Introduction

Imagine opening your WordPress website only to be greeted by a blank white screen—no error messages, no dashboard, just emptiness. This frustrating issue is commonly known as the White Screen of Death (WSOD).

The good news? While it looks scary, it’s usually fixable. In this detailed guide, you’ll learn what causes the WordPress White Screen of Death, how to fix it step by step, and how to prevent it in the future.

What Is the White Screen of Death in WordPress?

The White Screen of Death (WSOD) occurs when WordPress encounters a critical error but doesn’t display an error message. Instead, your site shows a blank white screen.

It can affect:

• The front end (what visitors see).
• The admin dashboard (what you see).
• Or sometimes both.

Common Causes of the White Screen of Death

1. Plugin Conflicts – Two or more plugins may not work well together.
2. Theme Issues – A poorly coded theme or recent update can trigger WSOD.
3. PHP Errors – A broken function or syntax error in your code.
4. Memory Limit Exhausted – WordPress hits the maximum server memory allocation.
5. Corrupted Files – Damaged WordPress core, plugin, or theme files.
6. Hosting Issues – Server crashes or configuration errors.

Step-by-Step Fixes for the White Screen of Death

1. Clear Browser and WordPress Cache

Sometimes the issue is cached.

• Clear your browser cache.
• If you use caching plugins (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache), clear WordPress cache.
• If you use CDN (e.g., Cloudflare), purge the cache.

2. Disable Plugins

Since plugins are the #1 cause, start here.

Via Dashboard (if accessible):

1. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
2. Deactivate all plugins.
3. Reactivate them one by one until the WSOD reappears → culprit found.

Via FTP or File Manager (if dashboard not loading):

1. Connect to your site via FTP or cPanel File Manager.
2. Navigate to: /wp-content/plugins/
3. Rename the folder to plugins_old.
4. Check your site – if it works, one of the plugins caused the issue.
5. Rename back to plugins and test individually.

3. Switch to a Default Theme

If plugins aren’t the issue, try your theme.

1. Access your WordPress files via FTP.
2. Go to: /wp-content/themes/
3. Rename your active theme folder (e.g., astra → astra_old).
4. WordPress will revert to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Five).
5. If your site works again → your theme caused WSOD.

4. Increase PHP Memory Limit

If your site uses too many resources, you may hit the memory cap.

1. Edit your wp-config.php file.
2. Add this line before “That’s all, stop editing!”:

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

3. Save and refresh your site.

If your host has strict limits, you may need to ask them to increase it.

5. Enable Debug Mode in WordPress

Debugging can reveal the error.

1. Open wp-config.php.
2. Add or edit the following:

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

3. Visit your site again.
4. Check the debug log file in: /wp-content/debug.log

The log will show which file/plugin/theme caused the issue.

6. Check for Syntax Errors in Custom Code

If you recently edited code (functions.php, templates, or custom plugin), even a missing semicolon can cause WSOD.

• Restore from backup.
• Or open the file in FTP and fix the syntax error.

7. Reinstall WordPress Core Files

Corrupted WordPress files can also be the reason.

1. Download the latest WordPress package from wordpress.org.
2. Extract it on your computer.
3. Upload the wp-admin and wp-includes folders via FTP (overwrite existing files).
4. Do not overwrite wp-content.

8. Check File Permissions

Incorrect permissions can block WordPress from loading properly.

• Folders should be 755.
• Files should be 644.

You can adjust via cPanel File Manager or ask your hosting support.

9. Increase Maximum Execution Time

If scripts are timing out:

1. Edit your .htaccess file.
2. Add:

php_value max_execution_time 300

This gives PHP scripts more time to run.

10. Contact Hosting Provider

If all else fails, it could be a server-level issue.

• Contact your host’s support team.
• Provide them with error logs.
• They may fix it from their end.

How to Prevent the White Screen of Death

1. Use Reliable Themes & Plugins – Always download from trusted sources.
2. Update Regularly – Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated.
3. Backup Often – Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or BlogVault.
4. Test on Staging – Never update or code directly on a live site.
5. Use Quality Hosting – Cheap shared hosting often causes memory issues.

Conclusion

The White Screen of Death in WordPress may look like the end of your site, but with systematic troubleshooting, you can fix it.

• Start with plugins and themes.
• Increase PHP memory if needed.
• Use debugging tools to identify issues.
• And always keep backups to restore quickly.

By following this guide, you’ll not only fix WSOD but also prevent it from happening again.

Don’t let the White Screen of Death in WordPress slow you down—apply these fixes today and keep your website running smoothly!