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

The WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) is one of the most frustrating errors users encounter. When it happens, your website shows a blank, white screen with no error messages or clues to identify the problem. This issue can disrupt your site's functionality, impacting user experience and potentially affecting revenue.

If you’re currently facing the WSOD, don’t panic. This guide will help you identify the causes and walk you through effective solutions to get your site back online.

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What Causes the WordPress White Screen of Death?

Several issues can trigger the WSOD, including:

1. Theme or Plugin Conflicts: Incompatible, outdated, or faulty themes or plugins can break your site.
2. Memory Limit Exhaustion: WordPress has a set memory limit, and exceeding it can lead to the WSOD.
3. Syntax Errors in Code: A small error in your PHP code can cause the entire site to fail.
4. File Permission Issues: Incorrect permissions on key WordPress files can block site access.
5. Cache Problems: Sometimes, cached files might conflict with updates, leading to the white screen.

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How to Fix the WordPress White Screen of Death

1. Deactivate Themes and Plugins

Since most WSOD issues are caused by plugins or themes, disabling them is a logical first step.

Steps to Fix:

• Access your site using FTP or through your hosting control panel's File Manager.
• Navigate to the /wp-content/plugins/ folder.
• Rename the plugins folder to something like plugins-disabled.
• Check if the site is back online.
• If it works, reactivate each plugin one by one to identify the culprit.

If you suspect your theme is the problem, switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One:

• Go to /wp-content/themes/ and rename your active theme folder.
• This forces WordPress to revert to the default theme.

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2. Increase PHP Memory Limit

If your site is running out of memory, you can increase the PHP memory limit to resolve the WSOD.

How to Increase PHP Memory Limit:

• Edit the wp-config.php file (located in the WordPress root directory).
• Add the following line of code: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

This increases the memory limit to 256MB. If 256MB isn’t enough, you can increase it further.

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3. Check for Syntax Errors in Custom Code

If you recently made edits to your functions.php file or other core files, syntax errors may have caused the issue.

How to Fix Syntax Errors:

• Revert to a previous backup of your files (if you have one).
• Use an FTP client to access the file you edited.
• Look for missing brackets, extra semicolons, or incorrect variable usage.

If you’re not sure where the error is, you can use an online PHP Syntax Checker to scan the file.

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4. Clear Cache

Sometimes, your caching plugin or server cache can store an outdated version of your site, leading to a WSOD.

How to Clear the Cache:

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard (if accessible) and clear the cache using your caching plugin (like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache).
• If you can’t access the dashboard, delete the cache files manually from the /wp-content/cache/ directory.
• If your hosting provider uses a server-level cache (like Cloudflare), clear the cache from the hosting control panel.

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5. Check File Permissions

File permissions control access to your WordPress files and folders. Incorrect permissions can block essential site functions, leading to the WSOD.

How to Check File Permissions:

• Use an FTP client or File Manager to check the permissions of key files and folders.
• Ensure folders are set to 755 and files are set to 644.
• Avoid setting permissions to 777, as it poses security risks.

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When Should You Contact Your Hosting Provider?

If none of the above methods resolve the issue, it’s time to contact your web host. Some WSOD issues are related to server misconfigurations, corrupted files, or hardware limitations. A good hosting provider can help identify and resolve the issue quickly.

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Why SurferCloud Is a Smart Choice for WordPress Hosting

When it comes to WordPress hosting, SurferCloud stands out with powerful VPS hosting options that prevent common issues like the WSOD. With support for 1-core to 64-core CPUs and up to 512GB of RAM, SurferCloud provides the flexibility to handle high-traffic sites with ease.

Their DDoS protection, dual ISP connections, and worldwide data centers ensure your WordPress site remains fast, secure, and accessible at all times. If you're looking for a hosting provider that minimizes downtime and ensures optimal performance, SurferCloud is a top choice.