Why WordPress Page Comes White After Migration – Rocon Guide

Just migrated your website and saw a white page instead of your WordPress site? You’re not alone. This is one of the most annoying issues site owners face after moving to a new server or hosting provider. Many users search for “why WordPress page comes white after migration” because the error provides no clear message—just a blank screen that leaves you guessing.

It’s not always the same reason. Sometimes it’s a simple wp-config.php misconfiguration, other times it’s an incompatible PHP version, a plugin conflict or a corrupted database import. The good news is that in almost all cases the white screen is fixable with a methodical approach.

In this post I’ll go through the most common causes and step by step fixes, how to spot server and database level issues and share best practices to prevent WSOD during future migrations. Whether you’re a beginner or a developer managing multiple client sites you’ll find solutions here to get your WordPress site up and running quickly.

When a WordPress page goes white after migration, you need to get to the bottom of it. This is often called the White Screen of Death (WSOD) and means something broke during the transition between servers, databases or configurations. Here are the most common issues:

1. PHP Version Conflicts

Not all hosting providers run the same PHP version. If your old host was running PHP 8.1 and your new one is still on 7.4, some plugins, themes or even WordPress core functions may break. This mismatch can cause fatal errors that result in a blank white page.

Fix: Check your hosting control panel and update PHP to match your theme and plugin requirements. WordPress recommends PHP 8.0 or higher.

2. Incomplete or Corrupt File Transfer

Files can get corrupted during migration or not transfer at all. Missing critical files like functions.php or corrupted .htaccess rules can cause the WSOD.

Fix: Re-upload your WordPress core files, theme files and plugins via FTP or your migration tool. Compare the transferred folder with your backup to make sure no files are missing.

3. Plugin or Theme Incompatibility

Sometimes a plugin or theme that worked fine on your old server will conflict with the new environment. A deprecated function, outdated code or improper configuration can break your site.

Fix: Disable all plugins temporarily (rename the /plugins folder via FTP). If your site loads, reactivate plugins one by one until you find the culprit. Switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four to rule out theme issues.

4. Database Connection Errors

If your DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, DB_HOST in wp-config.php are wrong or the database itself didn’t import correctly your site won’t load. Sometimes this results in a white screen with no error message.

Fix: Check your wp-config.php details and make sure your database imported fully. Use phpMyAdmin or a database tool to repair and optimize the tables if needed.

5. Memory Limit Exhaustion

Some hosting environments allocate less memory by default. If your WordPress site consumes more than what’s available, PHP runs out of resources and serves a blank screen.

Fix: Increase the PHP memory limit by adding this line to wp-config.php:

define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);

5. Incorrect site URL settings

If siteurl or home in the database don’t match the new domain WordPress will show nothing.

In short the white screen is a symptom not the problem. Identifying which of the above is the problem is the first step to solving.

Don’t panic if your WordPress page is white after migration. Follow this step by step guide to find and fix the issue. Work through each step and test your site after each fix.

1. Check Error Logs with WP_DEBUG

WordPress hides most errors by default so you only see a blank screen. To find out what’s wrong:

• Open your wp-config.php file.
• Add or modify these lines:

define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);

define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);

define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false);

Now reload your site. Errors will be logged in /wp-content/debug.log. This will usually point to the exact plugin, theme, or function causing the issue.

2. Increase the PHP Memory Limit

A common cause of WSOD is insufficient memory. To increase it:

Edit wp-config.php and add:

define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);

Or adjust the memory limit in php.ini or .htaccess.

If increasing memory resolves the issue, consider optimizing heavy plugins or upgrading your hosting plan.

3. Verify Database Credentials in wp-config.php

After migration, your new host may use different database names, users, or passwords. Open wp-config.php and confirm:

define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘new_db_name’);

define(‘DB_USER’, ‘new_db_user’);

define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘new_db_pass’);

define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’);

Even a small typo here can result in a white screen.

4. Update Domain References in the Database

If your site is still trying to load assets from the old domain, it can break the site. To fix:

Use WP-CLI:

wp search-replace ‘oldsite.com’ ‘newsite.com’

• Or install the Better Search Replace plugin to update URLs in the database.

