What Causes a Blank White Screen?

A blank white screen on a WordPress site, often called the “White Screen of Death,” is typically caused by a PHP error or memory exhaustion. When a critical error occurs, instead of displaying the error message (which is often disabled for security reasons), PHP stops executing the script. This results in a blank white page being shown to the user.

Common causes include:

1. PHP memory limit exceeded
2. Plugin conflicts or errors
3. Theme compatibility issues
4. Corrupted WordPress core files
5. Database connection problems
6. PHP version incompatibility
7. .htaccess file errors
8. Syntax errors in PHP code

Here are some common causes and solutions:

1. PHP Memory Limit:
   • Increase PHP memory limit in wp-config.php file
   • Add: define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);
2. Plugin Conflicts:
   • Deactivate all plugins
   • Reactivate one by one to identify the problematic plugin
3. Theme Issues:
   • Switch to a default WordPress theme
   • Check if the issue persists
4. Corrupted WordPress Core Files:
   • Re-upload fresh WordPress core files
5. Database Connection Errors:
   • Verify database credentials in wp-config.php
6. PHP Version Incompatibility:
   • Ensure your hosting supports the minimum required PHP version
7. .htaccess File Errors:
   • Rename or delete the .htaccess file
   • Generate a new one through WordPress settings
8. Syntax Errors:
   • Check recently modified files for syntax errors
   • Use FTP to access and edit files if necessary
9. Hosting Issues:
   • Contact your hosting provider for server-side problems

Remember to back up your site before making any changes. If you’re not comfortable with these steps, consider seeking help from a WordPress professional.