WordPress Admin Page White Screen [Solved] | Easy Fix

The “White Screen of Death” (WSoD) in WordPress can be frustrating, especially for beginners. This guide will walk you through each step in an easy, beginner-friendly way to help you solve the issue, even if you’re new to editing files or accessing server settings.

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What Causes the White Screen of Death in WordPress?

The WordPress white screen issue usually appears due to:

1. Plugin or theme conflicts
2. PHP memory limits
3. Syntax errors in code
4. Corrupted WordPress core files

By following these steps, you’ll be able to troubleshoot and resolve this issue, allowing you to regain access to your WordPress admin page.

Step 1: Enable WordPress Debug Mode

WordPress has a built-in debug mode to help reveal what’s causing errors. By enabling it, you can see any PHP errors directly on the screen.

How to Edit the wp-config.php File

1. Access Your Hosting File Manager:

• Log in to your hosting account.
• Find your File Manager, which is typically in the control panel (such as cPanel or Plesk).

2. Navigate to Your WordPress Files:

• Open your WordPress installation directory, usually named public_html or similar.
• Locate the file named wp-config.php in the main directory.

3. Edit wp-config.php:

• Right-click wp-config.php and select Edit. You may see a warning—click “Edit” or “Proceed” to continue.

Add the following line of code just above the line that says,

/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);

Save the file and refresh your admin page. This will show you any error messages or issues causing the white screen.

Important: After you’re done, change true back to false for security:

define('WP_DEBUG', false);

Step 2: Check Plugins for Conflicts

A faulty plugin can often cause a white screen. Disabling all plugins at once can help determine if a plugin is the issue.

How to Disable Plugins Without Access to the Admin Area

1. Use the File Manager:

• Go back to your hosting File Manager.
• Open wp-content, then plugins.

2. Rename the Plugins Folder:

• Right-click the plugins folder and rename it to something like plugins_old.
• This will deactivate all plugins at once.

3. Check Your Admin Page:

• Try loading your admin page again. If it works, a plugin conflict is the likely cause.
• Rename plugins_old back to plugins and activate each plugin one at a time through the admin area to find which plugin is causing the issue.

Step 3: Switch to a Default Theme

If plugins aren’t the problem, your theme could be. Here’s how to switch themes without accessing the WordPress admin area.

Changing the Theme Using File Manager

1. Navigate to wp-content/themes:

• In your hosting File Manager, open the themes folder inside wp-content.

2. Rename Your Current Theme Folder:

• Rename your active theme folder to something else (e.g., theme_old).
• This will make WordPress automatically switch to a default theme, like Twenty Twenty-One or Twenty Twenty-Three, if they are installed.

3. Check Your Admin Page:

• Refresh the page. If you can access it, the problem may be with your theme. You can download a fresh copy of your theme from its source or look for an alternative.

Step 4: Increase PHP Memory Limit

If the white screen persists, your site may need more PHP memory. Here’s how to increase it.

How to Increase Memory Limit in wp-config.php

1. Open wp-config.php:

• Follow the instructions from Step 1 to edit this file again.

Add Code to Increase Memory:

Add the following line of code near the top of the file:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

Save the file and refresh your site to see if it works.

If you still experience the white screen, your hosting provider may need to increase the PHP memory on their end. Contact their support team for help.

Step 5: Restore from a Backup

If you have a backup of your site, restoring it to an earlier state may resolve the issue, especially if the white screen appeared after recent changes.

How to Restore a Backup:

• Check if your host offers an automatic backup system. Many managed hosts provide an option to restore backups with a few clicks.
• Access your host’s backup feature, select a recent backup, and click “Restore.”

Step 6: Clear Browser and Site Cache

Sometimes, cached files may be displaying an outdated version of your site.

How to Clear Cache:

1. Browser Cache: Go to your browser settings and clear the browsing data (especially cached images and files).
2. Caching Plugin: If you have a caching plugin, clear the cache within the plugin settings. If you’re unsure, rename the caching plugin’s folder in wp-content/plugins to deactivate it.

These steps should help you fix the WordPress admin page white screen issue, even if you’re a beginner. Make sure to back up your site regularly and keep plugins, themes, and WordPress core updated to minimize future issues.