Troubleshooting blank pages

Sometimes when you try to view a page on your website, it may display only a blank page — often called the “white screen of death.” This can happen on one page, several pages, or even the entire site. On ruachost.com, there are several common causes and solutions.

Common Causes

Malfunctioning plugins, modules, extensions, or themes
Section titled “Malfunctioning plugins, modules, extensions, or themes”
- A newly installed or outdated plugin/theme may break the site.
Application debugging and logging disabled
Section titled “Application debugging and logging disabled”
- Without error reporting, issues remain hidden.
Server log errors
Section titled “Server log errors”
- Problems may be recorded in the server’s error log.
PHP errors
Section titled “PHP errors”
- Fatal errors in PHP scripts can stop page rendering.

Steps to Troubleshoot

1. Disable Plugins/Modules/Themes

If using a CMS (WordPress, Joomla, Magento, PrestaShop, etc.), disable plugins one by one.
Revert to the default theme to check if the issue is theme‑related.

2. Enable Debugging/Logging

Many CMS platforms have debugging modes:
- WordPress → Add to wp-config.php:
```
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
```
- Magento → Enable detailed logging in the admin panel.
⚠️ Important: Disable debugging after troubleshooting to avoid exposing sensitive data.

3. Check Server Logs

Access error logs via cPanel → Metrics → Errors.
Look for PHP fatal errors, missing files, or permission issues.

4. Enable PHP Error Reporting

Temporarily enable error reporting to see issues directly on the page.
In php.ini:
⚠️ Important: Turn this off after troubleshooting for security reasons.

5. Verify File Permissions

Ensure files are 644 and directories are 755.
Incorrect permissions can prevent PHP from executing properly.

6. Clear Cache

Clear CMS cache (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc.).
Clear browser cache and CDN cache if applicable.