Problems we fix: White screen and critical errors
Blank page or “critical error”? We find the cause and bring the site back today.
The WordPress white screen of death almost always comes from one plugin, theme or PHP change, usually right after an update. We find which one, fix it without guessing and put a safety net in place so an update never takes the site down again.
How it shows up
The six ways WordPress goes blank.
Do not keep clicking update or reinstall things at random. Send us the address and what changed last, and we take it from there.
Blank white page after an update
A plugin or theme update introduced a fatal PHP error and WordPress shows nothing at all. The error is in the log, and the log tells us which file.
“There has been a critical error on this website”
Newer WordPress shows this message instead of a blank page and emails the admin a recovery link. Same cause, same fix.
500 internal server error
A broken .htaccess rule, a PHP memory limit, or a server-level PHP version change. Looks like a hosting problem and often is.
Admin works but the front end is blank
The theme is broken or a page builder cache is corrupted. The site is fine underneath, the output is not.
Site works, wp-admin is blank
A plugin that only loads in admin is failing. You cannot log in to disable it, which is why people call us.
PHP version upgraded by the host
The host moved you to PHP 8 and an old plugin or theme is not compatible. Every page errors until it is fixed or replaced.
What we do
Site restored, cause fixed, safety net installed.
- Error log read and the exact failing plugin, theme or file identified, no guessing
- Failing component disabled or rolled back and the site brought back, usually within the hour
- Compatible update or replacement found for the plugin or theme that failed
- PHP version, memory limit and .htaccess checked and corrected
- Full backup taken before any change so nothing is lost
- Staging copy set up so future updates are tested before they touch the live site
- Monthly update routine with a pre-update backup and post-update check
- Written summary of what failed and what we changed
What it costs
Existing SpeedSolid clients: this is included in every plan. Open a ticket or call and site-down issues move to the front of the queue.
Not a client yet: most white screen fixes take one to two hours. Work is billed at $150 per hour and we quote before we start. Move the site onto a Core plan from $99.99 per month and the monitoring that catches the next one is included.
On a SpeedSolid plan, updates are run on a schedule with a backup first and a check after, so a bad update is rolled back before you ever see a blank page.
How we compare
Why not a freelancer, your host or leaving it alone?
Each of these might bring the site back. None of them tells you what broke, and the next update does it again.
| What matters | SpeedSolid | A freelancer | Big-box host | Doing nothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who answers when the site is down | One team that knows your site, phone and tickets 24/7/365, site-down handled first | Whoever built it, if they still reply | A chat queue that does not know your website | Nobody, until a customer tells you |
| Updates and security patches | Monthly updates, urgent fixes right away, malware monitoring and cleanup | When you remember to ask | Server only. Your WordPress, plugins and forms are on you | Never, until the site is hacked |
| Contact form delivery | Authenticated email, a test submission every day | Set up once, never checked again | Not their problem | Leads silently go to spam |
| Backups | Monthly full backup plus a copy before every update round, restore for $50 | Maybe | Often a paid add-on, restore on you | None |
| Accessibility and cookie tools | Included on Core Plus and Core Pro, with a statement page and consent banner | Extra project | Not offered | Exposed to demand letters |
| Price | From $99.99 a month, no contract | $75 to $150 an hour, unpredictable | $30 to $60 a month plus every fix at your cost | Free, until it is not |
Your first 30 days
What happens in the first few hours.
A blank site is handled first. Headquartered in California with teams and clients in Texas, New York, Florida and Hawaii, servers in multiple US regions, support in US business hours.
Minute 1 to 30: diagnose
We take a backup, read the PHP error log and name the exact plugin, theme or setting that failed.
Hour 1 to 2: restore
The failing component is disabled or rolled back, the site is brought back and tested on desktop and phone.
Same day: prevent
A compatible fix or replacement is applied, PHP settings corrected, and a staging copy plus a scheduled update routine put in place.
What your site runs on
Enterprise infrastructure, with a human team in front of it.
SpeedSolid runs on enterprise cloud infrastructure that is audited and monitored around the clock, and we pass those commitments down to your website. What that infrastructure does not include is someone who knows your site and answers the phone. That part is us.
Audited data centers
Independently audited for SOC 1, SOC 2 and SOC 3, ISO 27001 and PCI DSS Level 1, with HIPAA-eligible infrastructure available on Core Pro private servers.
Published uptime commitments
Core Pro private cloud and managed WordPress servers carry a 99.99% commitment, shared hosting 99.9%, with a 24/7/365 network operations center behind all three.
East and West Coast servers
Northern California, Los Angeles and Ashburn, Virginia, with an Amsterdam option for European traffic. Your site sits closest to your customers.
Uptime commitments and certifications apply to the underlying infrastructure. SpeedSolid plan commitments are listed on the pricing page.
FAQ
Questions we get asked
Can you fix it if I cannot log in to WordPress?
Yes. We work through the hosting account, FTP or SSH and the database directly, so a locked-out admin is not a problem.
Will I lose anything?
No. We take a full backup before touching anything. Content, orders and form entries are untouched by a white screen, they are just not being displayed.
Was it the host’s fault?
Sometimes. A PHP version change or a server setting can cause it. More often it is a plugin or theme that was not ready for the update. Either way we fix it and tell you which.
How do I stop this from happening again?
Updates on a schedule with a backup first and a check after, tested on a staging copy, and abandoned plugins removed. That is the monthly routine on every SpeedSolid plan.
Do you work with sites outside California?
Yes. SpeedSolid is headquartered in California with teams and clients in Texas, New York, Florida and Hawaii. Servers sit in multiple US regions and support runs in US business hours, so a site anywhere in the country gets the same service.
My site is not on WordPress. Can you still help?
Usually yes. SSL, DNS and email problems are the same on every platform. For Wix, Squarespace and Shopify we can fix the DNS and email side and advise on the rest.
What does ongoing service cost?
Core is $99.99 per month, Core Plus is $149.99 per month and Core Pro starts at $299.99 per month, month to month. Pay annually and save 10 percent. Moving an existing site to SpeedSolid is free.