Experiencing a blank white screen on your WordPress site after an update can be incredibly frustrating. This dreaded WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) effectively makes your website inaccessible to both visitors and administrators. Fortunately, with the right approach, you can diagnose and resolve this common issue without needing advanced technical expertise. This comprehensive guide will walk you through proven solutions to get your site back online quickly.
Understanding the WordPress White Screen of Death
The WordPress White Screen of Death is aptly named because it leaves you staring at nothing but a blank white page. This error typically occurs after failed updates, though it can appear at other times as well. Many WordPress users encounter this issue, especially those managing their sites on emprendeweb.es and other hosting platforms where automatic updates might sometimes go awry.
What causes the White Screen of Death after updates
Several factors can trigger the WSOD following an update. The most common culprits include PHP code errors, plugin incompatibilities with your current WordPress version, theme conflicts, or memory limitation issues where your site exceeds the allocated PHP memory. Sometimes, the problem stems from a failed auto-update that leaves a .maintenance file lingering in your WordPress root directory, keeping your site in maintenance mode indefinitely.
Common signs and symptoms of WSOD
Beyond the obvious blank screen, you might notice that your WordPress admin dashboard becomes inaccessible. Some users experience partial white screens where certain sections of their site work while others display nothing. In some cases, you might receive specific error messages, though often the screen remains completely blank, offering no clues about what went wrong. Another telltale sign is that while your site displays the white screen, other websites on your server continue to function normally.
Quick fixes for wordpress white screen issues
Before diving into more complex solutions, try these straightforward approaches that might resolve your issue immediately. These initial troubleshooting steps require minimal technical knowledge and can often get your site back online within minutes.
Accessing your site via FTP when facing WSOD
When the white screen prevents you from accessing your admin dashboard, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) becomes your best friend. Using FTP clients like FileZilla, you can connect directly to your server and access your WordPress files. This direct access allows you to make necessary changes to your site files even when the interface is inaccessible. To connect via FTP, you need your server credentials, which you can typically obtain from your hosting provider account or control panel.
Clearing browser cache and cookies
Sometimes, the white screen issue is just a browser-side problem. Cached data from previous versions of your site might be causing display issues. Clear your browser cache and cookies thoroughly, then try accessing your site again. This simple step resolves a surprising number of apparent white screen issues without requiring any server-side modifications. For thoroughness, try accessing your site from different browsers or devices to determine if the problem is universal or limited to your primary browser.
Resolving plugin-related wsod problems
Plugins are often the primary culprits behind white screen errors, especially after WordPress updates that create compatibility issues. With over 25 million websites using WordPress plugins, conflicts are inevitable as both WordPress core and plugins evolve independently.
Deactivating all plugins to identify conflicts
When you cannot access your admin area, the most effective approach is to deactivate all plugins via FTP. Navigate to your WordPress installation directory, locate the plugins folder (typically found at wp-content/plugins), and rename it to something like plugins_old. This simple renaming effectively disables all plugins. Then try accessing your site again. If your site returns to normal, you have confirmed that a plugin conflict is causing the issue.
Strategically reactivating plugins to pinpoint the culprit
After confirming that a plugin is causing the problem, rename your plugins folder back to plugins, then enter your plugins directory and rename each plugin folder individually to deactivate them one by one. After each renaming, check your website to see if it loads correctly. This methodical process helps identify exactly which plugin is causing the conflict. Once identified, you can either keep that particular plugin deactivated, look for updates, or contact the developer for assistance.
Theme-related solutions for white screen errors
Themes can also trigger the White Screen of Death, particularly when they contain coding errors or become incompatible with the latest WordPress version. Theme issues often manifest after updates when newly introduced WordPress features conflict with older theme code.
Switching to a default WordPress theme
When troubleshooting theme-related WSOD issues, temporarily switching to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty can quickly determine if your current theme is causing the problem. Using FTP, navigate to your wp-content/themes directory and rename your current theme folder. WordPress will automatically fall back to a default theme if it cannot find the activated theme. If your site starts working with the default theme, you have confirmed that your original theme contains problematic code.
