OpenCart Admin Dashboard Not Loading

1. Enable Error Reporting:
   • Edit config.php in the /admin/ directory.
   • Find this line:
     php

     CopyEdit

     define('DEBUG', false);


     Change it to:

     php

     CopyEdit

     define('DEBUG', true);

   • Refresh the admin page and check for PHP errors.
2. Check PHP Error Logs:
   • If the admin panel is blank, check error.log in /system/storage/logs/ or the server error log.
   • If there’s a PHP error, fix the issue accordingly.
3. Clear Modification Cache:
   • Delete the contents of /system/storage/cache/ and /system/storage/modification/.
   • Refresh the admin panel and test again.
4. Reset .htaccess File:
   • Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old and try loading the admin panel.
   • If it works, regenerate .htaccess from OpenCart settings.
5. Check File Permissions:
   • Ensure that /admin/, /system/storage/cache/, and /system/storage/modification/ have correct permissions (0755 or 0777).
6. Disable Third-Party Extensions:
   • If the issue started after installing an extension, disable it from the database.
   • Use phpMyAdmin and run:
     SQL

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     UPDATE oc_extension SET status = '0' WHERE type = 'module';

7. Check PHP Version Compatibility:
   • OpenCart requires a compatible PHP version. Check OpenCart documentation for the correct version and update PHP if needed.
8. Re-upload Core Admin Files:
   • If admin files are corrupted, re-upload the /admin/ folder from a fresh OpenCart installation.
9. Try a Different Browser or Device:
   • Sometimes, browser cache issues prevent the admin panel from loading. Try opening it in a different browser.
10. Restore a Backup:

• If nothing works, restore a backup of your OpenCart site before the issue occurs.

Comments:
A blank admin page or a 500 error can make site management impossible. Checking logs, clearing cache, and disabling extensions help resolve the issue quickly. 🚀