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Fixing White Screen of Death Error in WordPress

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Fixing White Screen of Death Error in WordPress

Getting Blank Page on your WordPress site is one of the common errors. Every WordPress user will experience this “white screen of death” error at least once. When this error happens don’t feel bad, you can easily fix it. I have already experienced this Death Screen Error with my WordPress Site. By using some simple methods, I have fixed this error. Do you want to know what are those methods? Have a look at this article, here I have given the causes and possible solutions for the White Screen errors.

How to Fix WordPress White Screen of Death ?

The common causes of WordPress white screen of death are plugins, PHP code errors, and memory limit exhaustion. When this error occurs, sometimes you are unable to access your WordPress site Admin area. The experienced users are able to overcome this error, but it is difficult for the beginners. Don’t get tense, we provide the possible ways to get rid of a white screen error. Take a look on it.

Before going to fix this error, first, you need to know what is White Screen of Death in WordPress and why this error arise. For that here we described those details also.

What is White Screen of Death in WordPress ?

The White Screen of Death refers to an error which can display only a white screen and stops its working. This White Screen error is also called as WSoD.

How WordPress Death Screen error occurs ?

There are many reasons for the occurrence of this White Screen error in WordPress. Based on the reason, the solution steps can be followed. So, first look at the given reasons. In our website, you can also find various solutions for your WordPress Problems.

Plugin Incompatibility with WordPress

The WordPress users are always want to improve their WordPress site. For that, they install new plugins. The Plugin that you installed is incompatible with your WordPress version will lead to make this White Pages error. When you make any changes in your WordPress plugin which are not supported by your WordPress version will also give a chance to make this error.

Incompatibility between plugins

If you installed a new WordPress plugin for your site which is incompatible with other plugins in your WordPress then Death screen error appearance.

Incompatible Themes

If you installed a new WordPress theme for your site which is incompatible with your WordPress version will make the white page appearance. Else, The New Theme you installed is included with programming code which is not executed on your site will also make the Blank Page appearance. For not getting this problem again, you need to check the theme before the installation.

Invalid PHP syntax errors

The invalid function syntax is one of the common reason for the occurrence of this Error. When the function contains invalid PHP syntax, then this error will raise. For example, in the given function the first function closing brace is missed.

function example() {
function sample() {
}

These type of syntax errors are easy to fix.

Memory Exhaustion

If any plugin or theme installed in your WordPress uses too much memory, then the White Screen error will occur.

Debugging

If the fatal error occurs then, the execution of the program will go to the end. When the program execution stopped, the Death Screen error in WordPress will occur.

Infinite Loops

The infinite loop is one of the common reasons for White Screen of Death error in WordPress. If the program code contains any infinite loops, then this error will arise.

File Permission Issues

The File permission issue is not a major reason for the white screen error in WordPress. But still, the file permission and ownership issues have a chance to the occurrence of this Death Screen error.

Incorrect Syntax in wp-config.php

If you forget or accidentally delete the starting tag <?php in wp-config.php file then the White Screen error will arise.

Failed Auto Update

The WordPress rarely run with updates like server timing out. This updates can be done automatically. If the automatic update failed then, the Death Screen error in WordPress would occur.

Database Issues

This is one of the advanced reason for the occurrence of White Screen error in WordPress. When your WordPress database is corrupted, the Death Screen error will occur.

Server and caching configuration issues

The Advanced Server and Caching Configuration issues are one of the reasons for the occurrence of the White Screen errors in WordPress.

Solutions for White Screen of Death error in WordPress

Sometimes the Death Screen error cannot allow the user to access the admin area. So, you need to know how to fix the error with admin access and without admin access. Here we provide the possible solutions to overcome this White Screen of Death error with admin access and without admin access.

How to fix WordPress White Screen error with Admin Access ?

The possible solutions for Death Screen error in WordPress site with admin access are provided here.

Deactivate Incompatible Plugin with Admin Acess

The plugin which is incompatible with WordPress and the plugin which is incompatible with other plugins will raise the White Screen Death error in WordPress. To overcome this you have to deactivate that particular plugin in your WordPress site. Here we provide the step by step process to fix death screen error with admin access.

  • Login to your WordPress admin access.
  • In the WordPress dashboard, the plugin link is available at the left side navigation bar.
  • Click on the plugin link. Now, a new page will display on the screen.
  • Deactivate the recently installed plugin from your WordPress website.
  • If you forget the recently installed plugin, then deactivate your plugin one by one.
  • Now, refresh your WordPress site front end.
  • Finally, The WordPress website will work properly without any error.

