The Ultimate Guide to Troubleshooting the WordPress White Screen of Death

Have you ever encountered the white screen of death while working on your WordPress website? This error can be quite frustrating, especially if you are not familiar with troubleshooting techniques. Fortunately, with a little patience and some basic knowledge, you can easily resolve the issue. In this ultimate guide, we will walk you through the troubleshooting steps for the WordPress white screen of death.

Introduction

The white screen of death is a common error that occurs when you try to access your WordPress website, and all you see is a blank white screen. This error can happen due to various reasons, such as plugin conflicts, theme conflicts, PHP errors, or database errors. If you don’t fix the problem quickly, it can result in a loss of traffic and revenue for your website.

What is the WordPress White Screen of Death?

The WordPress white screen of death is a blank white screen that appears when you try to access your website. It is a common error that can occur due to various reasons. This error can be quite frustrating, as it doesn’t provide any error message or information about what went wrong. However, with some basic troubleshooting, you can quickly fix the problem and get your website back up and running.

The Ultimate Guide to Troubleshooting the WordPress White Screen of Death

In this section, we will walk you through the ultimate guide to troubleshooting the WordPress white screen of death. Follow these steps in order until you resolve the issue:

Step 1: Check for Plugin Conflicts

One of the most common reasons for the WordPress white screen of death is a plugin conflict. To check for plugin conflicts, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Deactivate all plugins.
3. Check if the white screen of death still appears.
4. If the white screen disappears, then the issue is related to a plugin conflict.
5. Activate plugins one by one to identify the problematic plugin.

Step 2: Check for Theme Conflicts

If the plugin conflict is not the issue, the next step is to check for theme conflicts. To check for theme conflicts, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Change your theme to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One.
3. Check if the white screen of death still appears.
4. If the white screen disappears, then the issue is related to a theme conflict.
5. Contact the theme developer for support.

Step 3: Check for PHP Errors

If neither plugins nor themes are causing the issue, the next step is to check for PHP errors. To check for PHP errors, follow these steps:

1. Connect to your website via FTP.
2. Locate the wp-config.php file in your WordPress root directory.
3. Add the following code to the file:

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

4. Save and upload the file to your server.
5. Refresh your website to see if any PHP errors are displayed.

Step 4: Check for Database Errors

If the PHP error is not the issue, the next step is to check for database errors. To check for database errors, follow these steps:

1. Connect to your website via FTP.
2. Locate the wp-config.php file in your WordPress root directory.
3. Add the following code to the file:

   define( 'WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true );

4. Save and upload the file to your server.
5. Navigate to the following URL: http://www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php.
6. Click on the “Repair Database” button to repair any errors.

Step 5: Increase PHP Memory Limit

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, the next step is to increase the PHP memory limit. To increase the PHP memory limit, follow these steps:

1. Connect to your website via FTP.
2. Locate the wp-config.php file in your WordPress root directory.
3. Add the following code to the file:

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

4. Save and upload the file to your server.
5. Refresh your website to see if the issue is resolved.

Step 6: Contact Your Web Host

If none of the above steps work, it’s time to contact your web host. Your web host may be able to identify and resolve the issue for you. Provide them with all the details about the problem and the steps you have taken to troubleshoot.

FAQs

1. Q: What causes the WordPress white screen of death?
   A: The WordPress white screen of death can be caused by various factors, such as plugin conflicts, theme conflicts, PHP errors, or database errors.
2. Q: How do I fix the WordPress white screen of death?
   A: You can fix the WordPress white screen of death by following the steps outlined in this ultimate guide.
3. Q: What should I do if I can’t identify the cause of the issue?
   A: If you can’t identify the cause of the issue, contact your web host for support.
4. Q: Can I prevent the WordPress white screen of death?
   A: You can prevent the WordPress white screen of death by keeping your plugins, themes, and WordPress core updated and regularly backing up your website.
5. Q: What should I do if I accidentally delete a file that causes the white screen of death?
   A: If you accidentally delete a file that causes the white screen of death, restore the file from a backup or reinstall WordPress.
6. Q: Is the WordPress white screen of death a serious issue?
   A: The WordPress white screen of death can be a serious issue if you don’t fix it quickly. It can result in a loss of traffic and revenue for your website.

Conclusion

The WordPress white screen of death can be a frustrating error to deal with, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can quickly fix the issue. Remember to check for plugin and theme conflicts, PHP errors, and database errors. If none of the above steps work, contact your web host for support. Don’t forget to regularly backup your website and keep your plugins, themes, and WordPress core updated to prevent the issue from happening again.

The Ultimate Guide to Troubleshooting the WordPress White Screen of Death is your go-to resource for fixing this issue. Follow the steps outlined in this guide, and you’ll have your website back up and running in no time.

We hope this article helped you fix WordPress White Screen of Death. You may also want to see our complete list of guide on https://techtopoint.com/

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