PHP White Screen of Death: Causes and Fixes
Your website shows a blank white page, so visitors and customers see nothing. If your site brings in enquiries or orders, that is worth fixing today. The reason is nearly always written down in a log file, and the steps below usually bring the page back without special tools.
The PHPPHP is a programming language that builds your web pages on the computer that hosts your site, just before they reach the visitor. WordPress runs on it. white screen of death is a completely blank page where your site should be, and it usually means that PHP hit a fatal error but was set to hide the message. The page loads, the server answers, and nothing is printed.
What the blank page means
When PHP stops because of a serious error, it can print the message on the screen or keep it out of sight. Production servers normally keep it out of sight, which is the safer choice. The result is an empty page, and the real message ends up in the error logAn error log is a file where your website's software writes down what went wrong, with the time and place. It is the first thing to check when a site breaks.. A blank page does not tell you which file or which line failed, so the log is where you start.
Common causes
The cause is often a pluginA WordPress plugin is an add-on you install in WordPress to give your site extra features, such as contact forms, SEO tools or a webshop., themeA WordPress theme is a ready-made package that decides how your WordPress site looks and how its pages are laid out. Change the theme and the design changes. or custom script with a coding mistake, or code that does not work with the PHP versionA PHP version is a numbered edition of PHP, like 8.3. Each edition is looked after for a limited time, then gets security fixes only, then nothing. the site runs now. Running out of memory is another frequent reason, and so is a file that was only partly uploaded. An empty line or stray character in a configuration file can also break a page. On WordPressWordPress is free software for building and editing a website in your browser. It is written in PHP, so it builds each page when someone visits. sites, a recent plugin or theme update is a likely suspect. A blank page can also come from cachingA cache is a store of ready-made copies, such as finished pages, so a website or browser can show something instantly instead of building it again., so a cached empty response is worth ruling out.
How to check it safely
First make a backupA backup is a separate copy of your website's files and database, so you can bring the site back after a mistake, a hack or a failed update. of the files and the database, so every later step can be undone. Then find the PHP error log. Most hostingWeb hosting is the service that keeps your website's files on a computer that is always online, so visitors can open your site at any time. panels have a section for error logs, and the file is often named error_log or php_errors.log. Read the newest lines. They usually name the file, the line number and the type of error. If there is no log, you can enable error logging to a file for a short time. Avoid showing errors on screen on a live site, because messages can reveal server paths to every visitor. Turn debugging off again when you are done. Also note which PHP version the site runs, since a recent change often explains the problem.
What you can try yourself
Work through these steps in order and stop when the page returns.
First, clear any page cache or caching plugin, and test in a private browser window. Second, if the log names a plugin, rename that plugin folder over SFTP or the file manager so it is deactivated. Third, if it names the theme, switch to a default theme the same way. Fourth, if the log mentions memory, raise the memory limit moderately and test again. Fifth, restore the last good backup if nothing helps. Do not share hosting or admin passwords with anyone who asks for them in a message.
When the PHP version is the cause
If the blank page appeared right after a PHP update, older code may rely on features that newer versions have removed or changed. The log usually shows this as a fatal error pointing at a specific function. The page on supported PHP versions on this site explains which versions the PHP project still maintains, and which are worth moving to.
When to get help
If the log is empty, if you cannot reach the files, or if your shop is losing orders while the page is blank, it is sensible to ask for help. At Website Without PHP a human replies within 1 business day. A rush repair starts from $425, excluding VAT.