Table Of Contents
Introduction
You’ve spent hours perfecting your WordPress website. Everything looked great in the development environment, and the migration seemed to go smoothly. But when you visit your new site, all you see is a blank white screen. No error message, no hints, just white. This scenario is more common than you’d think, and for many, it’s incredibly frustrating.
Whether you’re migrating from local to live, changing hosts, or moving between domains, a white screen – often referred to as the “White Screen of Death” (WSOD) – can appear for various reasons. It’s like opening a book only to find all the pages blank. But don’t worry, it’s usually fixable with a few targeted steps.
This guide walks you through the causes of the WordPress white screen after migration and how to diagnose and resolve each one. By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what’s happening and how to prevent it in future migrations.
Common Causes Behind a White Screen After Migration
a. PHP Errors or Misconfigurations
A blank screen often indicates that PHP encountered an error it couldn’t display. Post-migration, paths and server configurations may change, and if your theme or plugins rely on specific configurations, that can result in critical errors.
- Example: You migrated from a local environment using PHP 8.0 to a live server running PHP 7.4. If your theme uses syntax not supported in 7.4, it can crash without visible errors.
b. Plugin or Theme Conflicts
Plugins and themes sometimes become incompatible due to server differences or outdated files during migration. A corrupted file or unsupported code can break the entire page.
- Scenario: A caching plugin that worked locally might not function correctly on the new server, especially if file permissions are too strict or if it conflicts with existing server-side caching.
c. File or Database Corruption
During migration, files or databases may not copy over completely. A single missing file, or an incomplete database import, can stop WordPress from rendering.
- Case Study: A site was migrated using a manual method without exporting the wp_options table properly. The homepage loaded white until the table was restored.
d. Incorrect wp-config.php Settings
This file bridges your WordPress site and its database. One typo or incorrect setting here can prevent your site from working.
- Real-world Example: The database name was mistyped by a single character, which led to a silent failure because the connection couldn’t be established.
e. .htaccess Conflicts
This hidden file dictates how your server behaves. A malformed .htaccess can cause redirects or block access unintentionally.
- Example: Post-migration, a user retained rewrite rules that pointed to the old domain structure, causing pages to fail.
How to Diagnose the White Screen Issue
Enable Debugging
To see what’s going wrong, the first step is enabling debug mode in WordPress. Open wp-config.php and add or edit the following:
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false);
Visit your site again. Then check the /wp-content/debug.log file. It often reveals the source of the issue.
Check File Permissions
Make sure your files and folders have the correct permissions:
- Files: 644
- Folders: 755
Incorrect permissions may prevent the server from reading files, leading to a white screen.
Disable Plugins and Themes
Temporarily deactivate all plugins and switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four:
- Rename the /wp-content/plugins/ folder to something like plugins_old
- Rename your theme folder or switch themes via the database using phpMyAdmin
If the site loads, the issue lies within the renamed folder.
Solutions Based on Identified Issues
PHP Version Compatibility
Ensure your live server uses a PHP version compatible with your site. Use the hosting panel or phpinfo() function to verify.
If mismatched:
- Upgrade PHP via your hosting panel
- Or, update your theme/plugins to match the available version
Re-upload Core Files
If some WordPress core files didn’t copy correctly:
- Download a fresh WordPress package from wordpress.org
- Upload the /wp-admin/ and /wp-includes/ folders via FTP, overwriting the existing ones (don’t touch wp-content/)
This often resolves hidden file-level issues.
Repair the Database
Navigate to wp-config.php and add:
define(‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true);
Visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php and run both database repair and optimization options. Remove the line from wp-config.php afterward.
Check and Fix .htaccess
Delete the .htaccess file and regenerate it:
- Login to WordPress (if accessible)
- Go to Settings > Permalinks
- Click Save Changes to regenerate
If you can’t log in:
# Basic .htaccess for WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ – [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>
Paste that into a new .htaccess file manually.
Preventive Tips for Future Migrations
Use Reliable Migration Tools
Plugins like Duplicator, All-in-One WP Migration, or UpdraftPlus reduce manual errors and handle serialized data properly.
Maintain Environment Parity
Match your local and live environments as closely as possible:
- Same PHP and MySQL versions
- Similar file permissions
- Identical server configurations where feasible
Double-Check Before Switching DNS
Before making your site live:
- Verify paths
- Test permalinks
- Browse several pages to ensure everything loads properly
Keep a Rollback Plan
Always have a backup of both files and the database before migration. If something breaks, you can revert and try again.
Advanced Checks If Everything Else Fails
Look for Fatal Errors in Server Logs
Access your host’s control panel and check the error logs. They may contain hidden clues like memory limits being exceeded or forbidden file access.
Increase Memory Limit
In wp-config.php, try increasing the memory limit:
define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);
Clean Up Functions.php
A single missing semicolon in functions.php can white out your page. Temporarily rename the theme folder or manually edit the file via FTP.
Revisit Serialized URLs
If your migration didn’t account for serialized arrays (which store URLs), use tools like Better Search Replace to fix mismatched URLs.
Conclusion
Seeing a white screen after migrating your WordPress site can feel like everything’s gone wrong. But most of the time, it’s a small issue – a missing file, outdated plugin, or misconfigured setting. By methodically checking each potential cause, you can restore your site and learn valuable troubleshooting skills in the process.
Migration doesn’t have to be stressful. With preparation, backups, and the right tools, you can make it a smooth experience and avoid that dreaded blank screen in the future.
FAQs
What causes a WordPress site to go blank after migration?
A blank screen after migration is usually caused by PHP errors, plugin conflicts, missing files, or incorrect database connections. These prevent WordPress from loading content and result in a white screen with no error messages.
How can I fix a white screen on my WordPress site after migration?
To fix it, enable WP_DEBUG, check file permissions, deactivate plugins, and switch to a default theme. If the issue persists, verify the .htaccess, update PHP version, and re-upload core files via FTP.
Why does my WordPress homepage show white but the admin panel works?
If only the homepage is white, the issue is often with the theme, .htaccess, or permalink settings. Try switching to a default theme and resetting permalinks under Settings > Permalinks in the dashboard.
How do I enable error reporting for WordPress white screen troubleshooting?
Add the following to wp-config.php:
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false);
Then check the debug log in /wp-content/debug.log for details.
Can plugins cause a white screen after migration?
Yes, incompatible or corrupted plugins can crash WordPress after migration. Disable all plugins by renaming the /plugins/ folder, then reactivate them one by one to identify the problem.
What is the role of the .htaccess file in a white screen error?
A corrupted .htaccess file can block page rendering. Deleting it and saving permalinks again from the WordPress dashboard generates a new, functional version to restore site access.
How do I repair the WordPress database after migration?
Add define(‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, true); to wp-config.php and visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php to run repair and optimization. Remove the line afterward to secure the site.
How can I prevent the white screen issue in future migrations?
Use migration tools like Duplicator, match PHP/MySQL versions between servers, check file integrity post-migration, and always back up your site before changes to ensure easy rollback.
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