Key takeaways
- A blank white page usually means a PHP fatal error — most often from a plugin, theme or memory limit.
- Check your email for WordPress’s recovery mode link first, then enable debug logging.
- Deactivate plugins by renaming the plugins folder, switch to a default theme, and raise the memory limit if needed.
You update a plugin, refresh, and your site is just… white. No error, no admin. It’s scary, but almost always fixable in minutes. Here’s the systematic way to diagnose and repair the “White Screen of Death” (WSoD).
Step 1: check recovery mode email#
Since WordPress 5.2, when a fatal error occurs, WordPress emails the admin address with a special recovery mode link. It lets you log in with the faulty plugin or theme paused, so you can deactivate or update it. Check spam folders too.
Step 2: see the actual error#
Edit wp-config.php via SFTP or your host’s file manager and set:
define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true ); // writes to wp-content/debug.log
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false ); // don't show errors to visitorsReload the site, then open wp-content/debug.log. The last “PHP Fatal error” line names the file — and usually the plugin or theme — responsible. Also check your host’s PHP error log.
Step 3: fix common causes#
| Cause | Fix |
|---|---|
| Plugin error or conflict | Rename wp-content/plugins to plugins-off to deactivate all; rename back and reactivate one by one |
| Theme error | Rename your theme’s folder; WordPress falls back to a default theme if installed |
| Memory exhausted (“Allowed memory size … exhausted”) | Raise the limit — see increase memory limit |
| PHP version incompatibility | Update the plugin/theme, or temporarily switch PHP version in hosting |
| Failed update / “Briefly unavailable” stuck | Delete the .maintenance file in the site root; reinstall the updated plugin |
| Corrupt core files | Re-upload fresh wp-admin and wp-includes folders of the same version |
| Syntax error in code you added | Undo the change in functions.php or your snippet |
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Step 4: clear caches#
Sometimes the error is fixed but a cached white page remains. Clear your caching plugin (delete its cache folder in wp-content/cache if you can’t log in), server cache and CDN cache.
Step 5: turn debugging off again#
Set WP_DEBUG back to false on live sites and delete debug.log — it can reveal file paths to attackers. See turning off PHP errors.
Prevent it next time#
- Test updates on a staging site.
- Update plugins one at a time, not all at once.
- Keep automatic off-site backups so you can roll back.
- Use well-maintained plugins and a supported PHP version.
- Never edit live theme files from the dashboard editor.
White screen FAQ#
Only the admin is white — why?#
Usually a plugin that runs only in the dashboard, or low memory for admin pages. Follow the same steps.
Will deactivating plugins lose my settings?#
No. Plugin settings stay in the database when you deactivate (or rename the folder).
Can a white screen affect SEO?#
If it lasts long, Google may see errors and drop pages temporarily. Fix quickly; short outages rarely cause lasting harm.