The “White Screen of Death” (WSOD) in WordPress is a frustrating issue that can occur due to various reasons. It’s characterized by a blank white screen, often without any error messages, making it challenging to diagnose the problem. Here are some common causes and potential solutions:
Causes:
1. Plugin or theme conflicts: Incompatible or poorly coded plugins or themes can cause the WSOD.
2. PHP errors: Syntax errors, memory limits, or other PHP-related issues can lead to the WSOD.
3. Database connection issues: Problems connecting to the database can cause the WSOD.
4. Server configuration: Incorrect server settings, such as incorrect PHP versions or memory limits, can lead to the WSOD.
5. File permissions: Incorrect file permissions can prevent WordPress from functioning correctly, resulting in the WSOD.
Solutions:
1. Activate the WordPress debug mode: Add `define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);` to your `wp-config.php` file to enable debug mode, which can help identify the issue.
2. Disable plugins: Deactivate all plugins and then re-enable them one by one to identify the problematic plugin.
3. Switch to a default theme: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme, such as Twenty Twenty-One, to rule out theme-related issues.
4. Check PHP version and memory limits: Ensure your server meets the minimum PHP version and memory limit requirements for WordPress.
5. Reset file permissions: Set file permissions to the recommended settings (644 for files and 755 for directories).
6. Re-upload WordPress core files: Re-upload the WordPress core files to ensure they are not corrupted.
7. Contact your hosting provider: Reach out to your hosting provider for assistance, as they may be able to identify server-related issues.
Remember to always backup your website before making any changes. If none of these solutions work, consider seeking help from a WordPress developer or a professional troubleshooting service.