You woke up and planned to check recent comments or to upload a new post to your blog, and all of a sudden, you are stuck with a blank page where your wp-admin dashboard should be. There are not many things more annoying, and we get you completely.
It happened to everyone, and when you see it for the first time, it can be quite scary. However, the fix can be quite easy to do if you know how to do it and have some spare time.
In this article, we will show how to fix the WP-Admin white screen of death.
After reading this, it will never ruin your morning again, we promise you that!
What causes the wp-admin to blank?
WordPress is awesome. It is open-source, which means it has a huge community of developers, continually working on it, updating plugins and themes. Even the core gets quite frequent and significant upgrades, such as the case with last year’s Gutenberg editor integration.
However, because there are so many people working on WP and millions of worldwide users, it’s impossible to have it all under control, all the time. After all, we are talking about humans, and we all make errors.
When you factor in all of that, and also the fact that your WordPress site has a third-party host, there are many slippery slopes where things can go wrong. That doesn’t mean everything will go wrong all the time; it does sometimes mean things don’t go as planned, and blank WP-Admin is a perfect example of that.
How to fix the wp-admin not working blank page step by step:
Step #1: Backup your website
The easiest way to fix anything WP-related is just to restore a backup. Therefore, it is essential to set up automatic backups of your site. Backups will make most issues one-click away from fixing, saving you from a lot of trouble.
However, it is a good idea to create a backup of your site before you begin fixing anything, especially if you are not that technically-inclined. If you don’t know what you are actually doing, there is a chance to make the problem even worse. So, create a backup before starting any fixes, don’t risk of making the problem even worse.
There are a lot of options out there, and many of them have great free versions too. Just make sure that the one you select backs up your whole site, not only the files but the database as well. Our recommendations are ManageWP, BackupBuddy, and All In One WP Migration, as they have a good track record on many of the sites we maintain for our clients.
Step #2: Install an FTP app
This step is not necessary; it will just make the process a bit smoother. File Transfer Protocol apps are programs you have on your computer that allow you to access the files of your site and edit them easily.
While it is possible to access these files through the hosting cPanel, it is much less convenient. You will want to access your site files more and more as your site grows. And, every time you encounter an error, it is much easier to fix it from an FTP than to log into cPanel every single time.
FTP apps like FileZilla will make the file uploading, downloading, and editing process much smoother. This app is also free, which means there is no reason not to use it.
Just make sure you have the necessary cPanel login information before proceeding; you will need it even if you don’t want to use FTP. Get it from your hosting provider.
What causes the blank WP-Admin issue?
As noted before, there are many potential causes of this (as well as any other) WordPress error, as so many contributors independently develop this CMS (Content Management System).
However, it usually has something to do with one of these factors: broken plugins or themes, low PHP memory, empty lines of code, corrupted database, or other code issues. We will cover all of them in the next section.
Solution #1 (Diagnosis): Enable WordPress debug mode
Enabling debug mode is a convenient way to see what’s wrong with your site. When activated, this WP feature will display on-screen the exact error that prevents WP from operating as usual. It won’t always work, but it is a good first step, as it can potentially save you a lot of time.
Fixing WordPress issues is often tedious work that requires a lot of trial and error, which is something the debug mode eliminates, as it precisely pinpoints what’s wrong.
However, because you don’t want the visitors of your site to see exact error information, it is disabled by default. Here is how to enable it (revert the changes later to disable it again):
- Using your FTP (or cPanel file manager), access your WordPress folder, and find a folder named “public_html.”
- This folder contains a file called “wp_config.php” which you will use quite often when fixing WordPress issues. Right-click that file and select the “edit” option.
- Using your FTP (or cPanel file manager), access your WordPress folder, and find a folder named “public_html.”
- This folder contains a file called “wp_config.php” which you will use quite often when fixing WordPress issues. Right-click that file and select the “edit” option.
- The last step is to find this line of code:
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, false);
What you want to do is to replace the “false” part with “true,” or you can just copy and paste this:
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
- In case that you can’t find define(‘WP_DEBUG’, false);
Don’t panic. Instead, scroll all the way down, and paste:
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
just above this line:
/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */
- Upload the file to your site, or click on “save” if you are in your cPanel.
- Try to log in to your WordPress admin again. Now, you should see the error text and not just a blank admin page. It will usually say something like xyz/THEMES/themename, or xyz/PLUGINS/pluginname, which will mean something is wrong with the theme you’re using, or one of the plugins installed. Continue reading this article to find out how to resolve those issues.
- Remember to turn WP debug back off once you finish fixing the issue, by switching back “true” to “false” or copying and pasting the code line from above.
Solution #2: Disabling plugins
(If WP Debug pinpointed a faulty plugin, you should skip the “disable all plugins” part and first try to disable only the plugin causing the issue, by renaming its folder, in the public_html/wp-content/plugins folder (check the section below for details). If that doesn’t work, disable all plugins as described.)
Plugins are what make WordPress great, as they are a simple way to add functions to your site. However, if you install too many of them and forget to update them regularly, they might start causing problems, an admin blank page being one of them. Here’s a fix:
- As you’ve probably guessed, we need to go to your site’s folder, inside public_html, and then into the wp-content folder.
- There, you need to find the “plugins” folder, right-click on it, and select “rename.” Choose something simple like “plugins-off” or “pluginx-x. It doesn’t matter really, switching to any name will prevent WP core from accessing it.
