Why Is My Website Showing a Blank Page? Causes and Fixes

Imagine opening your business website, only to be met with… nothing. Just a white screen. No error message. No visible content. No clue what went wrong. This dreaded issue—commonly called the blank page on website problem—is surprisingly common and incredibly frustrating for both site owners and visitors.

But here’s the good news: with the right guidance, you can get to the root of the issue and fix it. Whether you’re running WordPress, Shopify, a custom-coded site, or a SaaS platform, this article breaks down the most likely causes and solutions to help you troubleshoot effectively.

In many cases, errors on websites like these are preventable. Let’s explore what causes a blank screen and how to resolve it step-by-step.

What Is a Blank Page on a Website?

When your website loads to a completely white or empty screen, but the URL appears correct in the browser, you’re facing what developers often call the “White Screen of Death” (WSoD). This isn’t a loading issue—it’s a failure in rendering content, typically caused by script errors, misconfigurations, or missing files.

Signs You’re Dealing with a True Blank Page Issue

Before diving into diagnostics, confirm that you’re not just facing a slow load or visual glitch.

Check for:

• A completely white browser screen with no content

• A page that loads indefinitely but shows nothing

• No visible error messages, even after several refreshes

• Your browser console or page source showing very little (or no) HTML

These symptoms often point to errors on websites caused by faulty code, theme conflicts, or backend crashes.

Top Reasons Your Website Is Showing a Blank Page

Let’s break down the most common causes and how to identify each.

1. PHP Errors or Fatal Code Failures

Cause:

One of the most common culprits for a blank page on website is a fatal PHP error, especially in WordPress or custom CMS environments.

Fix:

• Enable error reporting in your wp-config.php or php.ini

• Check error logs in your hosting dashboard

• Look for syntax errors, missing semicolons, or incompatible plugin code

2. Theme or Plugin Conflicts (Especially in WordPress)

Cause:

A poorly coded theme or plugin can crash the frontend without displaying an error.

Fix:

• Disable all plugins via cPanel or SFTP

• Switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One

• Reactivate plugins one-by-one to isolate the issue

Tip: This is a quick way to fix blank screen on website issues after updates or installations.

3. Out-of-Memory Issues

Cause:

Your site may be hitting its PHP memory limit, causing scripts to fail silently.

Fix:

• Increase the memory limit by adding define( ‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’ ); in wp-config.php

• Check server memory limits in your hosting control panel

• Optimize images, database queries, and remove unused plugins

4. Improper File Permissions

Cause:

If your server can’t read or execute critical files, your page may load blank.

Fix:

• Ensure file permissions are set to 644 and folders to 755

• Use FTP to check and adjust settings

• Be careful not to apply incorrect recursive permissions

5. Corrupted .htaccess File

Cause:

A misconfigured .htaccess can break routing and cause your website content not loading problem.

Fix:

• Rename the .htaccess file temporarily to test

• If your site loads, generate a new one via CMS settings

• Check for unnecessary redirects or conflicting rewrite rules

6. Broken or Missing HTML/PHP Files

Cause:

Deleted, renamed, or corrupted core files (especially index.php or header.php) can leave the screen blank.

Fix:

• Restore from a backup

• Reinstall core CMS files (e.g., WordPress, Laravel, etc.)

• Use version control (Git) for safer code rollbacks

7. Browser or Caching Conflicts

Cause:

Cached versions of your site may cause display issues that seem like a blank page.

Fix:

• Clear your browser cache and cookies

• Use incognito mode or another browser to test

• Purge site/server cache from your caching plugin or hosting dashboard

Tools to Diagnose a Blank Website Page

Use these free and powerful tools to isolate the issue:

• Chrome DevTools (F12) – See console errors and network activity

• Google PageSpeed Insights – Detect loading issues or broken scripts

• Pingdom / UptimeRobot – Monitor uptime and errors

• Sucuri SiteCheck – Scan for malware or suspicious file activity

• cPanel Error Logs – Check for fatal PHP and server-side problems

Preventing Future Blank Screen Issues

Once you resolve the issue, use these best practices to prevent it from happening again.

Tips to protect your site:

• Keep plugins and themes up to date

• Regularly back up your entire site

• Use staging environments for testing before going live

• Avoid editing core files without version control

• Monitor performance and server usage over time

Real-Life Example: How a Blank Homepage Cost a Local Business Thousands

A New York-based marketing agency launched a new WordPress theme for a client. Within hours, the homepage went blank—visible only on mobile browsers. It turned out a plugin was injecting malformed JavaScript that only affected mobile rendering.

It took them 3 days to identify the issue—during which the business lost leads, SEO visibility, and ad spend effectiveness. A staging site and performance monitoring tool could have prevented the damage.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Ignore a Blank Page

A blank page on a website may seem harmless at first glance, but it’s a serious issue that signals deeper problems—whether in your server, code, or content structure. Ignoring it not only risks SEO damage, but also drives away customers and undermines your brand’s credibility.

By identifying the root cause and applying the right fix, you can restore your site—and protect it from future failures.