Overview
The WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) and “There has been a critical error on this website” both indicate fatal errors that prevent the site from loading. These problems often stem from plugin conflicts, theme issues, PHP errors, or memory limits.
Difference Between WSOD and Critical Error
White Screen of Death (WSOD): A completely blank screen with no error message. This typically points to a suppressed PHP error or an exhausted memory limit.
“There has been a critical error on this website”: Introduced in WordPress 5.2, this message replaces the WSOD in many cases. It provides a more informative notice and, if enabled, sends an email with details to help troubleshoot the issue. This feature is also called the recovery mode.
How to Fix White Screen of Death
1. Enable Debug Mode
WordPress may hide error details for security reasons. This makes it hard to diagnose the main issue. To reveal them, enable debug mode by adding this to wp-config.php:
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
Next, refresh your site and check the wp-content/debug.log file for PHP fatal errors.
2. Increase PHP Memory Limit
If errors are due to insufficient WordPress memory, increase the PHP memory limit by adding this to wp-config.php:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
You can also update .htaccess or php.ini:
php_value memory_limit 256M
3. Disable Plugins
Plugins are a common cause of both errors.
Try to deactivate plugins one by one and check if error gets resolved.
You may also rename the /wp-content/plugins/ folder via FTP or File Manager to disable all plugins at once.
If the site loads, restore the folder name and reactivate plugins one by one to find the problem.
4. Switch to Default Theme
A faulty theme can break your site.
Critical error happens usually when your theme runs a PHP code that’s incompatible with your PHP version. So, it’s common to see critical error or WSOD immediately after updating the theme or changing PHP version.
If you can’t revert back the theme update from a backup, rename your active theme folder (/wp-content/themes/your-theme/) to force WordPress to switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four. If the site works, the issue lies with your theme.
5. Check for Corrupt Core Files
Corrupt WordPress core files can trigger fatal errors.
Download a fresh copy from wordpress.org and replace (overwrite) the wp-admin and wp-includes folders.
6. Scan for Malware
Malware infections can lead to WSOD and critical errors by injecting malicious code into files.
Scan your site externally using Sucuri SiteCheck. This is much faster compared to installing a plugin and running a full scan.
Additionally, sse a security plugin like Wordfence, Sucuri, or MalCare to scan and remove malware.
In some severe cases, malware infections can not be removed fully by using a security plugin. Consider getting help from a WordPress developer.
7. Restore from Backup
If none of the solutions above resolve the issue, restore your site from a recent backup.
Hosting providers often offer backup tools, or you can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus.
Additional Help
If the problem persists, check server error logs or request technical support from a WordPress Expert.
