Staring at a blank, white screen when trying to access your WordPress site is frustrating. It can affect parts of your website, like the admin area or posts. But don’t worry, I’m here to help you troubleshoot and fix WordPress white screen of death problem.
The White Screen of Death is often caused by a script that uses up all the memory. This can happen due to bad coding in themes or plugins, or server issues. Don’t worry, we can find the problem and fix it together.
Understanding the WordPress White Screen of Death
The WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) is a serious error that can affect your website in many ways. It can make your public pages and admin dashboard blank. Sometimes, you might see an error message like “There has been a critical error on your website.”
Common Symptoms and Manifestations
The WSOD can show up in different ways. It might only affect the admin dashboard or certain pages. In some cases, you’ll see an HTTP 500 error message with the white screen.
Why This Error Occurs
Conflicts between plugins, theme problems, and exhausted PHP memory are common causes. Corrupted core files can also trigger the WSOD. These issues can cause parse or syntax errors, caching problems, or even server downtime.
Different Types of White Screen Errors
- Completely blank white screen
- Intermittent white screen, appearing only on certain pages or in the admin area
- White screen affecting specific areas of the website
Knowing the different types and causes of the WordPress White Screen of Death is key. By finding the root cause, you can fix your website’s issues.
Common Causes Behind WordPress White Screen
The WordPress white screen of death is a frustrating issue. It can leave website owners scrambling to fix it. This error occurs without any error message, making it hard to find the cause.
One common reason is exhausted memory limits. When a WordPress website uses too much memory, the server can’t handle it. This leads to a white screen. Also, plugins and themes that don’t work well with WordPress can cause this error.
Corrupted core WordPress files, like functions.php or wp-config.php, can also cause the white screen. Caching issues and server problems, like downtime, can add to the problem.
Finding the exact cause is key to fixing the issue. Recent changes, like plugin updates, often lead to white screens. By looking at the website’s history and checking for problems, owners can fix their site quickly.
Checking WordPress Recovery Mode and Error Notifications
If you’re seeing the WordPress white screen of death, it’s key to check recovery mode and error messages. WordPress 5.2 has a feature to catch some white screen issues. This might show a message about technical problems instead of a blank screen.
How to Access Recovery Mode
When WordPress’s fatal error protection kicks in, you should get an email. It’s about “Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue.” This email tells you about the problem plugin or theme and how to get into recovery mode. If you miss this email, you’ll have to figure it out yourself.
Reading Error Notifications
- The email from WordPress might give you clues about the wordpress maintenance mode or debugging wordpress white screen issue.
- Look closely at the error message and any extra info in the email. It can help find the problem’s source.
- If you don’t get the email, you might need to turn on WordPress debug mode. This can show more detailed error messages to help fix the debugging wordpress white screen issue.
By getting into recovery mode and checking error messages, you’re taking a big step. It helps fix the WordPress white screen of death and gets your site working again.
How to Fix the WordPress White Screen of Death
If you’re facing the dreaded WordPress white screen of death, don’t worry! There are several steps you can take to fix it. Let’s explore how to get your site running smoothly again.
First, try clearing the WordPress cache and your browser’s cache and data. This simple step can often solve the problem. If that doesn’t work, disable all your WordPress plugins. Sometimes, a conflicting or outdated plugin can cause the white screen. You can do this by renaming the plugins folder via FTP.
- Disable all plugins by renaming the
wp-content/pluginsfolder to something likewp-content/plugins-deactivated. - If the site now loads properly, you know a plugin was causing the issue. Reactivate the plugins one by one to identify the problematic one.
Another troubleshooting step is to switch to a default WordPress theme. This can help determine if the issue is related to your active theme. You can do this by downloading and activating the Twenty Twenty-One theme or another default theme.
If the above steps don’t resolve the white screen, it might be time to increase your PHP memory limit. By default, WordPress is configured with a memory limit of 128MB, which can sometimes lead to issues. Try increasing the limit to 256MB or 512MB to see if that fixes the problem.
