Opening your site and seeing nothing but a blank white page is one of the most stressful WordPress problems you can face. No error message. No warning. Just… nothing.

This issue can take your entire website offline for visitors and sometimes even lock admins out of the dashboard. The good news? In most cases, the WordPress website white screen is fixable if you approach it calmly and methodically.

This guide walks you through what the white screen issue actually is, why it happens, and what you should check before attempting any fixes.

What Is the WordPress Website White Screen Issue

The WordPress website white screen issue happens when your site loads a completely blank page instead of content. There are no visible errors, menus, or layout elements — just a white screen.

Plain-Language Definition

Simply put, WordPress encounters a fatal problem while loading your site and fails silently. Instead of showing an error, it stops rendering the page altogether.

How It Appears to Users vs Admins

• Visitors usually see a full white screen with no message.
• Admins may see:
  • A white screen on the frontend but access to /wp-admin
  • Or a white screen everywhere, including the dashboard

A quick way to check is visiting:
yourdomain.com/wp-admin
If the dashboard loads, the issue is often plugin- or theme-related.

Why It’s Called the White Screen of Death

Because it:

• Appears suddenly
• Provides no clues
• Completely blocks access

That combination makes it feel catastrophic — especially for business websites.

Is It Common and Fixable?

Yes to both.
This is one of the most common WordPress errors, and in most cases, it can be resolved without reinstalling WordPress or losing data.

What Causes a WordPress Website White Screen

The white screen isn’t random. It usually comes from WordPress hitting a breaking point during execution.

PHP Errors

A single PHP error in a plugin, theme, or custom code can stop WordPress from loading properly.

Memory Exhaustion

If WordPress runs out of allocated memory, it may fail silently instead of displaying an error.

Plugin Conflicts

A bad plugin update or a conflict between two plugins is one of the most frequent causes of a white screen.

Theme Issues

Broken theme files, incompatible updates, or poorly written theme code can crash the site instantly.

Failed Updates

Interrupted WordPress, plugin, or theme updates can leave the site stuck in an incomplete state.

File Permission Problems

Incorrect file or folder permissions can prevent WordPress from reading essential files.

Before You Start Fixing the White Screen

Before jumping into solutions, take a moment to assess the situation properly. This step alone can save hours of frustration.

Check If /wp-admin Is Accessible

Try logging into the admin panel:

• If it works → the issue is likely isolated to plugins or themes
• If it doesn’t → the problem may be deeper (memory, permissions, or core files)

This single check helps narrow down the root cause quickly.

Why Backups Matter

Some fixes involve editing files or disabling components. Without a backup:

• A small mistake can make things worse
• Recovery becomes much harder

If you don’t already have a recent backup, this is where many site owners pause and bring in professional WordPress bug fixing & support to avoid accidental data loss.

When to Stop and Avoid Making Things Worse

You should stop DIY troubleshooting if:

• You’re unsure what a file does
• The site is business-critical
• Multiple fixes haven’t worked
• You’re editing live code without confidence

At that point, structured troubleshooting is safer than trial-and-error changes.

How to Fix WordPress Website White Screen (Step-by-Step)

Fixing a WordPress website white screen should always be done methodically. Jumping between random fixes often makes the issue worse. The steps below move from the most common and safest fixes to more advanced solutions.

Step 1 – Disable All WordPress Plugins

Plugin conflicts are one of the most common causes of a WordPress website white screen, especially after updates.

Admin Method (If Dashboard Is Accessible)

If you can access /wp-admin:

• Go to Plugins
• Select all plugins
• Choose Deactivate from Bulk Actions
• Apply changes

If the white screen disappears, one of the plugins is causing the issue.

To identify the faulty plugin:

• Reactivate plugins one by one
• Reload the site after each activation
• The plugin that breaks the site is the culprit

FTP Method (If Dashboard Is Not Accessible)

If the admin area is also showing a white screen:

• Connect to your site via FTP
• Navigate to wp-content
• Rename the plugins folder (for example, plugins_old)
• Reload your website

This disables all plugins at once. If the site loads, rename the folder back to plugins and test each plugin individually by renaming its folder.

Step 2 – Switch to a Default WordPress Theme

If plugins aren’t the issue, the active theme may be responsible for the WordPress website white screen.

Dashboard Method

If the admin area works:

• Go to Appearance → Themes
• Activate a default theme such as Twenty Twenty
• Reload the website

If the site works, the issue lies with your original theme.

FTP Method

If the dashboard is inaccessible:

• Connect via FTP
• Navigate to wp-content/themes
• Rename the active theme folder

WordPress will automatically fall back to a default theme if one exists. If not, uploading a default theme manually will trigger the switch.

When Themes Are the Real Issue

Theme-related white screens often occur after:

• Theme updates
• Custom code edits
• Compatibility issues with plugins or PHP versions

Step 3 – Clear Browser and Website Cache

Sometimes the WordPress website white screen is caused by cached errors rather than active problems.

Browser Cache

Clear your browser cache and reload the site to rule out local issues.

