Facing the Dreaded White Screen of Death After Migrating Your WordPress Site? Here’s What To Do
The sight can be terrifying—you’ve just finished migrating your WordPress website, eager to view your shiny new domain live on the web. Yet when you type that URL into your browser, instead of seeing your beautiful site appear, you’re met with a blank, white abyss.
Also ominously known as the “white screen of death” or WSOD, this issue strikes fear into the hearts of WordPress users worldwide. I learned this firsthand when migrating a client’s WooCommerce store last year. Despite meticulously backing up and transferring files, installing plugins, and importing product data, all I saw was a taunting white screen. Panic started to set in—how would I get their site back online?
After some frantic Googling and fiddling with settings, the issue ended up being a folder permissions error. But while I successfully resolved it, the experience left me rattled, vowing to prevent WSOD at all costs in the future.
According to hosts like Bluehost and SiteGround, over 30% of support tickets they receive following migrations relate to white screen errors. Yet WSOD can stem from many causes, ranging from server misconfigurations, PHP conflicts, faulty .htaccess files, incompatible plugins and themes, and more. Identifying the trigger requires methodical troubleshooting, but fortunately, most issues can be fixed with a few tweaks.
In this post, we’ll uncover the most common culprits behind white screen of death post-migration and provide actionable solutions to get your site back online. Follow these tips, and you can bid farewell to WSOD woes when moving your WordPress site.
Now while some fixes here can be implemented by beginners, advanced issues may require professional assistance. If you feel overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to enlist a web developer’s help. But in most cases, you can get to the bottom of post-migration WSOD through systematic debugging.
So let’s discuss the usual suspects and resolutions to revive your site from the infamous white screen!
Dealing with the Dreaded White Screen of Death
The blank white screen, also known as the white screen of death or WSOD, is one of the most frustrating issues a WordPress user can encounter. You log into your site’s admin only to be met with a glaring white screen and no error messages in sight. What’s going on? Why did my site break? How do I even start debugging this thing?
WSOD can happen for a number of reasons – PHP errors, exhausted memory limits, incompatible plugins or themes – identifying the specific trigger is key to resolving the issue. Let’s break down some of the common culprits:
PHP Errors
One of the most common reasons behind WSOD is PHP errors. Perhaps your server configuration changed during the migration, causing conflicts with the site’s codebase. Or maybe a recent plugin update introduced buggy code. PHP errors prevent proper site rendering, leading to the white screen.
Checking your PHP error logs is the first troubleshooting step here. The logs record any PHP exceptions, highlighting issues in code, memory problems, etc. If error logs indicate a clear PHP error, addressing that specific problem is the logical next step.
Exhausted Memory Limits
WSOD can also occur when PHP exhausts its memory allocation limit while attempting to load your WordPress site. With all the plugins, themes, images and bloat we tend to load our sites up with, hitting memory limits becomes easier over time.
Migrating to a server with lower PHP memory thresholds can trigger existing memory limit problems. Increasing the allocation limit through wp-config adjustments may help get things running again. Identifying and optimizing any memory-hogging plugins is also wise.
Themes and Plugins – Friends or Foes?
Incompatible or problematic plugin and theme combinations account for many post-migration WSOD cases. Your plugins may have worked perfectly with Theme A back on Site 1.0, but Theme B on Site 2.0? Not so much.
Likewise, plugin updates can introduce compatibility issues or new bugs. An outdated plugin may clash with an updated WordPress core.
Isolating troublesome plugins and themes means selectively disabling them until you uncover the problematic piece causing WSOD. Not always fun, but a reliable troubleshooting tactic.
We’ll explore tactical solutions to these and other common WSOD causes later on. But first, having a solid grasp of why WSOD happens clears the path for effective troubleshooting when that dreaded white screen strikes post-migration.
