How to Fix “The File Contains No Data” Error in WordPress

How to Fix “The File Contains No Data” Error in WordPress

Seeing a browser error saying “The file contains no data” or “This page isn’t working” in WordPress? This issue often appears when the server sends an incomplete or blank response, typically due to configuration problems, PHP errors, or timeouts.

Although it sounds vague, this error is usually simple to resolve with a few cPanel and WordPress troubleshooting steps.

What Causes the “No Data” Error in WordPress?

- PHP scripts crashing mid-process
- Theme or plugin issues causing blank output
- Server timeouts or misconfigured settings
- Memory or execution time limits being exceeded
- .htaccess conflicts or faulty redirects

Step-by-Step Guide to Fix It

1. Check Error Logs in cPanel

Start by identifying the cause.

- Go to cPanel > Metrics > Errors
- Review the latest error logs for fatal PHP errors or memory issues

This will point to the file or plugin causing the blank output.

2. Increase PHP Limits

If the error is due to a timeout or memory issue:

- Go to cPanel > MultiPHP INI Editor or Select PHP Version > Options
- Increase values like:
 - memory_limit = 256M
 - max_execution_time = 300

You can also add to wp-config.php:

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

3. Deactivate All Plugins

A plugin may be stopping the page from fully loading.

- Go to wp-content/plugins via File Manager
- Rename the plugins folder to plugins_old
- Try reloading the site

If it works, rename the folder back and activate plugins one at a time to find the issue.

4. Switch to a Default Theme

Themes can also cause blank or incomplete responses.

- Navigate to wp-content/themes
- Rename your active theme (e.g., astra to astra_old)
- WordPress will load a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four

Check if the error disappears.

5. Regenerate .htaccess File

Faulty rewrite rules may cause incomplete responses.

- Rename your current .htaccess file to .htaccess_old
- Reload your site and if it works, regenerate it by visiting Dashboard > Settings > Permalinks > Save Changes

6. Clear Cache and Disable CDN

Cached content or misconfigured CDN responses might trigger this error.

- Clear your caching plugin cache (e.g., W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache)
- Purge your CDN cache (e.g., Cloudflare)
- Temporarily disable CDN and test

7. Re-upload or Replace Affected File

If a specific file returns the error:

- Download and open the file via File Manager or FTP
- If it’s empty or corrupted, restore it from backup or replace it with a fresh copy

Final Thoughts

“The file contains no data” is often caused by server-side interruptions or plugin/theme issues. With access to cPanel and error logs, you can quickly diagnose and fix the problem.

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