Fixing the "white screen" error
Step-by-step help for when your WordPress site shows a blank white page instead of your content.
You open your website — or try to log in — and all you see is a blank white page. No error message. No explanation. Just white.
This is called the white screen of death (often abbreviated WSOD). It sounds alarming, but it is one of the most common WordPress problems, and it is almost always fixable without losing any content.
Quick summary
The white screen is almost always caused by a plugin conflict or a theme problem. The fastest fix is to disable all plugins, then re-enable them one at a time to find the culprit. Your content is safe — nothing is deleted. If you cannot log in either, we can help you fix it from outside WordPress entirely.
Before you start
10–20 minutes BeginnerYou do not need to be technical to follow these steps. Take them in order — most white screens are resolved by Step 2 or 3.
Don't refresh repeatedly
Hitting refresh many times will not help and can sometimes make things harder to diagnose. Follow the steps below instead.
Step 1: Check if it's just your browser
Sometimes the white screen is a browser glitch, not a real site problem.
Open a different browser (for example, if you normally use Chrome, try Safari or Firefox).
Try opening the site on your phone using mobile data, not Wi-Fi.
If the site looks fine in the other browser or on mobile, the issue is with your browser's cache. See our guide on clearing your cache to fix it.
If the white screen appears everywhere, continue to Step 2.
Step 2: Disable all plugins
Plugins (add-ons that extend WordPress) are the most common cause of white screens. A recent plugin update or a conflict between two plugins can break things instantly.
You may not be able to log in
If your WordPress dashboard also shows a white screen, skip to "When you can't log in" below.
If you can log in to your WordPress dashboard:
Log in to WordPress. Go to your site address followed by /wp-admin (for example, yoursite.com/wp-admin).
Go to Plugins in the left menu, then click All Plugins.
Select all plugins using the checkbox at the top of the list.
In the Bulk actions dropdown, choose Deactivate, then click Apply.
Check your website. If the white screen is gone, a plugin was the cause. Now re-enable plugins one at a time, checking the site after each one, until the white screen returns. The last plugin you enabled is the culprit.
Found the problem plugin?
Once you know which plugin caused it, leave it deactivated and contact us. We will find a fix or a replacement.
Step 3: Switch to a default theme
If disabling plugins didn't help, the theme (your site's visual design) may be causing the problem.
In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance → Themes.
Activate a default WordPress theme — look for a theme called "Twenty Twenty-Four" or any theme with "Twenty" in the name. These come built in with WordPress.
Check your website. If the white screen is gone, your theme was the cause. Contact us before switching back — we need to investigate first.
When you can't log in
If the white screen affects both your website and your login page (/wp-admin), you need to fix things from outside WordPress. This is a job for us.
Please contact us right away. We can log in to your hosting account and fix the problem without touching your content. See the how to report a problem guide for what information to send us.
Do not attempt hosting-level fixes unless you are confident
Editing files on your hosting server incorrectly can cause additional problems. If you are unsure, stop here and contact us. Your site and content are not at risk from the white screen itself — only from incorrect manual fixes.
Step 4: Increase the memory limit (advanced)
Occasionally a white screen is caused by WordPress running out of memory — like a computer with too many programs open at once. This requires editing a configuration file and is best left to us.
If you want to attempt it yourself, our team can walk you through it. Get in touch and describe what you have already tried.
Common questions
Related guides
- My WordPress site is down
- My layout broke after an update
- How to update plugins safely
- WordPress updates explained
- How to clear your cache & hard refresh
- How to report a problem with your site
Need a hand?