s how you access and enable the WordPress safe mode.

Step 1: Access the wp-config.php file through the FTP client or hosting cPanel.

Step 2: Open it in a text editor and add the following lines of code.

define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', true);

Step 3: Save the changes to your wp-config.php file.

Remember to disable debug mode after troubleshooting to prevent sensitive information from being displayed on your website.

Check for Server Availability

A significant factor contributing to the WordPress WSoD can be server-side issues. When your server is down, inaccessible, or experiencing performance problems, it can directly impact your website’s functionality.

Here’s how you check for the server-side issues:

Step 1: Open your website’s URL in a web browser.

Step 2: Right click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”.

Step 3: Go to the “Network” tab and refresh the page.

Now, look for any errors and warnings in the network requests.

The best WordPress hosting providers also have a status page displaying the current status of their servers. Check this page to see if there are any known issues or outages.

You may also use tools like UptimeRobot or Pingdom as they monitor your website’s uptime and send alerts if it goes down.

Increase the Memory Limit

In WordPress, the memory is allocated in bytes and is often referred to as the “memory limit”. But when you use resource-intensive, complex themes, plugins, and media, it may exceed the default memory limit. That may lead to the dreaded White Screen of Death.

Here’s how you increase the WordPress memory limit.

Step 1: Use the FTP client or hosting cPanel to access the wp-config.php file in your site’s root directory.

Step 2: Open the wp-config.php file in a text editor and add the following line of code before /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:

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

Replace 256M with a higher value, such as 512M or 1024M, depending on your needs.

Step 3: Save the changes to your wp-config.php file.

But make sure the memory limit doesn’t exceed your server capabilities.

Deactivate all Plugins

WordPress plugins are an outstanding way to advance the features and functionalities of your website. But sometimes, they conflict with each other or maybe even with your theme. That leads to issues like WSoD.

Here’s how you deactivate all plugins:

Step 1: Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.

Step 2: Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.

Step 3: Select all plugins using the checkbox at the top of the list.

Step 4: Click the ‘Deactivate’ button.

Step 5: Activate one plugin at a time. Test your website after each activation to identify any issues or conflicts.

If you encounter a problem after activating a plugin, deactivate it and move on to the next one.

Switch to Default Theme

If the theme of your WordPress is poorly coded or has incompatibility issues, it may lead to WSoD. To isolate theme-related issues, you may temporarily switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four or the new Twenty Twenty-Five.

Navigate to Appearance > Themes in the admin panel, locate the default theme, and click ‘Activate’.

After activating the default theme, see if the issue persists on your site. If the problem is resolved, it’s likely related to your previous theme.

Clear the WordPress Cache

One of the best ways to improve website performance is caching. Static versions of your site and pages are stored to reduce the server load and ensure better response times. But sometimes, the cache may be corrupted or maybe even outdated, causing the WSoD.

If you have a caching plugin installed on your website, see if it can help you clear the cache. Or you can go the manual way and delete the caching files from the server via FTP clients.

Check the File Permissions Issues

Albeit a little rare, this error may also be caused due to incorrect file permissions as they prevent WordPress from writing files. First, you need to understand the ideal file permissions for your WordPress website.

• WordPress Core Files: 755
• Uploads Directory: 755
• All Other Directories: 755
• All Files: 644

What you need to do is access the file (where you want to change the file permissions) via FTP, hosting cPanel, or using a CLI.

For example, to change the permissions of the wp-config.php file to 644, you would use the following command.

chmod 644 wp-config.php

Make sure you avoid overly permissive permissions. It may increase security risks for your website. And needless to say, make sure you have backed up the core files before editing them, otherwise it may cause issues later on.

Resolve Syntax Errors

Finally, in the rarest of cases, there may be some syntax errors in your website code. These occur when there are mistakes like missing semicolons, typos, or incorrect use of programming language syntax. These errors can prevent WordPress from functioning correctly, leading to the dreaded White Screen of Death (WSoD).

Some of the common syntax errors include,

• Missing Semicolons: Semicolons are used to separate statements in PHP.
• Incorrect Parentheses: Mismatched parentheses can lead to errors.
• Typographical Errors: Typos can cause unexpected behavior.
• Incorrect Function Usage: Using functions incorrectly can lead to errors.

Examine your code carefully and use debugging tools to get a stock of the syntax errors (if any) and resolve them promptly. They may result in other types of WordPress errors as well.

If the WSoD still persists even after going through these steps, it’s time to contact the professionals. You may also get our WordPress website maintenance services to ensure these types of issues are taken care of well before they become a problem for your or the site visitors.

How to Prevent the WordPress White Screen of Death?

There are a few things you can do to prevent this issue or at least minimize its occurrence:

Regularly back up of your WordPress website

A reliable backup is your first line of defense. If you encounter a serious issue, you can restore your website from a recent backup. Use a reliable backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackWPup to automate the process.

Keep the WordPress core, plugins, and themes updated

Updates often include security patches and bug fixes. Keeping your WordPress installation up-to-date can prevent vulnerabilities and improve performance.

Only install reputable theme and plugins

Low-quality or outdated plugins and themes can introduce bugs and security vulnerabilities. Choose the best plugins and most suitable theme from reputable developers and check user reviews.

Test on a staging site

A staging site is a copy of your live website where you can test changes without affecting your live site. Use a plugin like WP Staging or a hosting provider’s staging feature to create a staging site.

Do regular scans on your website

Malware can infect your website and cause various issues, including the WSoD. So use a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri to scan your website for malware and vulnerabilities.If you need help with preventing and fixing WSoD and other errors on your website, get our professional WordPress services.

FAQs on WordPress White Screen of Death

Let’s Conclude

The WordPress White Screen of Death (WSoD) can be a frustrating experience for any website owner. However, by understanding the common causes and effective solutions, you can minimize its impact and keep your website running smoothly.

 If you encounter a WSoD, start by deactivating plugins, switching themes, and checking server-side issues. If these initial steps don’t resolve the problem, consider seeking help from an expert or your hosting provider.

To get the best resolution to every error on your website, hire our WordPress professionals today!