Encountering a white screen in WordPress, often referred to as the “White Screen of Death,” can be frustrating, but it’s a common issue with multiple potential causes. In this guide, we’ll help you identify the possible reasons behind the white screen and provide step-by-step instructions on how to fix it, so your WordPress website is up and running again.
Table of Contents
1. Check Plugins
Often, incompatible or malfunctioning plugins can cause a white screen:
- Deactivate All Plugins: If possible, access your WordPress admin, go to “Plugins,” and deactivate all plugins. If you can’t access the admin, move on to the next step.
- FTP Access: Use FTP to access your WordPress directory.
- Rename the Plugins Folder: In the “wp-content” directory, find the “plugins” folder and rename it (e.g., to “plugins_old”).
- Check Website: Visit your website to see if the white screen is gone. If it is, one of the plugins was causing the issue.
2. Check Theme
Issues with your theme can also lead to a white screen:
- Switch to Default Theme: If you have access to the admin, go to “Appearance” > “Themes” and activate a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-One).
- Check Website: Visit your website to see if the white screen persists. If it’s gone, the issue was related to the previous theme.
3. Increase Memory
WordPress may require more memory to function properly:
- Access wp-config.php: Use FTP to access your WordPress root directory and find the “wp-config.php” file.
- Add Memory Limit: Add the following line before the “That’s all, stop editing!” line in “wp-config.php”:
define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' ); - Check Website: Visit your website to see if the white screen is resolved.
4. Deactivate Plugins via FTP
If you can’t access the admin to deactivate plugins:
- FTP Access: Use FTP to access your WordPress directory.
- Rename the Plugins Folder: In the “wp-content” directory, find the “plugins” folder and rename it (e.g., to “plugins_old”).
- Check Website: Visit your website to see if the white screen is gone. If it is, reactivate plugins one by one until you find the one causing the issue.
5. Enable Debug Mode
WordPress debug mode can help identify the issue:
- Edit wp-config.php: In the “wp-config.php” file, find the “define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, false );” line.
- Enable Debug Mode: Change the line to “define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true );” to enable debug mode.
- Check Website: Visit your website to see if any error messages provide clues about the issue. Make sure to turn off debug mode after troubleshooting.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to diagnose and fix the WordPress white screen issue, ensuring your website is back online and functioning as expected.