After installing a new theme, or updating a theme, your site may return a blank white page or keep you from accessing the admin area.
There are three primary causes for white screens:
- Fatal errors in the code that keep the page from loading
- Missing or corrupt files
- Memory issues with WordPress due to server configuration or database capacity
General Troubleshooting – Fatal error
To find out whether the cause is the theme, a plugin, WordPress or your server:
- Log into your site via FTP. If you are unsure of how to use FTP, contact your host for assistance.
- Under wp-content, go to themes and rename your theme’s folder. For example, manual-off.
- You must have at least one default theme in the themes folder for this to work. WordPress will automatically activate TwentyFourteen if available.
- Return to your WordPress admin and see if access is restored.
- If yes, reinstall and reactivate your theme using a fresh download of the latest version.
- If no, the issue is likely not your theme and likely has to do with WordPress or your server configuration.
General Troubleshooting – Corrupt Files In WordPress
- Download a fresh copy of the latest version of WordPress from wordpress.org and unzip the wordpress folder it contains to your desktop or an easy-to-find location.
- Connect to your site via FTP and upload the contents of the unzipped wordpress folder to your site root and overwrite the existing.
- When the transfer/overwrite is complete, attempt to access your admin again (it should work now).
General Troubleshooting – Suspected Memory Issues
Try increasing the allowed memory in your php.ini to 64M or higher. You may need your host to do this for you.