- Now try to reaccess your WordPress dashboard. If the blank WP-Admin problem is resolved, then you know for sure it was caused by one of your plugins.
- What you want to do next is to go back to cPanel/FTP, back into the wp-content folder, and rename the plugins folder to its default “plugins” format.
- Now, enter the “plugins” folder, and start renaming the plugins one by one. After every plugin renaming, refresh your WordPress dashboard and see if the problem is still gone.
- If not, continue with the renaming and refreshing the dashboard after each one.
- If yes, rename all others back to the original state.
- Once you do, you can try to reinstall the problematic one or find an adequate replacement for the same purpose.
Solution #3: Disabling your WordPress theme
If your WP Debug showed that the issue is with your theme, the next step is to disable it.
However, even if that isn’t the case, trying to disable your theme is a smart thing to do, as they often cause instability. Here’s how to do it:
- Via FTP, visit your WordPress folder, and access “public_html.”
- Next, find “wp-content” folder and open it
- In there, you will find a “themes” folder.
- In the “themes” folder, you will find separate folders for all of the themes you have installed on your site. You want to find the one you are currently using. Right-click on it and select “rename.” After that, enter a temporary theme name (the best option is to just add “off” at the end of your current theme name, so you can quickly delete it later).
- Save all the changes or upload the file to your site.
- Go back to your WP-admin page, and try to log in. If you no longer see the blank admin page, you found the source of the issue; it was your theme.
- What you can do is to try to re-download and re-install it, seeing if that works. If not, just switch to another theme, or contact the theme developer, if you use a premium one, and notify them that something is wrong with their product.
- (Bonus step) Since you already have your FTP open, it is a good idea to re-upload your theme files anyway, just to eliminate any additional issues. To do this, you first need to download your theme ZIP file from the supplier’s site and extract it.
After that, you need to visit the wp-content/themes folder through FTP and find your theme folder (you will see its name). Open it, and upload your extracted theme files there.
Solution #4: Fix database errors
Sometimes the database of your WordPress site breaks down, and you need to fix it via your cPanel.
- Log in to your cPanel, and find “Databases” and “PHPMyAdmin.” Open it.
- Click on the name of the database you want to fix on the left. That will open a list of all tables inside it.
- At the bottom, you will find a “check all” option; tick it. Then, click on “with selected” and then “repair table.” All done! Try logging back in and see if the blank WP-Admin is fixed. No? Proceed to the next possible solution.
Solution #5: Find empty code
Sometimes, something as simple as having an empty line of code in your PHP can cause WordPress admin problems. Fortunately, this one is easy to fix, and you will be done in five minutes:
- Via FTP or cPanel, we go back to our favorite folder, public_html.
- There, find the wp-config.php file, right-click it, and click on “edit.”
- Scroll down to the end of the code, and see if it contains an empty line. If it does, delete it. While there, also check if it contains a PHP closing tag (“?>”), and if it does, remove that too
- Save everything, and go back to your WP-admin page, and see if you can log in and see everything as usual. If the answer is yes, congratulations, you’ve fixed the issue.
Solution #6: Increase PHP memory limit
Solution #6: Increase PHP Memory Limit
- You’ve guessed it! FTP or cPanel your way to public_html, and then to the wp-config.php file. Right-click it and select “edit.”
- You want to add this line, which will increase the available memory to 256 MB. Add under the “Define WP Debug…” rule:
define( ‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’ );
- Save changes/upload the file to the server, and re-log in to your dashboard. The WP blank issue should be fixed now.
Nothing worked? Contact your hosting provider
Sometimes, the issue is not on your side. When choosing WordPress hosts, it is wise to get a WordPress managed plan. That way, you won’t have to tweak anything yourself; contact the hosting support.
Still, if you have tried all of the steps from above, and you still haven’t fixed the issue, go ahead and contact support, even if you are not on a managed plan. Let them know that you have done everything you could to tackle the WP-Admin blank problem, with no results.
Conclusion
As you can see, fixing the WP-Admin blank page is not that big of a deal. The only issue is that it is boring and can take quite a long time.
The six solutions we have listed above will work 99% of the time. However, if you are in that unlucky 1%, or you don’t have the time or patience to fix all that, you will need professional support.
FAQ
Why does a Blank Page on the WP Admin show without any error message?
A Blank Page on WP Admin usually happens due to hidden PHP errors, memory exhaustion, or plugin/theme conflicts. Since error reporting is often disabled by default in WordPress, the system may fail silently and display a completely Blank Page instead of a visible error message.
Is the Blank Page on WP Admin the same as the White Screen of Death?
Yes, in most cases, the Blank Page on WP Admin is a variation of the “White Screen of Death.” Both issues result in Blank Pages caused by server-side errors, corrupted files, or exceeded memory limits.
Can a low PHP memory limit cause Blank Pages in WordPress?
Absolutely. When WordPress runs out of allocated memory, it may stop executing scripts properly, leading to a Blank Page on WP Admin or even affecting the front end. Increasing the PHP memory limit often helps fix Blank Page on WP Admin issues.
Will disabling plugins always Fix Blank Page on the WP Admin?
Not always, but plugin conflicts are one of the most common causes. Renaming the plugins folder via FTP is a reliable way to test whether a plugin is responsible for the Blank Page problem.
When should I contact hosting support for Blank Page issues?
If you’ve enabled debug mode, disabled plugins and themes, repaired the database, and increased memory limits without success, the issue may be server-related. In that case, contacting your hosting provider is the fastest way to properly Fix Blank Page on WP Admin errors.
