WordPress White Screen of Death (2025 Fix): Debugging Like a Pro

Surprising fact: nearly 30% of small sites encounter a blank page or an HTTP 500 at least once a year, and many never recover quickly.

The blank page usually means a fatal runtime error or exhausted memory. You’ll see a silent, empty page instead of an error message. That makes triage feel like guesswork.

Most causes are simple: a bad plugin or theme, corrupted core files, or a server hiccup. You can often narrow it fast by disabling plugins, switching to a default theme, and clearing caches.

We’ll guide you through a clear, repeatable path. You’ll use built-in tools like Recovery Mode and WP_DEBUG to reveal the exact error. You’ll also learn when raising memory helps and when it only hides deeper issues.

• Blank pages usually point to a fatal PHP error or low memory.
• Quick triage: disable plugins, pick a default theme, clear caches.
• Use Recovery Mode and WP_DEBUG to find the offending file.
• Raising memory can help short term, but don’t treat it as a permanent solution.
• Keep backups, use staging, and vet plugins to prevent repeat incidents.

A silent frontend usually signals a fatal runtime failure or that a script ran past its memory or execution limit. You won’t see a normal page because PHP stopped before it could send HTML.

Common causes include plugin or theme code that breaks, corrupted core files, or a script that hits the memory limit. Sometimes a host-level server issue knocks several sites offline at once.

• Plain blank page with no output in the browser.
• HTTP 500 “unable to handle the request” in some browsers.
• The “There has been a critical error on your website” message and, in recent versions, an emailed recovery link that identifies the faulty plugin or theme.

If the admin area still loads while the public side is dead, that’s a strong hint the active theme or a public-facing plugin caused the issue. That clue helps you choose faster, safer troubleshooting steps.

For more hands-on guidance on how to handle this exact symptom, check this detailed guide: white screen troubleshooting.

First, see if you can reach the admin area — it narrows the cause fast. That single check tells you whether a plugin or theme likely broke the frontend, or if a wider server issue is at play. Follow a short checklist to decide your next steps.

Visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin. If you can log into the dashboard, you can safely bulk deactivate plugins or switch themes from the UI. That saves time and avoids FTP unless needed.

Scan your admin inbox for the “Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue” message. The special Recovery mode link logs you in and points to the plugin or theme that caused the error.

If other sites on the same account show the same blank view, contact your host about a possible server problem. Also clear your browser and any plugin or host-level caching. Cached pages can keep serving the old error even after you restore the site.

• Confirm admin email and spam folder if you don’t get the recovery message.
• Try a private window to rule out local cache.
• Note recent updates or edits — they’re often the quickest clue.

Start with the fastest, least risky steps so you can get the site back online quickly. These moves isolate the problem without guessing. Work one change at a time and recheck the site after each step.

Disable plugins quickly: If you can reach the dashboard, go to Plugins > Installed Plugins, select all, and choose Deactivate from Bulk Actions. If you’re locked out, connect via FTP and rename the /wp-content/plugins folder to plugins_old. That forces plugins to deactivate so you can test the site.

If plugins aren’t the cause, activate a default theme from Appearance > Themes (for example, a default wordpress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three). No dashboard access? Rename the active theme folder via FTP, or change the template and stylesheet values in wp_options with phpMyAdmin to a default theme slug.

Clear your browser cache, empty any caching plugin’s cache, and use your host panel to purge server-level cache if available. Cached pages often keep showing the same blank screen after you fix the underlying error.

• After deactivating plugins, restore the plugins folder name and reactivate one plugin at a time to find the culprit.
• If switching to a default theme resolves the issue, update or replace the problematic theme or contact its developer.
• Recheck the website after each action so you can pinpoint the exact file, plugin, or theme that caused the problem.

When your site shows a blank screen, you need facts — not guesses. Enable debug mode so WordPress writes clear traces that point to the exact file and line causing the problem.

Edit the -config.php file and add or update these lines: define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true); define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);

Reload the site to generate /wp-content/debug.log. That file records PHP errors, warnings, and notices. Open it and look for paths and line numbers. Typical messages include “Cannot redeclare,” “Call to undefined function,” or “Allowed memory size exhausted.”

When a plugin file is named, disable that plugin and consider rolling back while you report the bug. If the log points to theme functions, switch to a default theme and review recent code changes.

If custom edits caused the issue, comment them out or restore a clean copy on staging. If the log is empty, check host error logs and confirm PHP logging is enabled. Always set WP_DEBUG back to false when you’re done to avoid exposing sensitive paths on your website.

When PHP runs out of headroom, the quickest move is to raise memory and execution limits safely. This helps you tell a simple resource cap from a deeper problem.

Start in wp-config.php: add define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’); to the -config.php file. For many modern sites, 256M is a practical baseline; bump higher only if needed.

If wp-config.php doesn’t take effect, add php_value memory_limit 256M to .htaccess or set memory_limit = 256M in php.ini. Which file works depends on your hosting environment and server configuration.

If you still see a memory error, a plugin or theme may be leaking memory or running heavy queries. Check the debug.log file to find which component triggers exhaustion.

• Don’t keep cranking the limit — a runaway plugin, image processor, or import script is often the root cause.
• Confirm your host’s server cap; some hosts override local settings and require a control panel change or support ticket.
• After you stabilize the site, right-size the memory to match real needs. Treat added memory as a temporary safety net while you fix the offending component.

Edge-case problems can quietly keep a site down even after you try the usual steps. These issues are rare, but when they happen they often point to leftover update files, permission gaps, or regex limits on very long posts.

If an update stalled, look for a .maintenance file in the site root and delete it to resume normal loading. Use FTP or your host’s file manager if you don’t have shell access.

Incorrect permissions can block includes or prevent writes, producing a blank page. Apply recommended modes: files 644/664, folders 755/775, and lock down wp-config.php to 600/660/644.

Example SSH commands: find . -type f -exec chmod 664 {} +, find . -type d -exec chmod 775 {} +, chmod 660 wp-config.php.

Very long posts or complex regex can hit PCRE limits and crash PHP during rendering. Add these to wp-config.php when needed:

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

After any change, replace corrupted theme or plugin code with a fresh copy, purge all cache, and document what you changed and when. That timeline helps if the problem returns later.

If recent changes knocked your site offline, start by returning to a known-good backup. Restoring a clean copy gets your website back online quickly and gives you a safe baseline to test the change. Verify frontend and dashboard access before you proceed.

Use your host or backup plugin to restore specific file and folder sets or the full site. After restore, clear any cache and confirm the site and dashboard work. If a single plugin or theme update caused the issue, restore only those files to speed recovery.

Work on a staging site when you test updates or custom code. Prefer reputable sources for any wordpress theme or wordpress plugin and use a child theme for customizations.

• Keep daily backups and a rollback plan.
• Enable logging (WP_DEBUG_LOG) for repeatable errors.
• Use a caching plugin wisely and purge cache after changes.
• Track memory limit adjustments alongside code changes and retest.

The fastest reliable route is a steady checklist you can run now: disable plugins, switch to a default theme, purge cache, enable debug and read the log, then raise memory only if needed.

Use recovery-mode emails, FTP access, and server logs to find the exact file or plugin causing the error. If updates stalled, remove any leftover .maintenance entry and check permissions or PCRE limits for long content.

When time is short, restore a clean backup, then reapply changes on staging. Harden your workflow with vetted themes and plugins, daily backups, and a rollback plan so a brief outage stays a small bump, not a lasting outage.