Tech Fix Daily

How to Fix the White Screen of Death in WordPress (WSOD)

 

⚠️ What is the White Screen of Death in WordPress?

The White Screen of Death (WSOD) shows a completely blank screen with no error message. It can affect the entire site or just the admin dashboard. This usually happens due to:

• PHP errors

• Memory limit exhaustion

• Theme/plugin conflicts

• Corrupted core files

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✅ Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

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🔹 Step 1: Increase PHP Memory Limit

1. Open your wp-config.php file.

2. Add the following line:

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

3. Save the file and refresh your site.

This increases the memory WordPress can use and may fix the white screen.

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🔹 Step 2: Disable All Plugins

1. Use FTP or your hosting File Manager.

2. Navigate to wp-content.

3. Rename the plugins folder to plugins-disabled.

4. Reload your site.

If the site returns, one of the plugins was the issue. Rename the folder back and activate each plugin one by one to find the faulty one.

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🔹 Step 3: Switch to Default Theme

If the plugin trick didn’t work, try changing the theme:

1. Login to your hosting control panel and access phpMyAdmin.

2. Go to the wp_options table.

3. Locate template and stylesheet entries.

4. Change both values to a default theme like twentytwentyfour.

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🔹 Step 4: Enable Debug Mode

1. In wp-config.php, add:

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

2. Check the error log in /wp-content/debug.log to see the exact issue.

This step helps identify hidden PHP errors.

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🔹 Step 5: Restore from Backup (If Needed)

If you're still facing the WSOD and can’t access anything:

• Restore a working version of your site from a backup.

• Use cPanel or a backup plugin like UpdraftPlus.

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💡 Bonus Tips

• Clear your browser cache and WordPress cache after each fix.

• Use tools like https://validator.w3.org/ to check for theme errors.

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📌 Conclusion

The White Screen of Death in WordPress is frustrating but fixable. It usually takes one of these steps:

• Disable plugins

• Switch theme

• Check PHP errors or memory limits

By following this guide, you’ll be able to restore your site quickly and avoid panic next time.