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

You visit your WordPress site. Everything vanishes. A plain white screen stares back. No error. No code. No login page. Just white.

This is the white screen of death WordPress users fear. It’s a full stop. Your site won’t load. Your dashboard is gone. Panic sets in.

This guide helps you fix it. Even if you’re not technical.

Step-by-step. Clear. Actionable. Human.

Let’s get your site back.

What Is the White Screen of Death WordPress?

The white screen of death (WSOD) is a blank page. This occurs when WordPress encounters a fatal error. The server stops output. WordPress doesn’t show what’s wrong.

You don’t see any message. Just white.

It may affect:

• Only the homepage
• Only the admin panel
• Both frontend and backend

It often happens suddenly. After an update. Or plugin install. Or even just logging in.

Real Examples of WSOD in Action

• A blogger installs a new SEO plugin. The screen goes white.
• A store owner updates their theme. The checkout page disappears.
• A freelancer edits a PHP function. Site stops responding.
• A photographer tweaks a plugin setting. Dashboard vanishes.

Each one saw a blank screen. Each one needed a fast fix.

Why Does the White Screen of Death Happen?

Let’s break down the top causes. Fixing a WSOD starts with understanding why it occurs.

1. Plugin Conflict

Plugins can conflict with:

• Other plugins
• Your theme
• Your PHP version
• WordPress core functions

If two plugins attempt to use the same function, the site will break.

Auto-updates also cause plugin crashes.

2. Theme Problems

Poorly coded themes cause WSOD. This includes:

• Outdated themes
• Custom themes with missing files
• Child themes missing their parent

Even small changes in functions.php can crash your site.

3. PHP Errors

WordPress runs on PHP. One bad line can trigger WSOD.

Common PHP errors:

• Syntax errors (missing semicolon)
• Unsupported functions
• Memory overflow
• File not found

Even adding a space before <?php can cause the code to fail.

4. Not Enough Memory

WordPress needs memory to run plugins, themes, and scripts.

If memory runs out:

• The process dies
• WordPress shows a blank screen

Heavy plugins or themes often exceed default memory limits.

5. Corrupted Core Files

Updates that stop midway can corrupt files.

The same applies to failed file uploads via FTP.

Broken WordPress core files cause the site to stop functioning.

6. Hosting Issues

Shared hosting is often limited.

Too many processes, CPU limits, or file permission issues will cause WSOD. Poor-quality hosting magnifies every small error.

Step-by-Step Fixes for the WordPress White Screen of Death

Let’s resolve the ‘white screen of death’ WordPress issue. Follow these clear steps.

No coding skills needed. Just patience and basic access to your files.

Step 1: Clear Your Browser and Site Cache

Sometimes the issue is just cached content. Try this first:

• Open your site in Incognito/Private Mode
• If it’s still blank:
  • Clear your browser cache
  • Clear your WordPress cache using your caching plugin (such as W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache).
  • If you don’t have dashboard access, clear the cache from your hosting panel
  • Using Cloudflare? Go to your Cloudflare dashboard and purge the cache

Reload your site and see if it works. If not, keep going.

Step 2: Turn on WordPress Debugging

WordPress hides errors by default. Enabling debug mode helps you spot what’s going wrong.

Here’s how:

1. Open the wp-config.php file in your WordPress root folder
2. Add these lines before the line that says /* That's all, stop editing */:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', true );

3. Save the file and reload your site

If you see an error message, copy it down — it indicates where the problem begins.

Still no error showing? Move on to the next step.

Step 3: Deactivate All Plugins (The Fast Way)

Plugins often cause WSOD. If you can’t log in to wp-admin, disable them manually.

Here’s how to do it fast:

1. Open your site files using FTP or cPanel File Manager
2. Go to the wp-content folder
3. Rename the plugins folder to plugins_old

Refresh your site. If it works, a plugin is likely the cause of the crash.

Now:

1. Rename plugins_old back to plugins
2. Open the folder and rename each plugin folder one by one
3. Refresh your site after each rename
4. Find the one that breaks your site

Delete or update that plugin to fix the issue.

This method works 90% of the time.

Step 4: Switch to a Default Theme

If disabling plugins didn’t help, try the theme.

Use FTP again.

Steps:

1. Go to wp-content/themes
2. Rename your current theme folder
3. WordPress will switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four

Check the site again.

If it loads, your theme caused the problem.

Fix: Reinstall a fresh copy. Or switch to a better theme.

Step 5: Increase PHP Memory Limit

Many hosts set memory too low. WordPress runs out and crashes.

Steps to increase memory:

Option 1: Edit wp-config.php

Add this line near the top.

define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );

Option 2: Edit .htaccess

Add this line:

php_value memory_limit 256M

Option 3: Edit php.ini (if your host allows)

memory_limit = 256M

Save. Refresh the site.

Step 6: Check File Permissions

Wrong permissions can block WordPress from loading files.

Best settings:

• Files: 644
• Folders: 755

You can set these using your host’s file manager or FTP client.

Be careful not to change ownership settings.

Advanced Troubleshooting for WordPress White Screen of Death

Tried basic fixes? Still getting a blank screen?

