Wordpress: Troubleshoot the White Screen of Death | BigScoots WordPress Knowledge Base

Sometimes, WordPress can go down and display a blank page, often referred to as the White Screen of Death. This issue commonly occurs after plugin or theme updates, but it can also be caused by PHP errors or configuration problems. Since there are several possible reasons behind it, we recommend following the troubleshooting steps below to identify and fix the cause.

Check the wp-config.php file for errors

Make sure your wp-config.php file is error-free. This file holds your database login details and other core WordPress settings. A small mistake, such as a missing quote, extra space, or incorrect database credential, can cause the white screen issue.

Access the server via SSH - If you don't know how, you can follow this guide.
Go to the directory where WordPress is installed.
Locate the wp-config.php file and open it in a text editor.

Ensure the following lines have the correct values for your database:

define('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'your_database_user');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_database_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

Look for missing semicolons, quotes, or extra spaces. Every line should end properly, and there should be no stray characters after ?>.
Update the debug setting to true by updating the line below in your wp-config.php file.
```
#define('WP_DEBUG', true);
```
Save the file and reload your site. If it still shows a white screen, enable debugging by adding the line below to the same file.

Disabling Plugins:

The most common cause for the white screen of death or blank page is during plugin update. To troubleshoot this problem, you can disable each plugin one by one until you get the pages load in your browser.

Access the server via SSH - If you don't know how, you can follow this guide.
Go to the directory where WordPress is installed, then navigate to wp-content/plugins.
Inside the plugins directory, each plugin has its own folder. To disable a plugin, simply rename its folder and move it outside the wp-content/plugins directory.
For example, to disable Akismet, rename its folder from akismet to akismet.bk — this will deactivate the plugin automatically. For extra safety, you can move it one directory back as a backup.
```
#mv akismet akismet.bk
#mv akismet-bk ../
```
Then, check if the website is loading properly.
If the site still shows a blank page, continue disabling each plugin one by one until you identify the one causing the issue.
Once troubleshooting is complete, restore the plugin folders to their original names. For example, rename akismet.bk back to akismet and move it back into the plugins directory.
```
#cd ../
#mv akismet.bk akismet
#mv akismet/ plugins/
```

Changing to the default theme

Sometimes, a broken or outdated theme can cause the White Screen of Death. Switching to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Five helps you confirm if the issue is theme-related. If the site loads afterward, your theme is likely the cause.

Access the server via SSH - If you don't know how, you can follow this guide.
Go to the directory where WordPress is installed.
Then, use the command below to check which theme is currently installed.
```
#wp theme list
```
Make sure to note down the name of the current theme.
Now, use the command below to switch the theme to the default WordPress theme.
```
#wp theme install twentytwentyfive
```
Then, check if the site is loading. If the issue persists, report it to the theme author or download a fresh copy of your theme and reinstall it.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully fixed the White Screen of Death on your WordPress site.

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For technical inquiries, please feel free to reach our support team by emailing support@bigscoots.com from your registered email or by submitting a support ticket.