Plugin Cache

If you use a caching plugin:

• Open the plugin settings
• Clear or delete all cache
• Reload the site

Hosting-Level Cache

Many hosts apply server-side caching. Clearing the hosting cache ensures you’re seeing the latest version of the site and not a stored error page.

Step 4 – Enable WordPress Debug Mode

Debug mode helps reveal hidden errors that cause the WordPress website white screen.

Why Debugging Helps

The white screen often hides PHP errors. Debug mode forces WordPress to display them.

How to Enable Debug Mode

Edit wp-config.php and locate:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );

Change it to:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

Reload the site to view error messages.

Where Errors Appear

Errors typically identify:

• The file causing the issue
• The plugin or theme involved
• The exact line number

Safety Note

Debug mode exposes technical details. Always disable it once troubleshooting is complete.

Step 5 – Increase the WordPress Memory Limit

Memory exhaustion is a known cause of the WordPress website white screen.

Why Memory Limits Matter

If WordPress runs out of memory while loading plugins or themes, it may fail silently.

wp-config.php Method

Add this line to wp-config.php:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '64M');

.htaccess or php.ini Mention

If needed, memory limits can also be increased via:

• .htaccess
• php.ini

Hosting environments vary, so not all methods work everywhere.

Step 6 – Check File Permissions

Incorrect permissions can prevent WordPress from accessing required files.

Correct Permission Values

• Files: 644 or 664
• Folders: 755 or 775
• wp-config.php: 600, 660, or 644

Why Permissions Break Sites

Overly restrictive or insecure permissions can stop WordPress from executing PHP files properly.

When to Ask Hosting Support

If you’re unsure, hosting support can verify and reset permissions safely.

Step 7 – Fix Failed WordPress Auto Updates

Incomplete updates can trigger the WordPress website white screen.

The .maintenance File

After failed updates:

• A .maintenance file may remain in the root directory
• WordPress stays stuck in maintenance mode

Deleting this file often restores the site.

Why Failed Updates Cause White Screens

If files are partially updated, WordPress may load incompatible components.

Step 8 – Fix Syntax Errors or Restore a Backup

Small code mistakes can crash the entire site instantly.

Why Syntax Errors Are Dangerous

A single misplaced character in PHP can cause a fatal error and trigger a white screen.

Reverting Changes via FTP

• Connect via FTP
• Undo recent file edits manually
• Remove or correct faulty code

Importance of Backups

Backups allow instant restoration when the cause isn’t obvious. Without backups, recovery becomes guesswork.

Step 9 – Increase PHP Text Processing Limits

Rarely, long pages or posts can cause processing failures.

When This Happens

This usually affects:

• Very long posts
• Content-heavy pages

Adjusting Limits

Add the following to wp-config.php:

ini_set('pcre.recursion_limit',20000000);
ini_set('pcre.backtrack_limit',10000000);

Reload the site after saving.

Why WordPress Website White Screen Keeps Coming Back

Recurring white screen issues usually point to deeper problems.

Common causes include:

• Poor update practices
• Too many plugins doing overlapping tasks
• No staging environment for testing
• Lack of ongoing maintenance

When DIY Fixes Aren’t Enough

There’s a point where troubleshooting becomes risky instead of helpful.

Signs You Should Stop Troubleshooting

• Multiple fixes haven’t worked
• You’re editing live files blindly
• The site generates revenue
• Downtime is costing money

Risk of Data Loss or Downtime

Repeated trial-and-error fixes increase the chance of:

• Permanent data loss
• SEO damage
• Extended downtime

This is where WordPress bug fixing & support services make sense — not as a shortcut, but as damage control.

How Techippo Fixes WordPress White Screen Issues Safely

When a WordPress website white screen appears, random fixes can make the situation worse. At Techippo, the approach is structured, careful, and stability-focused.

Structured Diagnosis

Every white screen issue is traced logically. Plugins, themes, updates, memory limits, and permissions are checked in a controlled order so the real cause is identified instead of guessed.

No Trial-and-Error on Live Sites

Live websites are not testing grounds. Changes are made carefully to avoid turning a recoverable issue into extended downtime or data loss.

Backup-First Approach

Before touching files, settings, or updates, backups are secured. This ensures the site can always be restored if something unexpected happens.

Long-Term Stability Focus

Fixing the white screen is only part of the solution. The goal is to reduce repeat crashes by addressing update practices, plugin load, and underlying configuration issues that cause the problem to return.

Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress Website White Screen

Final Thoughts: Fixing the WordPress Website White Screen Without Panic

A WordPress website white screen looks scary, but it’s usually fixable. The key is staying calm and working through the problem step by step.

DIY fixes work well when:

• You have backups
• You understand the risk
• The site is not business-critical

Professional help makes more sense when:

• Downtime affects revenue
• Multiple fixes fail
• You want long-term stability, not just a quick patch

Whether you fix it yourself or get support, the goal is the same: restore the site safely and prevent the issue from coming back. A structured approach always beats panic-driven troubleshooting.