The WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) is the most in-demand problem. When it happens, your website shows a white blank page instead of your content. Panic not! There are simple solutions to apply.

What Causes the White Screen of Death?

The WSOD is caused by:

  • A faulty plugin or theme
  • Lack of memory for your website
  • Damaged WordPress update
  • Code bugs on the website

How to Fix It

Below are the instructions to fix your site to what it was originally.

1. Clear Your Browser Cache

Your browser occasionally stores older information within its cache, and this may be the reason for the problem. Attempt clearing your browser cache and reload your site. If it fixes the issue, then cached information was the problem. Otherwise, follow the next instructions.

2. Increase PHP Memory Limit

If your site uses too little memory, it can crash. To fix this:

  1. Open the file wp-config.php.
  2. Insert this line:
    define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
  3. Save the file and try your site.

If this won't help, contact your host company to increase the memory limit.

3. Enable Debug Mode

Debug mode will inform you of errors that produce WSOD. To enable it:

  1. Open the file wp-config.php.
  2. Insert these lines:
    define('WP_DEBUG', true);
    define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
  3. Save the file and refresh your site.

If there are errors, they may tell you what is wrong.

Consult the error messages to see which file or plugin is malfunctioning.

4. Check Your Plugins

A plugin problem can ruin your site. To check:

  1. Access files in your site using an FTP client or host control panel.
  2. Find the directory called wp-content/plugins.
  3. Rename the directory named plugins to, for example, plugins_old. This will disable all the plugins.
  4. If the site functions again, rename the directory back to plugins and then individually enable each plugin to find out which of them is the culprit.
  5. Once you've found the culprit plugin, remove it or install a new version.

5. Change to a Default Theme

A broken theme is also the cause of WSOD. To debug:

  1. Go to the wp-content/themes directory.
  2. Rename your current theme directory.
  3. This will compel WordPress to default to a theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
  4. If your site works, your theme is the problem.
  5. Install an update to the theme or choose another one that is compatible with your site.

6. Search WordPress Core Issues

And if all of the above fails, your WordPress files are corrupt. To rectify this:

  1. Download a clean copy of WordPress from wordpress.org.
  2. Replace your server's wp-admin and wp-includes directories with fresh ones.
  3. Do not delete the wp-content directory since this holds your themes, plugins, and media uploads.
  4. Check whether your site is up after you have edited the main files.

7. Restore a Backup

If the above has not fixed the problem, you may need to restore a backup of your site. Most hosts offer automatic backups. Try looking for backup tools in your host control panel and restore the one before the WSOD occurred.

Final Thoughts

WordPress White Screen of Death can be daunting, but you can fix it with these instructions. Always backup your website first before proceeding. If you still have a problem, ask your hosting company. Regular maintenance and update will prevent WSOD from occurring in the future.