- Step 1 – Open your database in phpMyAdmin
- Step 2 – Click wp_options
- Step 3 – Locate the theme in the table
- Step 4 – Replace the theme
- Step 5 – You’re done!
Normally you manage your WordPress themes from the dashboard in wp-admin. In some cases, this isn’t possible, for example when you get a white screen after an update and are unable to login.
You can solve this by changing the active theme to a default theme from the database. After this you can log in again to wp-admin and manage your site from there.
A default theme is a theme that was active when you first installed WordPress, for example, twentytwenty.
Step 1 – Open your database in phpMyAdmin
PhpMyAdmin is an open-source tool where you can administer your MariaDB database(s). It is pre-installed with your web hosting subscription. In phpMyAdmin you can, import, export, optimize, or drop tables.
If your website is using a database, this is where all the data of your site is stored. For example, WordPress stores all your posts, comments and articles in a database
Step 2 – Click wp_options
In the menu to your left, click wp_options to open the options table
Step 3 – Locate the theme in the table
Find the rows called template and stylesheet. They are usually located on page 2 in the options table.
Step 4 – Replace the theme
- Click the field option_value for template
- Replace the current theme with a default theme, like twentysixteen.
- Press enter to save.
- Do the same for stylesheet.
Step 5 – You’re done!
The theme is now changed and your website is accessible again and you can log in to your WordPress administration.