How to fix the white screen in WordPress

You open your WordPress website and see only a white screen. No error message, no content, just nothing. This is one of the most frustrating WordPress problems, but fortunately almost always solvable.

The white screen in WordPress is also called the "White Screen of Death" (WSOD). It happens when a fatal PHP error crashes your website, but WordPress cannot display the error. You only see an empty white screen.

In this guide you'll learn exactly what causes the white screen and how to fix it step by step.

What causes the white screen?

The white screen is usually caused by these issues:

PHP memory too low - WordPress has insufficient memory to load the page. This happens especially on sites with many plugins or large images.

Conflicting plugin - A plugin contains an error or conflicts with another plugin. This often happens right after a plugin update.

Defective theme - Your WordPress theme has a programming error or is not compatible with your WordPress version.

Corrupted core file - A WordPress core file is corrupt, often due to a failed update.

PHP version too old - Your hosting runs an outdated PHP version that is not compatible with your WordPress version or plugins.

Corrupt .htaccess - The .htaccess file contains errors and blocks WordPress.

Step 1: Enable debug mode

The first step is to see what exactly is going wrong. WordPress hides error messages by default, but you can turn them on.

Open wp-config.php in the root of your WordPress installation via FTP or your hosting file manager. Find this line:

define('WP_DEBUG', false);

Change it to:

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

Reload your website. You will now probably see an error message instead of a white screen. This message tells you exactly what is wrong.

The errors are also saved in /wp-content/debug.log. You can view this file via FTP.

Step 2: Deactivate all plugins

In 70% of cases the white screen is caused by a plugin. Here's how to test this:

Via FTP/File Manager:

1. Log in to your FTP or hosting file manager
2. Go to /wp-content/
3. Rename the "plugins" folder to "plugins-old"
4. WordPress will now automatically deactivate all plugins
5. Reload your website

Does your site work again? Then a plugin caused the problem. Rename "plugins-old" back to "plugins". Go to /wp-content/plugins/ and rename each plugin folder one by one to find which plugin causes it.

Test your website each time. When the white screen returns, you've found the culprit.

Step 3: Switch to default theme

If plugins are not the problem, test your theme:

1. Log in via FTP to your website
2. Go to /wp-content/themes/
3. Rename your active theme folder (e.g., "my-theme" to "my-theme-old")
4. WordPress will now automatically switch to a default theme
5. Reload your website

Does it work now? Then there's an error in your theme. Contact the theme developer or choose a different theme.

Step 4: Increase PHP memory limit

WordPress has 32MB PHP memory by default. This is often insufficient for modern websites. Here's how to increase it:

Option 1: Via wp-config.php

Open wp-config.php and add this line before "That's all, stop editing":

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

Option 2: Via .htaccess

Open .htaccess in the root of your site and add:

php_value memory_limit 256M

Option 3: Via php.ini

Some hosts allow you to upload your own php.ini file. Create a php.ini file in the root with:

memory_limit = 256M

Doesn't this work? Then contact your hosting provider to increase the memory limit.

Step 5: Repair corrupt WordPress files

Core WordPress files may be corrupted. Here's how to replace them:

1. Download the latest WordPress version
2. Extract the ZIP file on your computer
3. Delete the wp-content folder and wp-config.php file from the extracted files
4. Upload all remaining files via FTP to your website (overwrite the old files)
5. This replaces all core files without removing your content or settings

Check if your website works again.

Step 6: Check .htaccess file

A corrupt .htaccess file can also cause the white screen:

1. Log in via FTP
2. Find .htaccess in the root of your WordPress installation
3. Rename it to .htaccess-old
4. Go in WordPress to Settings > Permalinks
5. Click "Save Changes" without changing anything
6. WordPress will now create a new .htaccess file

Test if your site works now.

Step 7: Check your PHP version

Outdated PHP versions can cause compatibility issues. WordPress requires at least PHP 7.4, but PHP 8.0 or higher is recommended.

Check your PHP version in your hosting control panel (often under "PHP settings" or "Select PHP Version"). Upgrade to at least PHP 8.0 if you're running an older version.

Note: test this first on a staging environment if you have one. Some old plugins don't work with new PHP versions.

Step 8: Increase max_execution_time

If your site is complex, WordPress may need more time to execute scripts. Add this to wp-config.php:

set_time_limit(300);
ini_set('max_execution_time', 300);

Or in .htaccess:

php_value max_execution_time 300

This gives WordPress 300 seconds (5 minutes) instead of the default 30 seconds.

Prevention: prevent the white screen

Here's how to prevent the white screen in the future:

Make regular backups - Use a backup plugin that automatically creates daily backups. Then you can always roll back.

Test updates first - Never update directly on your live site. Test updates first on a staging environment or make a backup first.

Use quality hosting - Cheap hosting often has insufficient PHP memory and outdated PHP versions. Check our WordPress hosting comparison for reliable options.

Keep plugins limited - More plugins means more chance of conflicts. Remove plugins you don't use.

Monitor your site - Use uptime monitoring to get immediate notification if your site goes offline.

Update regularly - Keep WordPress, plugins and themes up to date. Old versions contain bugs and security vulnerabilities.

Need help?

Can't solve the white screen? These are your options:

Hosting support - Most WordPress hosting providers offer free support. They can adjust PHP settings and check log files.

Restore via backup - If you have a recent backup, restore your site to a working version.

WordPress developer - For complex problems you can hire a WordPress specialist.

Different hosting - If your current hosting often has problems, consider upgrading to faster WordPress hosting.

The white screen looks dramatic, but is almost always solvable. Work through the steps systematically and you'll find the cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WordPress free?

WordPress itself is free open-source software. You only pay for hosting, a domain name, and any premium themes or plugins you want to use.

How difficult is WordPress to learn?

WordPress is relatively easy to learn. You can master the basic functions within a few hours. Advanced customizations require more time.

Can I move WordPress to a different host later?

Yes, WordPress websites can be moved to a different hosting provider. Most providers offer free assistance for this.