My Entire WordPress Backend Crashed – Help!

  • Resolved Brianna

    (@lucidlush)


    5 years ago

    I just followed your instructions after installing this plugin to update with the new version of my theme, and it said it installed, I clicked on preview and it took me to a blank screen, and everything I click takes me to a blank screen, I can only go backwards in history to see my dashboard…I cannot do anything. I don’t know what to do, I had no idea this could happen. I’m on wordpress 5.0.1 I think, haven’t updated in a year, can’t update to latest because my theme does not support 5.3.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • Plugin Author Chris Jean

    (@chrisjean)

    The blank screen likely means that there is a fatal error, which is when code fails to run for a variety of reasons. Since you updated the theme, I can think of three primary reasons that this might have happened:

    1. The theme you installed has a bug in the code. Sometimes a bad version is released.
    2. The theme update you installed requires a version of WordPress greater than 5.0.
    3. The updated theme code created a conflict with one or more plugins running on the site.

    The specific error that is happening can be found in your server’s error log. I recommend that you contact your hosting company to find out what the error is which can point you in the right direction for getting the site fixed.

    I would think that the proper solution for your situation is to:

    1. Get the site running with a default theme, such as Twenty Nineteen. Your host should be able to help you with this.
    2. Update WordPress and all plugins.
    3. Try to switch back to your desired theme. Hopefully the updates will allow it to run properly now.

    For the future, if the choice is between using a specific theme/plugin or updating WordPress, update WordPress every time. Not updating WordPress can create situations like you are experiencing now, or worse, can make your site vulnerable to hackers. Always keep WordPress, plugins, and themes up-to-date.

    Thread Starter Brianna

    (@lucidlush)

    Hi Chris,

    Wow thank you so much for all of your help. I reached out because I wasn’t sure if it may have something to do with your plugin but looks like that is not the issue. My host did identify the error and a possible fix based on a core theme plugin update, but I knew that wasn’t it….because I had plugin updated…anyhow…I figured out where I screwed up. I’ve never installed an external theme update I guess and I got confused and so I selected the wrong file…and it crashed everything….so I contacted host to see how to deactivate theme and replace with correct one in my File Manager. Hopefully it restores my site! This was a bit scary and I appreciate the support, I learned a lot though from this experience and from your tips, I will save them for reference, thank you!

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • The topic ‘My Entire WordPress Backend Crashed – Help!’ is closed to new replies.