5. Disable All Plugins

Plugins are often the culprit. To check:

• Rename the wp-content/plugins folder to plugins_old.
• Reload your site. If it works, a plugin is causing the issue.
• Rename the folder back, then reactivate plugins one by one until the faulty one is identified.

6. Switch to a Default Theme

If the issue isn’t a plugin, it may be your theme. To test:

• Rename your current theme folder in wp-content/themes.
• WordPress will fall back to the default theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Four).
• If the site loads, the theme is incompatible or missing files.

7. Check .htaccess File and Regenerate Permalinks

A corrupted .htaccess can cause WSOD.

• Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old.
• Go to WordPress Dashboard → Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes to regenerate a fresh one.

8. Fix File Permissions and Ownership

Wrong file permissions can prevent WordPress from loading. Recommended settings:

• Files: 644
• Folders: 755
• wp-config.php: 600

You can reset permissions via FTP or SSH:

find /var/www/html -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;

find /var/www/html -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

By following these steps in order you will usually find and fix the reason your WordPress site is white after migration.

Sometimes the WordPress white screen after migration isn’t caused by your site files or plugins, but by the hosting environment. When you move from one server to another, the settings don’t match and that mismatch will break your site.

1. PHP Version Mismatch

Your old host might have been running PHP 7.4 and the new one is running PHP 8.2. Some themes and plugins aren’t compatible with newer PHP versions.

Fix: Check your PHP version in the hosting panel or via phpinfo(). Switch to a supported version for your WordPress setup (usually PHP 8.1 or 8.2).

2. Database Version Conflicts

WordPress supports both MySQL and MariaDB, but different versions handle queries differently. If your old host was using MySQL 5.7 and the new one is using MariaDB 10.x you might get query errors.

Fix: Check compatibility in the host panel and update your database schema if needed.

3. Web Server Differences (Apache vs Nginx)

If your site relied on .htaccess rules (Apache) but moved to Nginx, those rules won’t work.

Fix: Recreate URL rewrite rules in the Nginx configuration.

4. Insufficient Resources

Some budget hosting plans limit memory, CPU, or concurrent connections, which can trigger the white screen.

Fix: Check server resource usage in cPanel or with SSH commands. Upgrade if limits are too restrictive.

Before troubleshooting plugins and themes, always confirm the hosting environment matches WordPress requirements.

Another major reason a WordPress page comes white after migration is database-related problems. Since WordPress relies heavily on the database, even small inconsistencies can bring your site down with the dreaded white screen.

1. Collation/Charset Mismatch

If your old site used utf8mb4_unicode_ci and your new host defaults to latin1_swedish_ci, WordPress may fail to read special characters. This mismatch can break queries and crash your site.

Fix: Update your database tables to the correct collation using phpMyAdmin or WP-CLI.

2. Incomplete Database Import/Export

Sometimes large databases aren’t fully exported or imported. Missing tables like wp_options or wp_posts can easily result in a blank page.

Fix: Re-export the database in smaller chunks, or use a reliable migration tool that supports large imports.

3. Serialized Data Issues

Serialized arrays store settings for plugins and themes. If you did a manual search & replace for your domain without handling serialization properly, it can corrupt these entries and trigger a white screen.

Fix: Use tools like Better Search Replace or WP-CLI’s search-replace command, which are serialization-safe.

4. Wrong Database Credentials

Even if the database is correct, a small typo in wp-config.php (like DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, or DB_HOST) will result in a blank page.

Fix: Check and update wp-config.php. 

Always check the database before moving on to troubleshooting. A good database is the foundation of a working WordPress site.

The best way to deal with a WordPress white screen after migration is to prevent it from happening in the first place. By following a structured migration process, you can minimize downtime and ensure a smooth transition.

1. Check Compatibility First

Before migration, verify that your new hosting environment matches the old one:

• PHP Version: WordPress core, themes, and plugins may break on older or unsupported PHP versions. Stick to PHP 8.0+ (or the version recommended by WordPress.org).
• MySQL/MariaDB Version: Ensure your database version is compatible with your WordPress install.