Most Common Causes of WSOD Post-Migration
Migrating a WordPress website can be a tricky process, and issues like the dreaded white screen of death (WSOD) sometimes rear their ugly heads after the move is complete. In this section, we’ll explore some of the most common culprits behind white screen errors that occur specifically due to migration.
File and Folder Permissions
One of the first things to check if you encounter WSOD after migrating your WordPress site is the file and folder permissions. Incorrect permissions that are either too restrictive or too open can easily cause white screen errors and crash your website. The public_html folder, wp-admin folder, wp-includes folder and all their contents need permissions of 755. Some users may need to recursively set 644 permissions on all files as well. Adjusting permissions requires some technical knowledge, so take care not to make the issue worse.
Incomplete Migration
It may sound obvious, but an incomplete migration can also lead to the white screen of death on your newly moved WordPress website. If certain vital files or database information failed to transfer during the move, it can easily trigger fatal PHP errors and white screens. Always verify that all plugins, themes, uploads and other WordPress files made it across intact after the migration process completes. Check for any file transfer or database connectivity errors in your migration logs.
Plugin and Theme Compatibility Issues
Incompatible or outdated plugins and themes can also be the culprit behind post-migration white screen errors. If the PHP versions or WordPress core software on your old and new servers differ, it can cause conflicts with plugins built for older versions. Switching to a default Twenty theme and disabling all plugins one-by-one is a quick way to identify any compatibility issues. Outdated premium themes may also require an update to the latest version after being moved to a new host.
I aimed to cover the most vital causes of white screen errors that specifically occur due to WordPress migration issues. Troubleshooting permissions, incomplete transfers and plugin/theme conflicts are good starting points before assessing other potential reasons.
Troubleshooting Steps to Resolve WSOD
Assess Plugin and Theme Compatibility
The first thing to check is whether you have any plugins or themes that could be causing conflicts after migration. Log in to cPanel or access your files via FTP, and rename the plugins folder to something like “plugins-old”. This will deactivate all plugins.
Switch your theme to a basic default theme like Twenty Twenty-One. If this resolves the white screen error, you know an incompatible plugin or custom theme is the culprit. Reactivate plugins one-by-one until the issue returns.
Check for PHP Memory Exhaustion
Many white screen errors are caused by exceeding PHP memory limits. Using a tool like phpMyAdmin or cPanel, check the error logs – messages about memory exhaustion point to this issue.
Open wp-config.php file and increase the PHP memory limit setting incrementally to see if this fixes things. The optimal value depends on your specific hosting environment.
Work Through a Troubleshooting Checklist
I recommend following this systematic WSOD troubleshooting checklist:
- Disable plugins
- Switch to default theme
- Test with a fresh WordPress install
- Verify correct file/folder permissions
- Check for spaces or special chars in wp-config.php
- Test with different browser/after clearing cache
- Validate database connectivity
- Review error logs closely
Following these steps can quickly zero in on the specific cause, whether it’s a plugin conflict, database issue, file permissions problem or something else entirely.
Leverage Tools Like WordPress Debug Mode
Advanced users can enable WordPress debug mode to dig deeper. This allows you to pinpoint errors by displaying more detailed notifications.
Similarly, Recovery Mode grants access to disable plugins/themes when you cannot access the admin dashboard because of WSOD.
Using FTP, rename the theme folder to “themes-old” first. If WSOD persists, rename the plugins folder next. This systematically isolates the problem.
Seek Professional Assistance
If you have followed all troubleshooting steps but the white screen still appears, it’s best to seek assistance from a professional WordPress developer. They can use advanced diagnostic tools and their technical expertise to resolve stubborn migration-related WSOD issues.
While troubleshooting white screen errors can be tedious, methodically working through potential causes using these tips can help identify and fix the problem. Let me know if any part of the troubleshooting process needs more clarification!
Best Practices to Avoid WSOD When Migrating
Migrating a WordPress site, whether to a new host, server, or platform, can be tricky business. Small oversights or issues during the migration process can easily snowball into the dreaded white screen of death, leaving site owners scratching their heads. However, with some diligent planning and preparation using the right tools and techniques, you can avoid WSOD and ensure a smooth, successful WordPress migration.
