A white screen in PrestaShop, the most common causes and first aid
The "white screen of death" is a situation where, instead of the shop, you see a blank, white page with no message at all. In PrestaShop it happens more often than on simple sites, because a shop is a complex system, one error in a module, theme or after an update is enough, and the whole thing stops displaying.
Where it most often comes from
- A failed or interrupted update of PrestaShop or a module.
- A module conflict or error: especially after installing something new.
- Too low a PHP memory limit on the hosting for a larger shop.
- A damaged file in the theme or core (sometimes after a break-in).
- An incompatible PHP version after a change on the server.
First aid: calmly and in order
Before you change anything, make a backup (files and database). Then it is worth enabling PrestaShop's debug mode, which, instead of a white page, shows a specific error message, that usually points to the culprit: the name of a module or file. If the problem appeared after installing a module, disabling it often restores the shop.
The most important rule: do not click "fix" over and over in a panic. Every thoughtless change on a live shop can deepen the problem. A backup is your safety fuse.
When it might be a break-in
If the white screen appeared without any change of yours, and strange additions are visible in the files, it may be the result of an infection. Then just "fixing the display" is not enough, you have to find and remove the source.
We will get the shop back on its feet
We diagnose the cause of the white screen, restore the shop to working order (from a backup if needed) and close whatever knocked it out, so it does not come back.
Is your PrestaShop showing a white page? Reach out, we will help quickly and calmly.