Checking theme compatibility with your WordPress version
Theme developers typically specify which WordPress versions their themes are compatible with. After resolving immediate access issues, check the theme documentation or contact the developer to verify compatibility with your current WordPress version. Themes that have not been updated for several WordPress versions often develop compatibility issues as WordPress evolves. In such cases, you might need to update your theme or switch to a more actively maintained alternative.
Addressing php memory limit issues
WordPress sites with numerous plugins, complex themes, or extensive content can sometimes exceed the default PHP memory allocation, resulting in the white screen error. This is particularly common after updates that introduce more resource-intensive features.
Increasing PHP memory allocation in wp-config.php
To increase your memory limit, access your wp-config.php file via FTP. This file is located in your WordPress root directory. Add the line define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’); before the line that says Happy blogging. This increases your PHP memory limit to 256 megabytes, which is sufficient for most WordPress sites. After saving the file, check if your site is now accessible. Some hosting environments may have restrictions on memory increases, so this solution might not work in all cases.
Working with your hosting provider to adjust server resources
If modifying your wp-config.php file does not resolve the memory limit issues, contact your hosting provider. They can often increase your PHP memory limit at the server level or move your site to a more suitable hosting plan with additional resources. Some hosting providers have specific limitations for shared hosting plans, and you might need to upgrade to a VPS or dedicated server for more resource-intensive WordPress installations.
Using wordpress debug mode to identify errors
When troubleshooting proves challenging, enabling WordPress debug mode can provide valuable insights into the specific errors causing the white screen. With over 3000 WordPress tutorials by experts recommending this approach, it remains one of the most effective diagnostic tools.
Enabling WP_DEBUG in your configuration file
To enable debugging, access your wp-config.php file and find the line that says define(‘WP_DEBUG’, false);. Change it to define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);. Additionally, add these lines to enable error logging: define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true); and define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false);. This configuration will create a debug.log file in your wp-content directory without displaying errors on your public-facing site. After making these changes, try accessing your site again to generate error logs.
Interpreting error logs to locate the exact issue
Once debugging is enabled, check the debug.log file in your wp-content directory. This file contains detailed information about PHP errors occurring on your site. Look for patterns in the error messages, particularly references to specific plugins, themes, or functions. Pay attention to file paths mentioned in the errors, as they often point directly to the problematic code. With this specific information, you can address the exact issue rather than making general troubleshooting attempts.
Restoring your site from backups
When all troubleshooting efforts fail, restoring from a backup provides a reliable solution to recover your site. With 16 years of WordPress experience showing the importance of regular backups, this approach remains the ultimate safety net for any WordPress site.
Accessing and implementing backup restoration
If you have a recent backup from before the white screen issue appeared, you can restore your site to its previous working state. Most backup plugins provide restoration features through their interfaces, though these may be inaccessible during a white screen error. In such cases, contact your hosting provider, as many hosts maintain automatic backups that they can restore for you. Alternatively, if you have manual backups, you can restore the database and files via phpMyAdmin and FTP respectively.
Best practices for maintaining regular site backups
To prevent future restoration headaches, implement a robust backup strategy. Configure automatic backups that occur at least daily for dynamic sites or weekly for more static content. Store backups in multiple locations, including cloud storage separate from your hosting provider. Test your backup restoration process periodically to ensure it works when needed. Consider using dedicated WordPress backup plugins that can automatically send copies of your backups to secure external storage services.
Professional support options for complex wsod issues
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the white screen issue persists. In these cases, seeking professional assistance becomes necessary, especially for websites critical to your business operations.
When to contact your hosting support team
Your hosting provider should be your first point of contact for persistent white screen issues, particularly when they might relate to server configurations or hosting-specific limitations. Quality hosts with WordPress expertise can often identify and resolve common issues quickly. Provide them with details of the troubleshooting steps you have already taken to expedite the resolution process. Some hosting providers offer specialized WordPress support services that include hands-on assistance with these types of technical issues.
Finding qualified WordPress developers for assistance
For complex issues or customized WordPress installations, consulting a professional WordPress developer might be necessary. Look for developers with specific experience in WordPress troubleshooting and recovery. Review their portfolios for similar work and check references from past clients. While professional assistance comes with a cost, the expertise provided can resolve complex issues efficiently and help implement measures to prevent similar problems in the future, making it a worthwhile investment for business-critical websites.