Deactivate Incompatible Theme with Admin Access

By deactivating the Theme which is incompatible with WordPress version, you can overcome this White Screen Death Error from your WordPress site.

  • Login to your WordPress site admin access.
  • In the WordPress dashboard, the Appearance link is available at the left side navigation bar.
  • Click on the Themes option from the Appearance tab.
  • A new page will appear on the screen.
  • Activate one default theme from it.
  • Now, refresh your WordPress site front end. It can work properly without white screen error.

Modifying Invalid PHP syntax errors with Admin Access

The Invalid PHP Syntax Error will lead the website to White Screen of Death. To eliminate this error, you have to modify the functions in the php file. If you have the admin access then modifying the code will become easy for you. Have a look on the given process for fixing the White Scree Death error.

  1. Login to your WordPress site admin access.
  2. In the WordPress dashboard, the Appearance link is available at the left side navigation bar.
  3. Click on the Editor option from the Appearance tab.
  4. Check the code, if it contains any syntax errors or not.
  5. If the code has any Syntax error, then modify the code.
  6. Next, click on the update file option.
  7. Now, refresh your WordPress site front page.

In this way, you can eliminate the Death Screen Error from your WordPress Site if the reason is PHP Syntax Error.

To overcome Memory Exhaustion, you have to increase the memory limit.

Edit ‘wp-config.php’ File

  • Login to your WordPress website admin area.
  • In the WordPress dashboard, the Appearance link is available at the left side navigation bar.
  • Click on the Editor option from the Appearance tab.
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '64M');

Enabling Debug Mode with admin access

Sometimes the Execution of the WordPress site will go to the end, and the Death Screen Error will occur. To overcome this error without admin access is difficult when compared to with admin access. Here we described the procedure for eliminating White Screen error from the WordPress site with admin access.

  • Login to your WordPress website admin area.
  • In the WordPress dashboard, the Appearance link is available at the left side navigation bar.
  • Click on the Editor option from the Appearance tab.
  • Search for the code given below.
define('WP_DEBUG', false);
define('WP_DEBUG', true);

Infinite Loops with Admin Access

If your theme or php file contains an infinite loop, then the White Screen of Death error, will occur. To overcome this error, you have to modify the code. The process for modifying the code is provided here. Check the step by step process and fix the death screen error easily.

  • Login to your WordPress website admin area.
  • In the WordPress dashboard, the Appearance link is available at the left side navigation bar.
  • Click on the Editor option from the Appearance tab.
  • Check the code, if it contains any infinite loop code or not.
  • If the code has any infinite loops, then modify the code and click on the update file option.
  • Now, you can refresh your WordPress front page.
  • Finally, The Website will work without any error.

How to fix this Death Screen Error in WordPress without Admin Access ?

The possible solutions for Blank Screen error in WordPress site without admin access are provided here.

Deactivate Incompatible Plugin without Admin Access

To deactivate the particular plugin in your WordPress site without admin access, you have to follow the given process.

  1. Open wp-contents directory through FTP.
  2. The WordPress contents folder will display on the screen.
  3. Rename the current Plugin folder.
  4. Create a New Folder with Plugin Name.
  5. Now, you can Login to your WordPress site admin area.
  6. Move the old plugin folder to new plugin folder.
  7. Next, activate the plugins one by one.
  8. Check every plugin and find which plugin is incompatible with your WordPress version or other plugins.
  9. Now, deactivate that particular plugin from the WordPress site.
  10. Finally, your WordPress site will work properly without White Screen of Death error.

By following this step by step process, you can fix Blank Screen Error in WordPress quickly and easily.

Deactivate Incompatible Theme without Admin Access

You can deactivate the theme from your WordPress site to overcome the White Screen death error with the FTP access.

  1. Open wp-contents directory through FTP.
  2. The themes directory is available there.
  3. Rename the current themes directory.
  4. Now, you can Login to your WordPress website admin area.
  5. Check your theme is compatible with your WordPress version or not.
  6. If it is incompatible, then set a default theme for your WordPress site.
  7. Refresh your WordPress site front end.
  8. Now, your WordPress site will work without any error.

