The White Screen of Death (WSOD) is a common error experienced by Wordpress users. It’s an intimidating issue where your website displays nothing but a plain white screen, providing no error message to guide you towards a solution. But don’t fret; although resolving the WSOD can be tricky, it’s not impossible. In this article, we’ll delve into some potential fixes for this common WordPress problem.

Important: Before you start, it’s always wise to have a complete backup of your WordPress site. This ensures you can revert to the original state if something goes wrong.

1. Enable Debugging

WordPress has a built-in debugging feature that can display errors and notices on your website. Enabling it can help you understand what’s causing the WSOD. To do this, add the following line to your wp-config.php file:

phpCopy codedefine( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

2. Deactivate All Plugins

Plugins can often cause the WSOD, particularly if there’s a conflict between two or more plugins or if a plugin is incompatible with your current WordPress version.

Solution: Deactivate all your plugins. If this resolves the issue, reactivate them one by one until the WSOD reappears. The last plugin you activated is likely the cause.

3. Switch to a Default Theme

If deactivating the plugins didn’t work, the problem could be your theme.

Solution: Switch to a default WordPress theme. If your website starts working, the issue lies with your original theme.

4. Increase the Memory Limit

Sometimes, the WSOD is due to exhausted Memory Limit. WordPress has a default memory limit, and when it gets exhausted, you may face the WSOD.

Solution: Increase your PHP memory limit. Add the following line to your wp-config.php file:

phpCopy codedefine( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );

5. Check for Failed Auto-Update

At times, a WordPress auto-update might fail due to internet connection issues, incorrect file permissions, or other reasons, causing the WSOD.

Solution: Check your WordPress root directory using an FTP client and look for a .maintenance file. If you find it, delete it.

6. Fix Syntax Errors

A syntax error in your code, especially in your theme’s functions.php file, could also lead to the WSOD.

Solution: Use an FTP client to access your website files and locate the problematic code in the mentioned file and correct it.

The White Screen of Death can certainly be a daunting problem, but it’s important to remember that every issue has a solution. The methods described above can help you diagnose and fix the WSOD, restoring your website to its full functionality.

If you need professional help troubleshooting the White Screen of Death or any other WordPress issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at LaunchUX. With our in-depth WordPress expertise, we’re here to assist you with all your website needs. Contact us today!

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