Here’s how to delve deeper and tackle more challenging cases.

These methods work when:

• The screen stays white after disabling plugins and themes
• You don’t receive recovery emails
• Error logs aren’t helpful, or are missing

Let’s solve it.

1. Check Server Error Logs

Your server logs tell the truth. They track everything that fails.

To view error logs:

• Log in to your hosting panel (like cPanel or Plesk)
• Look for “Error Log” or “Errors” under Metrics or Logs
• Open the most recent entries

Look for phrases like:

• fatal error
• memory exhausted
• cannot redeclare
• function not found

These tell you:

• Which plugin or theme caused the issue
• Which line of code failed
• Whether memory ran out

Copy the error. It helps you locate the correct file quickly.

2. Restore Core WordPress Files (Safely)

Sometimes, WordPress core files are corrupted during updates or uploads.

You can replace them without deleting your content.

Here’s how:

1. Download the latest WordPress from wordpress.org
2. Unzip it on your computer
3. Use FTP to upload only the /wp-admin and /wp-includes folders
4. Replace the existing ones on your site
5. Do not touch /wp-content — that holds your themes, plugins, and uploads

Once done, reload the site.

This fix works if your system files were incomplete or broken.

3. Rename or Delete .htaccess File

Your .htaccess file controls rules like redirects and compression.

If it contains errors, your site won’t load.

Steps:

1. Go to the root of your site
2. Find .htaccess
3. Rename it to .htaccess_old
4. Try loading your site

If it loads, the file was the problem.

Next, log in to your dashboard → Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes. This will create a new clean .htaccess file.

4. Use WordPress Recovery Mode (If You Got an Email)

Starting with version 5.2, WordPress may send an admin email after a fatal error.

Subject line: Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue

The email contains a link to “Recovery Mode.”

Click the link.

It allows you to log in to wp-admin, even if the site’s frontend is broken.

From there, you can:

• Disable faulty plugins
• Switch themes
• Update core files

Didn’t receive the email? Recovery Mode won’t be available.

5. Restore a Full Site Backup

If you still can’t fix it, restore a backup.

Many hosts offer daily backups. Some store 7–30 days of history.

Options:

• Ask for support to restore from before the crash
• Use your backup plugin (UpdraftPlus, BlogVault, Jetpack)
• Restore both files and the database for best results

This restores your site to its original state before the error occurred.

After restoring, disable auto-updates to prevent a repeat issue.

6. Test in a Staging Environment

If you have access to a staging site, copy your current site there.

You can safely test:

• Plugin reactivation
• Theme reinstallation
• Code edits
• PHP version upgrades

If staging works, you’ll know the live site can too.

Most premium hosting providers offer one-click staging tools.

7. Reinstall a Clean Theme or Plugin

Sometimes, a plugin or theme file is partially missing.

Reinstalling it can fix the issue.

Steps:

1. Download the latest version of the plugin or theme
2. Delete the old version via FTP
3. Upload the clean version
4. Activate it (if the dashboard loads)

If reinstalling fails, consider searching for an alternative version or switching to an entirely different one.

How to Prevent WSOD in the Future

Fixing the white screen is good. But prevention is better. Here’s how to avoid it entirely:

1. Always Back Up Before Updates

Use plugins like:

• UpdraftPlus
• BlogVault
• Jetpack

Schedule automatic backups every day. Store them in:

• Google Drive
• Dropbox
• Amazon S3

One-click restore saves hours of headaches.

2. Never Update on a Live Site

Create a staging copy.

Most hosts offer 1-click staging. Use it to:

• Test plugin and theme updates
• Preview custom code
• Check compatibility

Once confirmed, push changes to your live site.

3. Check Plugin and Theme Ratings

Only install plugins with:

• 4.5+ star ratings
• Frequent updates
• Active support

Avoid:

• Nulled plugins
• Abandoned plugins
• Custom plugins without code review

The same rule applies to themes.

4. Avoid Custom Code Unless Necessary

Even one wrong comma in functions.php can crash your site.

Use a code snippets plugin instead.

It isolates your changes and prevents full-site failure.

5. Use Managed or Premium Hosting

Cheap shared hosting limits memory and processing power.

That increases your chances of hitting fatal errors.

Choose a host with:

• WordPress-specific optimization
• Support for PHP 8+
• 24/7 expert support

Good hosting pays for itself when things go wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still Stuck? Time to call an expert

You’ve tried everything. Still no dashboard. Still no content. Just white?

You need help — fast.

I typically resolve WordPress white screen of death issues in under 1 hour.

No diagnosis charge. No complicated back-and-forth.

No more blank screens. Just a working site.

Still Stuck? Time to call an expert

The white screen of death can be intimidating. But it’s not permanent.

It’s a sign that something went wrong. A plugin. A theme. A line of code. Or your hosting plan.

Now you know the causes. You have the fixes. And you have the next steps.

If your site’s down, don’t wait. Every minute costs traffic, customers, or a drop in SEO ranking.

You can fix it. Or I can fix it for you.

The important thing is — don’t panic. Take action. Contact Us.