WordPress is a great CMS platform to set up a prominent web presence for your business. As per W3Techs, WordPress powers 43.1% of all websites. These numbers highlight its dominance in the business world and laying the stage for success. Despite how hard you try, some common WordPress errors occur when managing a website.
The White Screen of Death (WSOD) error is one of the critical WordPress errors that can bring a WordPress website to its knees (and hamper business reputation). It is imperative to resolve this annoying issue as soon as possible to make the website functional again.
The good news is that you can use several proven methods to fix it and get your site working again quickly. The ability to troubleshoot plugins and themes and address memory limits is critical to protecting your site. Above all, the corrective checklist to address the errors is essential to give attention to WordPress hosting services. Choosing a reliable hosting provider is essential for improving your website’s performance and simplifying troubleshooting.
Keep reading the article till the end to uncover 10 crucial methods to address the WordPress White Screen of Death issue.
Role of WordPress Hosting Services in Fixing WordPress White Screen of Death
WordPress hosting services eliminate White Screen of Death (WSOD) issues by providing a stable environment optimized for performance. With a reputable hosting provider, it is possible to ensure that your WordPress hosting sites run on servers with adequate resources, eliminating memory limit problems resulting in WSODs.
These services offer server-side caching, content delivery networks (CDNs), and robust security measures essential to keeping WordPress running smoothly.
Furthermore, a reliable hosting service provides expertise and timely support that can assist in diagnosing and resolving WSOD problems.
With WordPress hosting services, a website’s purpose extends beyond providing infrastructure. Rather, they become key allies for resolving problems like the White Screen of Death and ensuring the website runs smoothly.
Also Read : How to Easily Upgrade PHP Version in Your WordPress Hosting
Best Practices to Address WordPress White Screen of Death Issues
1. Make Sure the Problem Occurs on All Your Sites
In the case of multiple WordPress sites installed on the same hosting account, you may want to check whether the same problem occurs on each of them.
If that’s the case, then there’s a significant problem with your WordPress hosting service. Depending on your situation, this may be a temporary issue affecting their service, and you will need to contact their support for more assistance.
Alternatively, if the problem happens only on one website, switching to a reliable managed hosting provider is time.
2. Make Sure Your WordPress Plugins Are Disabled
Getting rid of the WordPress WSoD is as easy as disabling all your plugins. Sometimes, a plugin update goes wrong, and a site goes down.
The fastest way to deactivate all plugins is to open the Plugins tab in the WordPress dashboard, select all plugins, and then click the Deactivate button under Bulk Actions:
- When access to the WordPress admin area is not available, it is necessary to deactivate all plugins via FTP.
- First, you must use an FTP client to connect to your WordPress site. To access the plugins folder, navigate to the wp-content folder.
- After clicking on the plugins folder, you should select “Rename”. It might be appropriate to rename the plugins folder to ‘plugins-deactivated.’
- WordPress loads all plugins from a directory named plugins. The plugins are simply deactivated when it can’t find the folder.
Once this fixes it, disable one plugin at a time to find out what’s going on. Once the plugin that causes the problem is identified, it can be replaced with a more appropriate alternative or reported to the plugin author.
3. Use the Default Theme for WordPress
If the issue is not due to a plugins installed, perhaps your theme is at fault. Try switching to the default theme to see if that is causing the problem.
Click Appearance > Themes in your dashboard to access your admin area. Find a default theme like Twenty Twenty and activate it:
- After that, test your site again. If it works, you can pinpoint the problem with your theme.
- As with plugins, if you cannot access your dashboard, you must follow the same steps.
The easiest way to do this is to access your site’s files via FTP, and then rename your wp-content/themes folder accordingly:
- The latest default WordPress theme will then be applied, likely Twenty-Twenty. To install a theme, simply download and upload it to your theme folder from the WordPress Theme Directory.
Once that’s done, you can recheck your site. Maybe there has been a conflict or an update that caused your theme to fail. Depending on the situation, you might need to contact your hosting company for assistance or switch themes.
4. Clear Your Browser’s Cache
A simple clearing of the browser cache can sometimes resolve the problem. Websites use caching to improve the user experience and speed up browsing. Nevertheless, the cache becomes cluttered over time with unwanted data and cookies.
To fix this issue, please visit your browser’s settings and delete the cache for this specific website by accessing
Click the Clear browsing data button in Chrome’s History tab, select Basic or Advanced, and select the time range you wish to delete.
As soon as the process is complete, visit your website again and hit the Refresh button. Whenever you see the wp-admin screen, you are ready to go.
5. Check the Permissions of Files
The WSoD can also be attributed to issues related to permissions and ownership. You may be able to resolve this issue on your own. However, we recommend avoiding it unless you know what you are doing to prevent unintentionally introducing vulnerabilities.
Three simple rules govern WordPress permissions:
- 664 or 644 should be set for files.
- 775 or 755 should be set for folders
There are three options for the wp-config.php file: 660, 600, and 644.
From the root WordPress directory, use the following command to apply the rules:
- sudo find . -type f -exec chmod 664 {} +
- sudo find . -type d -exec chmod 775 {} +
- sudo chmod 660 wp-config.php
In case you need assistance or are unsure how to do this, contact your web host.
6. Set a New Memory Limit
A plugin is a set of code that runs a script whenever uploaded to a WordPress site. When the plugin runs, it uses a little memory on your server.
The WordPress plugin memory limit prevents scripts from slowing down your website. However, when scripts require more memory, they may result in a white screen of death.
The following steps will help you give WordPress more memory for your plugins.
