Introduction

WordPress White Screen of Death is one of the most confusing issues for beginners because it shows a completely blank page without any error message. Your website suddenly stops loading, and you are left wondering what went wrong. While this issue looks scary, the good news is that it is usually caused by simple problems that can be fixed without expert help.

In this guide, we will walk through easy and safe steps to fix the WordPress White Screen of Death and get your website back online.

Common Causes of WordPress White Screen of Death

Before applying fixes, it’s important to understand what usually causes this issue:

  • Plugin conflicts
  • Theme compatibility problems
  • PHP memory limit exhaustion
  • Corrupted WordPress files
  • Errors hidden due to disabled debugging
Identifying the root cause makes troubleshooting much easier.

Step 1: Disable All WordPress Plugins

Plugins are the most common cause of the WordPress White Screen of Death.

How to disable plugins:

  1. Access your website using File Manager or FTP
  2. Go to the wp-content folder
  3. Rename the plugins folder to plugins-old
    • This action disables all plugins at once.

Now refresh your website.

  • If the site loads, one of the plugins is causing the issue
  • Rename the folder back to plugins
  • Enable plugins one by one to find the faulty plugin

Step 2: Switch to a Default WordPress Theme

If plugins are not the issue, your active theme may be causing the problem.

How to fix it:

  1. Go to wp-content/themes
  2. Rename your active theme folder
  3. WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four
If your site starts working again, your theme needs updating or replacement.

Step 3: Increase PHP Memory Limit

Sometimes the WordPress White Screen of Death occurs because your site runs out of PHP memory.

Add this code to wp-config.php:

  • define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);
This allows WordPress to use more memory and often fixes blank screen issues caused by heavy plugins or themes.

Step 3: Increase PHP Memory Limit

Sometimes the WordPress White Screen of Death occurs because your site runs out of PHP memory.

Add this code to wp-config.php:

  • define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);
This allows WordPress to use more memory and often fixes blank screen issues caused by heavy plugins or themes.

Step 4: Enable WordPress Debug Mode

WordPress hides errors by default. Enabling debug mode helps identify the real problem

Add this line to wp-config.php:

  • define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
  • After enabling debug mode, reload your site.
  • You may see error messages that point directly to the faulty file or plugin.

For more details, you can refer to the official:

Step 5: Clear Cache and CDN

If you are using a caching plugin or CDN, cached files may cause the white screen.

  • Clear your WordPress cache
  • Clear browser cache
  • Purge CDN cache if applicable

This step is especially useful after updates or code changes.

You may also find it helpful to:

Step 6: Check for Corrupted WordPress Files

Corrupted core files can also cause the WordPress White Screen of Death.

Fix method:

  • Download a fresh copy of WordPress
  • Replace wp-admin and wp-includes folders
  • Do NOT overwrite wp-content
This refreshes core files without affecting your content.

Step 7: Contact Hosting Support

If none of the above steps work, the issue may be server-related.

Hosting providers can:

  • Check server error logs
  • Fix PHP or permission issues
  • Restore backups
Most good hosts resolve WSOD quickly once they identify the problem.

Final Thoughts

The WordPress White Screen of Death may look alarming, but it is usually caused by plugin conflicts, theme issues, or memory limits. By following these step-by-step solutions calmly, you can fix the issue and restore your website without panic.

Always keep your plugins, themes, and WordPress core updated to prevent this issue in the future.