How to Fix the WordPress White Screen of Death (Step-by-Step)

You load your site and see nothing: a blank white page. This is the WordPress “white screen of death” (WSOD). It looks scary, but the cause is almost always a plugin, a theme or a PHP problem, and it is usually fixable in minutes. Always back up first if you can access your files.

Common causes

• A plugin that conflicts or crashes after an update
• A theme error, often from edited code
• PHP memory limit exhausted
• A PHP version mismatch
• A corrupted file after a failed update

Step 1: Check for an error email or recovery link

WordPress often sends the admin email a recovery mode link that lets you log in and deactivate the faulty plugin or theme. Check your inbox and spam.

Step 2: Turn on debugging

Connect via FTP or your host’s file manager and edit wp-config.php. Add or change these lines above the “That’s all, stop editing” comment:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );

Reload the site and check /wp-content/debug.log for the error. It usually names the plugin or theme file. Turn debugging off again when you finish.

Step 3: Disable all plugins

1. In FTP, rename /wp-content/plugins to plugins-off.
2. Reload your site. If it works, a plugin was the cause.
3. Rename the folder back to plugins.
4. Rename individual plugin folders one at a time to find the culprit, or reactivate in the dashboard one by one.

Step 4: Switch to a default theme

Rename your active theme folder in /wp-content/themes/. WordPress falls back to a default theme if one is installed. If the site loads, your theme is at fault.

Step 5: Increase the PHP memory limit

In wp-config.php add:

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

Your host may also need to raise the limit.

Step 6: Check your PHP version

For example, ask your host to switch PHP versions if a plugin or theme is not compatible with the current one.

Step 7: Restore from backup

If nothing works, restore your latest backup. See how to back up WordPress.

Prevent it next time

• Back up before updating.
• Update on a staging site first for important sites.
• Do not edit theme files directly. Use a child theme or snippets.
• Remove plugins you do not use. See the best WordPress plugins.

White screen of death FAQ

Is my content lost?

Almost never. As a result, the content is in your database; the problem is code failing to display it.

Can the admin be white too?

Yes. The same steps apply.

Related reading

• beginner guide to creating a WordPress website
• website guides by industry
• official WordPress documentation