Why Do You Get the WordPress White Screen of Death Error?
The WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) happens when your website displays a blank white page instead of loading properly. This issue can occur due to several reasons, including:
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Plugin or theme conflicts
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Memory limit exhaustion
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Corrupted WordPress core files
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PHP errors
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Incorrect file permissions
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Server issues
7 Methods to Fix the WordPress White Screen of Death Issue
1. Check WordPress Core Files
Sometimes missing or corrupted WordPress files cause WSOD. To fix this:
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Log in to cPanel and open File Manager.
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Navigate to the public_html folder.
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Check if wp-config.php and .htaccess files exist.
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If missing, restore them from a backup or reinstall WordPress core files.
2. Increase WordPress Memory Limit
Your website might run out of memory. You can increase the PHP memory limit by adding this line to wp-config.php:
Save the file and refresh your website.
3. Check Plugins
Faulty plugins often cause conflicts leading to WSOD. Follow these steps:
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In cPanel, open File Manager.
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Go to wp-content and rename the plugins folder to plugins_old.
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Check if your site works. If yes, rename the folder back to plugins and disable plugins one by one from the WordPress dashboard to find the culprit.
4. Check Themes
A corrupted or incompatible theme can cause WSOD. To check:
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Go to wp-content/themes in File Manager.
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Rename your active theme folder (for example, from theme-name to theme-name_old).
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WordPress will switch to a default theme automatically.
5. Check WordPress Error Logs
To find errors, enable debugging by adding these lines to wp-config.php:
Then check the error log at wp-content/debug.log for details.
6. Fix File Permission Issues
Incorrect file permissions can cause WSOD. Use these recommended settings:
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Files: 644
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Folders: 755
Use cPanel File Manager or an FTP client to adjust these permissions.
7. Restore Your WordPress Site From a Backup
If none of the above solutions work, restore your website from a recent backup:
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Log in to your hosting control panel.
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Locate the backup section and restore your files and database.
Final Thoughts
The WordPress White Screen of Death can be frustrating, but by following these steps, you can identify and fix the issue. If problems persist, contact the support team at Bytesis Ltd for professional assistance.