How to Fix WordPress White Screen After Automatic Update

If your WordPress site is showing a blank white page after an automatic update, do not panic. This issue is often called the WordPress white screen of death. It usually happens because of a plugin conflict, theme issue, cache problem, PHP error, memory limit issue, or incomplete update.

In many cases, your website files are still there, and the problem can be fixed safely. However, you should work step by step instead of deleting random files. This guide explains how to troubleshoot the issue, regain access to your site, and prevent the same problem from happening again.

WordPress introduced stronger fatal error handling and recovery mode in WordPress 5.2, which can help administrators fix some plugin and theme errors without editing files directly.

What Is the WordPress White Screen After an Update?

The WordPress white screen means your website loads a blank page instead of showing your normal design or admin dashboard. Sometimes the front end is blank, but the dashboard still works. In other cases, both the website and /wp-admin area are blank.

This issue can appear after:

• A WordPress core update
• A plugin update
• A theme update
• A PHP version change
• A cache plugin problem
• A server memory issue
• A broken or incomplete update

The good news is that this issue is usually fixable.

First Step: Check If You Can Access WordPress Admin

First, try to log in to your dashboard:

example.com/wp-admin

Replace example.com with your own domain.

If you can log in successfully, the issue may be related to cache, a plugin, or the front-end theme display. However, if the admin area is also blank, you may need to troubleshoot through your hosting file manager, FTP, or cPanel.

Clear Your Website Cache

If your site becomes blank after an automatic update, cache should be one of the first things to check.

A cache plugin stores temporary versions of your pages to make your website faster. However, after a WordPress update, old cached files can sometimes conflict with new files.

Clear Cache From the Dashboard

If you can access /wp-admin, go to your caching plugin settings and clear all cache.

Common cache plugins include:

• LiteSpeed Cache
• WP Rocket
• W3 Total Cache
• WP Super Cache
• Autoptimize

After clearing the cache, open your site in a private browser window.

Clear Cache Manually

If your dashboard is not working, use your hosting file manager or FTP.

Look for cache folders such as:

wp-content/cache/

You can rename the cache folder temporarily:

cache-old

Then reload your website.

Do not delete files unless you are sure what they are. Renaming is safer because you can restore the folder if needed.

Disable the Cache Plugin

If clearing cache does not fix the blank white page, disable the cache plugin.

Option 1: Disable From WordPress Admin

Go to:

Plugins > Installed Plugins

Find your cache plugin and click Deactivate.

Then check your homepage again.

Option 2: Disable From File Manager or FTP

If your dashboard is blank, go to:

wp-content/plugins/

Find your cache plugin folder. For example:

litespeed-cache
wp-rocket
w3-total-cache
wp-super-cache

Rename the plugin folder. For example:

litespeed-cache-disabled

This forces WordPress to deactivate that plugin.

After that, reload your website.

Disable All Plugins to Find the Conflict

If the cache plugin is not the issue, another plugin may be causing a fatal error.

Go to:

wp-content/

Rename the plugins folder:

plugins-disabled

Then create a new empty folder named:

plugins

Now reload your website.

If the website starts working, one of the plugins is causing the issue.

How to Find the Bad Plugin

Rename the folder back from:

plugins-disabled

to:

plugins

Then disable plugins one by one by renaming each plugin folder.

For example:

plugin-name-disabled

After each change, reload your website.

When the website starts working, the last disabled plugin is likely the problem.

Switch to a Default WordPress Theme

If plugins are not causing the issue, your active theme may be broken or incompatible with the latest WordPress version.

A theme conflict can happen after:

• A theme update
• A WordPress core update
• A PHP version update
• A custom code change
• A missing theme file

If You Can Access the Dashboard

Go to:

Appearance > Themes

Activate a default WordPress theme such as Twenty Twenty-Four or Twenty Twenty-Five.

Then check your website again.

If You Cannot Access the Dashboard

Go to:

wp-content/themes/

Find your active theme folder and rename it.

Example:

my-theme-disabled

WordPress will try to fall back to another installed theme.

If your website starts working, your theme needs to be updated or fixed.

Enable WordPress Debug Mode

If the site is still blank, you need to see the actual error behind the blank page.

Open your wp-config.php file and find this line:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );

Replace it with:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );

This will save errors in a debug log instead of showing them publicly.

Then check this file:

wp-content/debug.log

Look for the latest error message. It may show the plugin, theme, or file causing the problem.

After fixing the issue, turn debug mode off again:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );

Increase PHP Memory Limit

Sometimes a blank white page happens because WordPress does not have enough PHP memory to complete the update or load the site.

Open your wp-config.php file and add this line before the line that says “That’s all, stop editing”:

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

Then save the file and reload your site.

If this fixes the issue, you should still check your plugins and theme. A memory limit issue may mean one plugin is using too many resources.

Check WordPress Recovery Mode Email

WordPress may send a recovery mode email to the site administrator when a fatal error happens. This feature was added to help site owners manage fatal errors and access recovery mode.

Check the email address connected to your WordPress admin account.

Look for a subject similar to:

Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue

That email may include a special recovery link. Use that link to enter recovery mode and deactivate the plugin or theme causing the error.

Also check your spam folder.

Reinstall WordPress Core Files

If the problem started during an automatic WordPress core update, the update may not have completed correctly.

Before doing this, take a backup of your website files and database.

Then go to:

Dashboard > Updates

Click:

Re-install current version

If you cannot access the dashboard, you can upload fresh WordPress core files manually. However, do not replace the wp-content folder and do not overwrite wp-config.php.

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Check PHP Version Compatibility

A WordPress update, plugin update, or theme update may require a newer PHP version. If your hosting account uses an outdated PHP version, your site may break.

Log in to your hosting control panel and check the PHP version.

For most modern WordPress websites, you should use a currently supported PHP version recommended by your host. Also, make sure your plugins and theme support that PHP version.

If you recently changed PHP versions and the site became blank, switch back temporarily and then update your plugins and theme.

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Restore a Backup If Needed

If you cannot find the issue quickly and your website is important for business, restore the latest working backup.

A good backup should include:

• WordPress files
• Database
• Uploads folder
• Plugins
• Theme files

After restoring the backup, update your site again carefully. Update one item at a time instead of updating everything together.

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How to Prevent This Issue in the Future

To reduce the chance of a blank white page after updates, follow these steps:

• Keep regular backups.
• Update plugins one by one.
• Remove unused plugins.
• Use a reliable theme.
• Avoid editing theme files directly.
• Use a staging site before major updates.
• Keep PHP updated.
• Check Site Health inside WordPress.
• Keep only necessary plugins active.

A staging site is especially useful because it lets you test updates before applying them to the live website.

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Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

Use this checklist when your WordPress site shows a blank page after an update:

1. Try to access /wp-admin.
2. Clear all cache.
3. Disable the cache plugin.
4. Disable all plugins.
5. Switch to a default theme.
6. Enable debug log.
7. Increase PHP memory limit.
8. Check recovery mode email.
9. Reinstall WordPress core.
10. Restore a backup if needed.

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FAQs About WordPress Blank White Page

Final Thoughts

A blank white page after a WordPress automatic update can look serious, but it is usually caused by a plugin, theme, cache, or PHP error. Start with the safest steps first: check admin access, clear cache, disable plugins, and switch to a default theme.

If the issue continues, enable debug logging and review the error file. Once your website is working again, create a backup and update your site carefully to prevent the same problem in the future.

Need more WordPress help? Browse our WordPress tutorials for simple fixes, SEO tips, and website troubleshooting guides.

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