The “white screen of death” is when your WordPress site shows a blank page with no error. It looks alarming, but it usually has a simple cause, most often a plugin or theme conflict or a memory limit. This guide walks through the fixes.
Common causes #
- A plugin or theme conflict.
- A PHP memory limit that is too low.
- A recent update or code edit.
Step 1: Enable debugging #
Turn on WordPress debug mode (set WP_DEBUG to true in wp-config.php). Often the blank screen is replaced by an error message pointing to the exact plugin, theme, or file at fault.
Step 2: Deactivate plugins #
- If you can reach the dashboard, deactivate all plugins, then reactivate them one by one.
- If you are locked out, rename the plugins folder via File Manager or FTP to deactivate them all, then restore and enable individually.
Step 3: Switch to a default theme #
Temporarily activate a default WordPress theme. If the site returns, your theme was the cause.
Step 4: Increase the memory limit #
If it is a memory issue, raise the PHP memory limit (for example via your control panel’s PHP settings or wp-config.php). This resolves many white-screen cases on larger sites.
Step 5: Restore a backup #
If it started after a change and you cannot pinpoint it, restoring a recent backup is the fastest way back.
Need help? #
If the white screen persists, our support team can check the error logs and help over live chat.
