Sometimes updates fail. It doesn’t happen often, but when WordPress performs an update, it installs a temporary .maintenance file on the same level as your wp-config.php file. In case you either get a maintenance error or a WordPress White Screen of Death after updating, you can either use a FTP client (like Filezilla) to delete the .maintenance file, or remove it via cPanel’s File Manager.
6. Restore WordPress site from a previous backup
If you’ve backed up your WordPress website prior to the error occurring, you can go and restore the backup. However, if you’re not sure when the backup was made or if the error would occur, you might want to set up a WordPress staging site and test out the backup before you restore it on your live site.
If the backup tested fine, then you may be able to avoid troubleshooting further.
7. Increase memory limit
If you’ve found that your error_log has anything about a fatal error regarding exhausted memory, then that means that your site is doing a lot of actions that are too much for your memory to handle. To increase the memory limit in WordPress, you will need to add the following code to your wp-config.php:
define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );
If you need more than 256MB, you can increase that, but you will probably want to contact your web host and see how much memory you can use, in case you add too high of a number.
8. Fix long articles
If the WordPress White Screen of Death is happening on specific posts or pages that have a lot of content, like more than 10,000 words, but no other pages have a problem, simply add the following code to your wp-config.php file.
/** Get long posts show up correctly */
ini_set('pcre.recursion_limit',20000000);
ini_set('pcre.backtrack_limit',10000000);
9. Clear browser cache
This might seem like a weird suggestion, but sometimes your browser might be stubborn at times, and not show your website or others properly. It’s time to clear that cache. In the case you’re using Google Chrome, you can put chrome://settings/siteData?search=cookie in the address bar and you’ll be taken to the exact place to empty your cookies, or clear your browser cache.
If you find it annoying that you may need to log in again to all your websites, just remember that this is for getting your site back up.
If nothing seems to be getting your site up, don’t hesitate to ask your web host. Now, they’re not obligated to fix the WordPress White Screen of Death for you. In rare cases they may. However, if the issue may be that they need to adjust the memory limit and you’re not able to, or something from the web host end is the problem, then that’s the only time the technical support with your host will help.
Just make sure that if you submit a ticket, that you’ve done all you can to troubleshoot the problem. List what you did before the issue occurred, what happened, and what steps you took to try to fix the problem. The more information you can share, the better technical support can address the issue.
In Summary
If you have encountered the WordPress White Screen of Death, hopefully the steps to fixing it will have helped you resolve the problem. This is an issue that doesn’t occur a lot, but at least there are several methods to approach when fixing the WordPress White Screen of Death.
Think about employing Verpex web hosting to make sure your WordPress website is constructed on a strong foundation. Our managed hosting services for WordPress are exceptional performers and are geared for speed.
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