How to Fix WordPress "White Screen of Death" (Easy Guide)

The "White Screen of Death" (WSOD) in WordPress is a common issue where your website shows a blank, white page instead of the usual content. This can be frustrating, but don’t worry! Here’s how to fix it.

What is the White Screen of Death (WSOD)?

The White Screen of Death is an error where WordPress fails to load your website, showing only a blank screen. This can happen due to several reasons like plugin issues, theme errors, or PHP problems.

How to Fix the White Screen of Death in WordPress

Method 1: Disable All Plugins

1. Log in to your cPanel or use FTP to access your WordPress files.

2. Go to the wp-content folder.

3. Rename the plugins folder to plugins_old.

4. Try to access your website. If it works, then one of the plugins is causing the problem.

5. Rename the folder back to plugins, and then disable plugins one by one to find the culprit.

Method 2: Switch to Default WordPress Theme

1. Go to the wp-content/themes folder.

2. Rename your active theme folder (e.g., mytheme to mytheme_old).

3. WordPress will automatically switch to the default theme (like Twenty Twenty-One).

4. If your website loads, then the issue is with your theme. Consider reinstalling or updating it.

Method 3: Increase PHP Memory Limit

1. Access your wp-config.php file via FTP or File Manager.

2. Add the following line of code just before the line that says “/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */”:

   php

    

    

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


3. Save the file and refresh your website to see if it loads properly.

Method 4: Enable Debugging Mode

1. Open the wp-config.php file.

2. Add the following lines of code before the line that says “**/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */”:

   php

    

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


3. Save the file.

4. Check the wp-content/debug.log file for any errors.

This can help you identify what’s causing the issue.

Method 5: Check for Corrupt .htaccess File

1. Access your WordPress files via FTP or File Manager.

2. Locate the .htaccess file in the root folder.

3. Rename it to .htaccess_old.

4. Try reloading your website. If it works, regenerate the .htaccess file by going to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and clicking Save Changes.

Conclusion

The White Screen of Death can be caused by several issues, but it’s usually fixable by disabling plugins, switching themes, increasing PHP memory, or checking for errors. Try the steps above to get your website back online. If you're still stuck, reach out on Tech Fix Forum for more help!

This guide should help you solve the White Screen of Death problem quickly! 😊