Title: Child Theme Functions.php creates WSOD!!!!
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# Child Theme Functions.php creates WSOD!!!!

 *  [msutyler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/msutyler/)
 * (@msutyler)
 * [11 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-functionsphp-creates-wsod/)
 * Hello,
 * Please note that I have spent countless hours and have read countless forums 
   before posting here. I still cannot fix the problem.
 * My Issue – I have created a child theme for the PinThis pixelbeautify.com theme.
   I have created a .css file with no problem and I have created a blank functions.
   php file with no problem. The site still functions as planned. HOWEVER, when 
   I add ANYTHING to the functions.php tab I get the white screen of death and my
   only option to is to delete the functions.php file in FileZilla. After I delete
   the file, the site works again.
 * I have tried, what I think is everything. I have put my code in a Hex editor 
   and there are no hidden characters. I have tried just adding “<?php” to the child
   theme functions.php and this causes the WSOD. I have tried putting in a custom
   function, this causes WSOD. Literally, if anything gets entered into the child
   theme functions.php file, I get the WSOD.
 * Please help.
 * Tyler

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

 *  [Andrew Nevins](https://wordpress.org/support/users/anevins/)
 * (@anevins)
 * WCLDN 2018 Contributor | Volunteer support
 * [11 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-functionsphp-creates-wsod/#post-5117045)
 * Is this issue specific to your theme?
 *  Thread Starter [msutyler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/msutyler/)
 * (@msutyler)
 * [11 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-functionsphp-creates-wsod/#post-5117047)
 * Sorry but I don’t follow. The original theme works just fine and I could edit
   those files but I want to “do it the right way” and setup a child theme to make
   all my edits.
 * Would it be a theme specific problem even though I have already setup a child
   theme and a .CSS file, and that works. It’s only when I add anything to the functions.
   php file that it causes the WSOD.
 *  [Andrew Nevins](https://wordpress.org/support/users/anevins/)
 * (@anevins)
 * WCLDN 2018 Contributor | Volunteer support
 * [11 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-functionsphp-creates-wsod/#post-5117048)
 * Have you talked to your theme’s vendors about this? It sounds like they don’t
   support child themes.
 *  Thread Starter [msutyler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/msutyler/)
 * (@msutyler)
 * [11 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-functionsphp-creates-wsod/#post-5117049)
 * I see. So supporting child themes isn’t universal and depends solely on the developer
   of the theme to include?
 * This knowledge would’ve been extremely helpful a couple days ago but I am thankful
   I know now.
 * Thanks.
 *  [Andrew Nevins](https://wordpress.org/support/users/anevins/)
 * (@anevins)
 * WCLDN 2018 Contributor | Volunteer support
 * [11 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-functionsphp-creates-wsod/#post-5117050)
 * It depends on the developer. Even in themes distributed on WordPress.org there’s
   no universal compliance for child themes.
 *  Thread Starter [msutyler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/msutyler/)
 * (@msutyler)
 * [11 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-functionsphp-creates-wsod/#post-5117051)
 * Well, this still might not be the reason. I have looked at the support section
   for the theme and it looks like others have been able to successfully create 
   a child theme.
 * I have reached out to the dev for support but based on his track record in the
   comments section I’m not expecting much help.
 * So if others have potential fixes please speak up.

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

The topic ‘Child Theme Functions.php creates WSOD!!!!’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 6 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [msutyler](https://wordpress.org/support/users/msutyler/)
 * Last activity: [11 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-functionsphp-creates-wsod/#post-5117051)
 * Status: not resolved

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