2. Use Trusted Migration Tools

Instead of relying solely on manual file transfers, use proven plugins that handle serialization and large databases correctly:

• All-in-One WP Migration
• Duplicator
• UpdraftPlus (with migration add-on)

These tools are designed to handle database replacement, file packaging, and automated extraction on the new server, reducing human error.

3. Verify wp-config.php and Database Settings

After migration, update the following in wp-config.php:

• Database name, username, password, and host.
• Set the correct table prefix (if different).
• Confirm site URL settings in wp_options.

4. Test Migration in a Staging Environment

Instead of moving your site directly to the live domain, first test it on a staging subdomain (like staging.example.com). This lets you detect plugin conflicts, white screen errors, or performance issues before users see them.

5. Always Backup Before Migration

Create full backups of both files and databases before moving. If anything breaks, you’ll have a rollback option without stressing over lost data.

By planning ahead, using the right tools, and testing thoroughly, you can avoid the dreaded white screen and ensure your WordPress migration is seamless.

If you’ve migrated your WordPress site and are still facing the white screen issue, it’s time for advanced troubleshooting. Here’s a quick checklist that often uncovers hidden problems:

Enable Error Reporting on Server
Edit wp-config.php and add:

define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);

define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);

define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false);

•  This logs errors to wp-content/debug.log for deeper analysis.
• Clear All Caches
  Cached files may load broken scripts. Clear:
  • Plugin caches (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache).
  • Server-level cache (Varnish, Nginx FastCGI).
  • CDN cache (Cloudflare, BunnyCDN).
• Disable PHP OPcache
  OPcache can serve old or corrupted files. Disable it temporarily from your hosting control panel or php.ini.
• Reset Plugins and Themes Folder
  Rename /wp-content/plugins/ to /plugins_old/ and /themes/ to /themes_old/. This forces WordPress to deactivate everything, isolating the issue.
• Check File Permissions
  Incorrect permissions (e.g., 777 instead of 755/644) may block scripts from executing. Correct them via SSH or cPanel.
• Restore from Backup if Needed
  If none of the above works, restoring a stable backup is faster than endless debugging.

This checklist ensures no stone is left unturned before escalating to your host or WordPress expert.

Migrating a WordPress site doesn’t have to end in frustration, but the white screen after migration is one of the most common issues users face. So we’ve seen it’s usually just a few culprits: plugin or theme conflicts, PHP/MySQL version mismatch, broken database imports or domain settings. The good news is your data is rarely lost – it’s just a matter of finding the issue and applying the fix.

The key to avoiding WSOD is preparation and best practices. Always test in a staging environment, verify PHP and database compatibility, back up before migrating and enable error logging for easy debugging. With these you can save hours of troubleshooting.

That said, sometimes the root cause is a poorly optimized hosting environment. If you want to avoid migration headaches altogether, consider switching to Rocon hosting, which provides WordPress-optimized servers, modern PHP support, and reliable migration assistance.

Sign up with Rocon today and migrate WordPress faster and smoother without the white screen of death.

1. Why is my WordPress site blank after migration?

A blank page is called the White Screen of Death (WSOD) and means a PHP error or memory exhaustion. During migration mismatched PHP versions, corrupted files or wrong database details cause this. Enabling WP_DEBUG will help reveal the exact error behind the blank page.

2. Does the white screen mean my data is lost?

No — the white screen does not mean your content or database is lost. The data still exists in your WordPress database and files. The issue is with execution — WordPress can’t render the site because of a conflict, error, or misconfiguration. Fixing the root cause will restore your content.

3. How can I fix the WordPress white screen without losing content?

You can:

• Increase the PHP memory limit.
• Deactivate plugins/themes by renaming their folders.
• Check database credentials in wp-config.php.
• Review error logs to locate faulty code.

These methods do not delete content, they only fix the execution layer.

4. Can wrong domain mapping cause a white screen?

Yes. If your old domain wasn’t fully updated in the database, or if the siteurl and home fields in wp_options table are incorrect, WordPress won’t load properly. Running a search and replace using a plugin like Better Search Replace or WP-CLI can fix domain mapping issues.