White screen or Error 500 in WordPress
A white screen is not an error message, but the result of processing being aborted. What actually happened is stated exclusively in the server’s error log.
That is exactly where I start, instead of guessing in the backend.
WordPress expert from Schleswig
★★★★★ 5,0 on Google
- Response within 4 hours
- Site clean again within 6 hours – otherwise you only pay half
- €280 fixed price plus VAT
- Money-back guarantee
Report an emergency
I will get back to you within 4 hours.
The most common triggers
In the vast majority of cases, it is due to one of these four causes.
An update went wrong
A plugin or theme is incompatible with the new PHP or WordPress version. The process aborts on the first request after the update.
Memory exhausted
The installation exceeds the plan’s memory limit. Typical for large stores, extensive media libraries, or many simultaneously active plugins.
Faulty .htaccess
A broken or manipulated rule takes down the entire site. This happens during migrations as well as after outside intervention.
Injected code with a syntax error
Malicious code is often inserted automatically. If it is not compatible with the PHP version, the site crashes. The outage is then a side effect of the attack.
The path to the cause
Read the error log
Through server access, I read the log. It states the file and line where processing was aborted, usually with a clear indication of the cause.
Cross-check
Plugins and the theme are disabled at the file level. This establishes within a few minutes which component is causing the crash.
Fix and check
The cause will be fixed. Afterwards, I will check whether it was a purely technical problem or whether injected code was involved.
Transparent costs
Malware scan
plus VAT · one-time
- Complete inspection of files, database and server configuration
- Analysis of access logs
- Written report with all findings
- Strong IT compliance image
If you commission the cleanup afterwards, the 50 € will be fully credited.
Most frequently chosen
Cleanup
plus VAT · fixed price, scan included
- Everything from the scan
- Complete removal of malicious code
- Restoration of normal operation
- Closing the entry point, changing all access credentials
- Security measures
- Report for the insurance company (+200€)
✓ Money-back guaranteeIf I can't clean the site, you pay nothing.
Ongoing support
per month, plus VAT.
- Updates for core, plugins and themes – checked, not installed blindly
- regular malware check
- Ongoing comparison with newly reported vulnerabilities
- Malware removal included free of charge during the support period
The complete fine print:
- All prices are plus 19 % VAT.
- Orders processed on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays cost an additional one-time 100 € weekend surcharge.
- Response and recovery times apply Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Outside these hours, I will respond as quickly as I can, but without a guarantee.
- The time starts when I have received all the necessary access credentials – not from your first message.
- I discuss special cases such as multiple sites in one installation, WooCommerce with ongoing orders or multisite with you beforehand and tell you the price before I start.
Frequently asked questions
Can I simply rename the plugins via FTP?
This is a common first step and often effective. However, bear in mind that this changes the state. If malicious code is involved, it makes the subsequent root cause analysis more difficult. A backup before making the change is therefore advisable.
Why don't I see an error message?
WordPress suppresses error output during normal operation so that internal paths are not exposed. They only become visible through the server log or via debug mode, which should not be activated on a publicly accessible site.
How quickly will the site be back online?
In most cases, on the same working day. I will get back to you within 4 hours.
Guessing in the backend takes more time than looking at the log
A call costs you nothing and takes five minutes. If it turns out to be a different problem, I will tell you that too.
Available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. · Related topics: WordPress is no longer loading · Restore a WordPress website · WordPress hacked – what to do now · Remove WordPress malware
Prefer a quick chat
The longer an infection remains undetected, the greater the damage usually becomes. Attackers create additional access points, manipulated pages may be marked as unsafe by Google, and domains can end up on spam blacklists. Even after the technical cleanup, it can take time for such warnings to disappear. That's why it's worth checking early whether an infection is actually present. In a short phone call, it is usually possible to assess what has happened and which next steps make sense.
- Malware scan with written findings50 €
- Fixed-price cleanup, scan included280 €
- Ongoing support, monthlyfrom 65 €
All prices plus VAT · Response within 4 hours, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.