Remember, the key to troubleshooting the WordPress white screen of death is to methodically test and isolate the issue. With a little patience and the right troubleshooting steps, you’ll have your site back up and running in no time.
Troubleshooting WordPress Plugins and Themes
WordPress white screens can be caused by bad plugins or themes. I’ve faced these problems before. I’ve found ways to fix them and get my site working again.
Disabling Plugins via FTP
If you can’t get into your WordPress dashboard, don’t panic. You can disable plugins via FTP. Just connect to your server, go to the wp-content/plugins folder, and rename it to something like “plugins-deactivated.” This will turn off all plugins, helping you find the problem.
Switching to Default Theme
Themes can also cause white screens. Try switching to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Two. If you can’t get into the admin area, use FTP to rename the active theme folder. This will make WordPress use the default theme, helping you find the issue.
By trying these steps, you can quickly find and fix the problem. Remember, solving WordPress errors takes time and effort. But with patience and a careful approach, you can usually fix your site.
Increasing PHP Memory Limits and Server Resources
Dealing with the WordPress White Screen of Death? Start by boosting your PHP memory limit. This is a common cause of this error. Just add a line to your wp-config.php file to fix it.
To up the PHP memory limit, add this line to your wp-config.php file:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '64M');
This sets the memory to 64 megabytes, enough for most WordPress sites. If that doesn’t solve it, try '128M' or '256M'.
Modifying the .htaccess or php.ini file might also help. If you’re not sure, ask your web host for help.
Some hosts need you to contact them to boost server resources. For example, Kinsta users usually don’t need to tweak this setting.
By increasing your PHP memory limit and ensuring your server has enough resources, you’ll tackle those WordPress white screen solutions and resolving WordPress fatal errors with ease.
Debugging WordPress White Screen Issues
When you see the WordPress white screen of death, it’s time to find the real problem. A good first step is to turn on WordPress debug mode. This helps you see what’s going wrong.
Enabling WordPress Debug Mode
To turn on WordPress debug mode, edit the wp-config.php file in your WordPress root. Look for the line with WP_DEBUG and change it to true. This will show you error messages instead of a blank screen.
Reading Debug Logs
After turning on debug mode, you can look at the debug logs. The log file, usually called debug.log, is in the wp-content folder. It helps you find out what’s causing the white screen.
If you’re on Kinsta, you can find the debug logs in the MyKinsta dashboard. This makes fixing problems easier, as you don’t have to look through files yourself.
Don’t forget to turn off WordPress debug mode after you fix the issue. This keeps your site safe from showing too much information.
Clearing Cache and Browser Data
When you see the WordPress white screen of death, start by clearing the cache. Cached data can cause this problem, mainly if it’s only on your site’s frontend. Use your caching plugin to clear it, or do it through your hosting provider’s dashboard. Kinsta users can easily clear cache through MyKinsta.
Also, clear your browser cache. Old browser data can mess with your WordPress site, causing the white screen. This is a fast fix that usually works right away.
If clearing the cache doesn’t help, don’t give up. There are many other ways to fix this issue. Clearing the cache is just one step in troubleshooting wordpress. Keep trying, and you’ll get your site working again soon.
Working with File Permissions and Server Configuration
Incorrect file permissions can cause the WordPress White Screen of Death. It’s vital to set your WordPress files and folders to the right permissions. This helps avoid the frustrating White Screen of Death.
Proper WordPress File Permissions
For WordPress to work well and stay safe, follow these permission settings:
- Files: 644 or 664
- Folders: 755 or 775
- wp-config.php file: 600, 660, or 644
You can adjust these permissions using FTP or SSH. If you’re not sure, ask your web host for help.
Checking Server Requirements
It’s also important to check if your server meets WordPress’s needs. Make sure your PHP and MySQL versions are up to date. Also, ensure you have the right PHP extensions. Check if your server matches WordPress’s requirements to avoid the White Screen of Death. If you’re unsure, contact your hosting provider for advice.
