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Troubleshooting WordPress White Screen of Death

The WordPress "White Screen of Death" (WSOD) displays a blank white page with no error message. It's typically caused by a PHP fatal error. Here's how to diagnose and fix it.

Step 1: Enable WordPress Debug Mode

Edit wp-config.php via cPanel File Manager and change:

define('WP_DEBUG', false);

to:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);\ndefine('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);\ndefine('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

Check wp-content/debug.log for the error. Disable debug mode after fixing the issue.

Step 2: Disable All Plugins

Via cPanel File Manager, rename wp-content/plugins to plugins_disabled. Reload the site. If it loads, a plugin is the culprit. Rename the folder back, then deactivate plugins one by one from the WP admin until you find the problematic one.

Step 3: Switch to a Default Theme

If disabling plugins didn't help, the theme may be the cause. Via phpMyAdmin, find the wp_options table, search for template and stylesheet, and set both values to twentytwentyfour (or another default theme).

Step 4: Increase PHP Memory Limit

A WSOD can be caused by hitting the PHP memory limit. In wp-config.php, add:

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

Or increase memory_limit in cPanel's PHP settings.

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