Modifying Invalid PHP syntax errors without Admin Access

If the PHP file contains any syntax error like missing close braces, then Blank Screen Error will occur. To overcome this error, you have to change the code in your php file. So, follow the given process and get out from the Death Screen Error.

  1. The Syntax error was found then correct the error and save the file.
  2. Now, upload the file from where it is downloaded.
  3. The old php file can be overwritten by this new file.
  4. Refresh your WordPress site, it will word properly.

In this way, you can eliminate the Death Screen Error from your WordPress Site if the reason is PHP Syntax Error.

By increasing the memory limit, you can avoid white screen error caused by Memory Exhaustion.

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '64M');

Edit ‘php.ini’ File

With php.ini file access
memory_limit = 64M;
Without php.ini file access
memory_limit = 64M;

Edit ‘.htaccess’ File

  • Open wp-includes folder from your WordPress.
  • Click on the Server tab from the menu.
  • Choose Force Showing Hidden Files. FTP Program hides the Dotfiles. The .htaccess is one Dotfile.
  • Now, search for the .htaccess file.
  • Download the .htaccess file.
  • Open the file with text editor.
  • Add the given code to the file.
php_value memory_limit 64M;

Enabling Debug Mode without admin access

Edit ‘wp-config.php’ File if it contains Debug Code

define('WP_DEBUG', false);
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
  • Save the file and upload it where it is downloaded from.
  • Refresh your WordPress site.
  • Now your WordPress site can work properly without any Blank Screen Error.

Infinite Loops without Admin Access

The Loops in WordPress have the exit clause as have_Posts and the increment as the_post. If you forget the increment in the loop the_post then this infinite loop will occur. When the infinite loop occurs, the WordPress Website White Screen Death error will arise.
For Example: Here we provide the Infinite loop.

while (have_posts()):
get_template_part('content', get_post_format());
endwhile;

If any theme or php file can contain this code, then the error will occur. To overcome this, you have to check your Themes and functions in your php file.

  1. Search for the themes file of your WordPress website through FTP.
  2. Open the file with text editor.
  3. Check the file if it contains any infinite loop or not.
  4. If it contains the infinite loop, then modify the code and save the file.
  5. Else you have to open the php file from your WordPress site.
  6. Now, check the functions in the php file.
  7. If any function contains the infinite loop code, then modify it.
  8. Now, save the change and refresh your WordPress site.
  9. Finally, your WordPress site can work properly without death screen error.

Overcome Failed Auto update

If the Auto Update is failed then, White Screen Death Error will arise. To avoid this failed auto update, you have to follow the given procedure.

  1. Open your WordPress site root directory through FTP.
  2. Search for .maintenance file.
  3. Delete that .maintenance file.
  4. Reload your WordPress site.

Now, your WordPress site can work without any error. In this way, you can overcome the Failed Auto Update problem.

Other Possible Ways to fix White Screen Death Error in WordPress

File Permission Issues

The file permissions are not possible to fix yourself unless you have the SSH access to your server. If you have the permission, then apply these commands to your WordPress root directory.

sudo find . -type f -exec chmod 664 {} +
sudo find . -type d -exec chmod 775 {} +
sudo chmod 660 wp-config.php

These rules are common for the WordPress site.

  • 664 for Files.
  • 775 for Folders.
  • 660 for the wp-config.php file.

By using above permissions, you can avoid the occurrence of Blank Screen error on your WordPress site.

Correct Syntax in wp-config.php

The accidental delete of the starting tag <?php is one of the reasons for the occurrence of the White Screen of Death in WordPress website. To avoid this Blank error, you have to ensure that you don’t have any syntax errors in the wp-config.php file.

Database Issues

If your WordPress database is corrupted then the White Screen of Death Error will occur on your WordPress Site. So, ensure that you to keep a recent backup of your WordPress site’s database. The VaultPress is one of the backup solutions for the database which can keep hourly backups. After keeping your WordPress database backup, you can make changes in your WordPress site database to overcome this Blank Screen Error.

Server and caching configuration issues

If you reading this point in the article means you have still faced the White Screen of Death Error in WordPress site. It’s time for you to contact your web host. They can see any WordPress Server level issue has occurred. The advanced caching and server configurations can be managed by WordPress hosts.

So, now you know how to fix White Screen of Death Error in your WordPress Site easily by using simple methods. We hope, if you face this Blank Screen Error in your WordPress website, these will helpful for you to get out from that.

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