How to Fix the WordPress White Screen of Death
A blank white screen usually means a fatal PHP error — most often a plugin or theme conflict. Work through these steps and it is almost always recoverable.
Step-by-step
- Check the error log first. cPanel → Metrics → Errors, or see viewing error logs — the fatal error names the file responsible.
- Raise the memory limit. A white screen is often memory exhaustion — follow increasing WordPress memory.
- Disable all plugins. If you cannot reach wp-admin, rename the wp-content/plugins folder to plugins-off in File Manager — if the site returns, a plugin was the cause.
- Re-enable plugins one by one (rename back, then deactivate all and activate individually) to find the culprit. See disabling plugins via phpMyAdmin.
- Switch to a default theme. Rename your active theme folder; WordPress falls back to a default theme, isolating theme faults.
- Enable debug mode by setting
define('WP_DEBUG', true);in wp-config.php to see the exact error, then set it back to false when fixed.
💡 Good to know
- Always back up before troubleshooting so you can return to the current state.
- A recently updated plugin is the usual suspect — restore from backup if needed.
- Set WP_DEBUG back to false on a live site so visitors never see error details.