- Open SFTP and log into your server.
- Locate the wp-config.php file in the public_html folder.
- Select View/Edit from the right-click menu of wp-config.php.
- Enter the following line at the bottom of the file:
In this case, the scripts in WordPress consume 64 megabytes of memory.
- Review your website to make sure it’s working properly.
7. Log Your WordPress Errors
It might be caused by a typo you made while updating your WordPress backend code. The error log in WordPress might tell you what’s going on.
There’s a debug feature built into WordPress to help you troubleshoot. An error log will report what went wrong when something went wrong.
To use the debugging tool, you must first enable it, as described below.
- Make use of SFTP to access your website.
- Locate your public_html folder and open it.
- Locate wp-config.php and right-click it, then click View/Edit.
- Enter the following line of code at the bottom of the file:
By doing this, WordPress logs an error message on your website.
- Check your website again after saving your changes. In this case, the white screen of death will still appear, but WordPress will log the error.
Now that you have enabled the debugger, you can view your error logs.
- Start the SFTP client.
- Click on the public_html folder and the wp-content folder.
- Navigate to the debug.log file and select View / Edit.
- In the file, you will see a listing of the last error.
Identify the file that caused the error in your SFTP and locate it there. You should contact your hosting provider if you are uncomfortable digging through your WordPress files.
8. Analyze Your Other WordPress Integrations
WordPress plugins and themes are not the only culprits of the white screen of death, as things such as CDNs and SSL certificates may also be to blame.
This can occur through the use of the wrong combination of integrations. When your CDN conflicts with an SSL certificate from another provider, it may cause your website to go down.
If you have added anything new to your WordPress website, you must be aware of it.
If you’ve upgraded your WordPress platform within the last 48 hours, consider deactivating or removing the possible culprit. For this reason, you may need to find another Web hosting service provider for assistance.
9. Enhance the PHP Text Processing Capabilities
An overly long page or post can cause the WordPress white screen of death error. Increasing the backtrack and recursion limits and adjusting PHP text processing capability will fix the issue.
Similarly, you must paste the code into your wp-content.php file. You will need the following code:
Ensure that you save your changes. After that, you can refresh your page to verify that it worked.
Also Read : The Role of Multi PHP Version Support in Web Hosting
10. Consult Your Hosting Provider
If you continue to encounter WordPress’ white screen of death error, your hosting provider may be able to assist you.
You can ask your support team about any recent changes to your website or server since they have access to the inner workings of your website. A problem that manifests on their end is the only one who can resolve it.
Error White Screen of Death in WordPress: How to Prevent it
Consider these tips to prevent WSoD errors:
- Keep a copy of your website on a separate server and back it up frequently. Backups can be performed with a backup & restore plugin or third-party tool.
- Don’t install plugins and themes that are untrustworthy. Before installing a plugin or theme, check its rating, customer reviews, and the latest update date. Install only add-ons that are up-to-date and have positive reviews to ensure they don’t conflict with your site.
- The WordPress updates should be tested in a staging environment to ensure they don’t break your site’s settings.
- Test any changes you make to code first to ensure they won’t cause errors.
Conclusion
There is no need to be terrified of the WordPress white screen of death. If you follow the solutions listed above, your website should remain operational. For assistance, you can contact your hosting company.
If hosting provider is to blame and choosing best website hosting provider is a major concern, contact WeWP for efficient hosting services with round-the-clock support to ensure top-notch performance. With WeWP, you can choose from a top-class hosting plan to ensure your website performs well.
Contact us today for hassle migration to our hosting solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD)?
A WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) occurs when the backend and frontend display the same blank white screen. Several factors can cause this issue, notably plugin conflicts, theme problems, and PHP errors. The best way to eliminate WSOD is to disable all plugins, use the default theme, and review the error log for any errors. Choose reliable web hosting services to get your website back on track and working.
What Should I Do If My Site Encounters the White Screen of Death?
Whenever you encounter the White Screen of Death, keep calm. Ensure you know of recent changes and updates, as issues could arise. Switch to the default theme and disable any plugins causing the issue. Be sure to check the error logs for signs. To resolve the issue, get in touch with your hosting provider. You should make regular backups so you can restore your site if necessary. It is essential to thoroughly troubleshoot the White Screen of Death before attempting to fix it.
Is Updating WordPress Core a Solution for the White Screen of Death?
WordPress core updates may be able to resolve the White Screen of Death (WSoD). When core files are outdated, or plugins/themes are incompatible, WSoD can occur. Make a backup, then click “Update Now” on Dashboard > Updates. If the problem persists, contact your host and ensure your plugins and themes are compatible. Be cautious when updating your website and ask for professional assistance to prevent data loss.
What Role Do PHP Errors Play in the White Screen of Death?
It is crucial to diagnose PHP errors to diagnose the White Screen of Death (WSOD). Errors in the script could prevent PHP from executing, leading to a blank screen. There are a variety of issues that can occur, including syntax errors, fatal errors, or exceeding the memory limit. To resolve the issue and restore functionality, it is vital to identify and fix these PHP errors. Keeping an eye on error logs, adjusting server settings, and fixing coding issues can help you resolve White Screen of Death issues.
When Should I Seek Professional Help for the White Screen of Death?
A White Screen of Death (WSOD) could happen on your website, so talk to a professional if none of the troubleshooting steps resolve the issue. A professional should be contacted if the problem persists despite restarting the computer or reinstalling the operating system. In addition, if your problem is hardware-related or you lack technical expertise, it is best to consult a professional. If WSOD is prevented and resolved promptly, data loss can be prevented.
