Are you a WordPress user who has encountered the infamous White Screen of Death (WSOD)? This is a common problem that can be caused by a variety of issues. In this article, we will discuss the different symptoms of WSOD and provide solutions for each ailment.
The WSOD is an anomaly that can stem from a host of different reasons. Fortunately, most cases fall under three general categories. This tutorial outlines simple, easy-to-follow steps to fix each of the causes for WordPress White Screen of Death.
Reason #1: Plugin Related Issues
If you have installed a new plugin, updated an old one, or tried to modify an active one, there could be a conflict between your current active theme and the plugin you just installed. In such a case, you could simply disable that particular plugin and everything should work just fine. However, if your WordPress dashboard isn’t working, you will need to disable the plugin via FTP.
Disabling a WordPress plugin via FTP is a simple task. As a prerequisite, you must have FTP access with the correct permissions to your WordPress directory. Once you have that step cleared, it’s time to disable the plugin:
1. Login to your FTP server with a proper account
2. Navigate to your WordPress installation directory
3. Enter the wp_content/plugins folder
4. Find and select the folder with the correct plugin name
5. Rename it to a different yet recognizable name
6. Renaming the folder will permanently disable the plugin
If you want to disable all plugins at once, rename the plugins folder and create a new, empty folder labeled plugins. This would disable all old plugins in one go. You can move the plugins one by one from the plugins_old folder to plugins and activate them individually.
Reason #2: Theme Related Issues
Similar to plugins, theme-related WSOD problems have similar origins. Installing a new theme could create a conflict with an existing plugin. In such a case, you simply need to disable the newly activated theme, and WordPress would automatically revert to its default theme.
If your theme has stopped working right after you updated WordPress, there’s a strong chance that the theme is the culprit. Deactivate the theme and things should go back to normal.
When you modify or update a theme, it could lead to improper code, which drives us to the heart of the problem, i.e. a WSOD. In order to fix this, you could replace the modified file with an old copy. In any other case, you could upload the original theme files.
Reason #3: Exceeding the Memory Limit
This situation is a classic indicator that you’ve outgrown your current hosting provider. The amount of traffic on your website requires more resources, which your current host cannot provide. You could try increasing your PHP memory limit by modifying the wp-config.php file. If the problem still persists, you should consult your hosting provider.
This problem is also common in cheap web hosts that sacrifice quality. In order to make a profit, these hosts cramp in as many customers on one server as possible. As a result, the amount of resources per client is significantly reduced. This leads to the WSOD. If you are on a budget hosting plan that won’t allow you to increase your memory limit any more, you’re going to have to upgrade your plan.
Reason #4: Unknown Causes
Sometimes, the WSOD cause cannot be quite determined, which leads us into a fix. In times like these, you will need to determine the source of the problem.
Simply add the following lines at the bottom of the wp-config.php file:
error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set(‘display_errors’, 1);
define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
This tells WordPress to display all the errors that take place on the output screen. You can use this information to determine the cause of the WSOD.
Conclusion
The White Screen of Death is one of those unavoidable problems that every WordPress user must face. Managed WordPress hosting providers specialize in WordPress and WordPress related issues. If your budget permits and you want to be free of all hosting related issues, then you’ll love managed hosting from WPEngine or Media temple, or one of our other recommended hosting providers.