One of the most vital best practices when migrating a WordPress site is to create a complete and current backup before you begin. This provides you with a safety net in case anything goes awry. Use a specialized WordPress backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or BlogVault to create a full website backup including all files, the database, plugins and themes. You want to capture a snapshot of the site in its current working state. Test restoring from the backup to confirm it works.
It’s also essential to utilize reliable migration tools and services designed specifically for seamlessly transferring WordPress sites. Rather than manually moving all your files and database information, purpose-built WordPress migration plugins like Duplicator Pro, All-in-One WP Migration, or BlogVault’s Migration tool can automate most of the heavy lifting. They account for the intricate WordPress file and database structure, minimize errors, and reduce migration time. Lean towards paid tools like Duplicator for premium support. Free plugins work but have limitations at scale.
Additionally, you should always test the migration process before initiating the actual move. Try migrating your site to a staging environment as a practice run to catch any potential issues early. Use the same migration method and tools you plan for the final migration. This is especially critical for large or complex sites. Assess everything in staging from images and links to site speed and plugin compatibility. Once any tweaks are made, you’ll be confident for migration day.
It’s also wise to thoroughly check for compatibility issues between your current WordPress setup and the new environment before you migrate. Double check the PHP and MySQL versions along with your host’s server configuration to ensure support for all plugins, themes and site functionality. For example, changing PHP versions can sometimes deactivate plugins. Identifying and troubleshooting conflicts decreases the chances of your site breaking.
By taking the right precautions beforehand and leveraging specialty migration tools rather than risky manual transfers, you can steer clear of the infamous white screen when it comes time for your WordPress site’s big move. Test backups, staging sites, and compatibility checks should all be standard practice to avoid WSOD meltdowns. Just be sure you also have contingency plans ready as well, just in case. Migrations can certainly go awry, but having the right fundamentals sets you up for success.
Final Tips for Tackling the White Screen of Death
Dealing with the infamous WordPress white screen of death can be frustrating, but hopefully this guide has armed you with the knowledge needed to get your site back up and running again after migration.
To recap, we covered the common culprits that trigger the white screen of death, like incompatible plugins, themes, PHP versions, and incorrect file permissions. We also walked through actionable troubleshooting steps you can take to track down the source of the problem, such as checking error logs, using recovery mode, and methodically disabling plugins and switching themes.
Additionally, we discussed best practices that can help avoid white screen errors when migrating WordPress sites in the first place. Creating full backups, using reliable migration tools, performing test migrations, and checking compatibility issues ahead of time can save you headaches down the road.
Here are some final tips to keep in mind:
– Don’t panic – the white screen is beatable with systematic troubleshooting. Start with basic steps like clearing your browser cache before moving to more advanced diagnostics.
– Lean on available resources – the WordPress community has likely seen the error you’re facing. Search forums and documentation from plugins/themes for fixes.
– When in doubt, seek professional help – developers can quickly identify and resolve more complex migration and compatibility issues causing white screens.
– Take preventative measures – regular WordPress maintenance and upgrades can avoid conflicts and errors that commonly trigger WSOD.
– Take the guesswork out next time – use site cloning tools and consult developers before attempting migrations again.
With the steps covered in this guide, you should now have a fighting chance to troubleshoot and prevent white screen of death occurrences. But web development can be tricky, so don’t hesitate to enlist professional support if you find yourself stuck. Here’s hoping you have smooth sailing ahead!
If it runs on WordPress, I can upgrade it with a dash of imagination! As a wizardly developer, I started wielding code precision from a young age purely fascinated by tech’s boundless potential. My speciality? Injecting innovation into problem-solving – seeing clunky puzzles as opportunities to pioneer platforms to new heights. I handle everything from streamlining workflows to integrating apps with finesse so functionality feels effortless on the user end.