Fix the WordPress White Screen of Death
blank white pagewhite screen of deathno error shownA blank white WordPress page (the "white screen of death") usually means a fatal PHP error that's being hidden. Reveal it, and the fix is almost always a plugin, the theme, or memory.
Step 1: turn on debugging to see the error
The white screen hides the real message. Enable debug logging in wp-config.php to reveal it:
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
// then read wp-content/debug.logStep 2: rule out a plugin
The most common cause. Rename the wp-content/plugins folder to plugins_off (disables all). If the site comes back, rename it back and disable plugins one by one to find the culprit.
Step 3: rule out the theme
Switch to a default theme by renaming your active theme's folder in wp-content/themes — WordPress falls back to a default. If that fixes it, the theme (or a recent edit) is the problem.
Step 4: raise PHP memory
"Allowed memory size exhausted" causes a white screen. Raise the limit:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); // in wp-config.phpIf the front end works but the admin is blank (or vice-versa), that narrows it down — usually a plugin or theme affecting just that area. Debug logging pinpoints it.
Turn on WP_DEBUG_LOG to see the real error, then disable plugins, switch theme, and raise memory — in that order.
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Frequently asked questions
What causes the WordPress white screen of death?
A fatal PHP error that's being hidden — most often a broken or conflicting plugin, a theme problem, or exhausted PHP memory. Enabling WP_DEBUG_LOG reveals the actual error.
How do I fix it without admin access?
Work over FTP/file manager: rename wp-content/plugins to disable all plugins, rename the active theme to fall back to a default, and raise WP_MEMORY_LIMIT in wp-config.php.
How do I see the real error behind the white screen?
Add define('WP_DEBUG', true); and define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true); to wp-config.php, reload the page, and read wp-content/debug.log — it names the file and line that failed.
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