Title: capabilities.php and require_once('pluggable.php');
Last modified: August 24, 2016

---

# capabilities.php and require_once('pluggable.php');

 *  [jgold723](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jgold723/)
 * (@jgold723)
 * [11 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/capabilitiesphp-and-require_oncepluggablephp/)
 * Many WordPress updates ago (I forget how long), we upgraded to the latest version.
   But after the upgrade, both the backend and front end appeared blank. No errors,
   just no content.
 * After much searching around, I found a post that suggested adding:
    require_once(‘
   pluggable.php’); to the top of wp-includes > capabilities.php
 * that fixed the problem.
 * Well, great, except that now everytime we update WordPress, we have to perform
   the same modification on capabilities.php, because it seems that file is overwritten
   in each update.
 * What’s happening here? Clearly there’s something wrong and while this is an easy
   fix, it’s a hassle, especially when WP does an auto update and we end up with
   a blank site for a while.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * (@macmanx)
 * [11 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/capabilitiesphp-and-require_oncepluggablephp/#post-6046000)
 * It’s more than likely a plugin or theme function conflict, but in order to fix
   it, you need to first identify which one is at fault.
 * Try [manually resetting your plugins](https://codex.wordpress.org/FAQ_Troubleshooting#How_to_deactivate_all_plugins_when_not_able_to_access_the_administrative_menus.3F)(
   no Dashboard access required). If that resolves the issue, reactivate each one
   individually until you find the cause.
 * If that does not resolve the issue, access your server via [FTP or SFTP](https://codex.wordpress.org/FTP_Clients),
   navigate to `/wp-content/themes/` and rename the directory of your currently 
   active theme. This will force the default theme to activate and hopefully rule-
   out a theme-specific issue (theme functions can interfere like plugins).
 *  Thread Starter [jgold723](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jgold723/)
 * (@jgold723)
 * [11 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/capabilitiesphp-and-require_oncepluggablephp/#post-6046068)
 * Thanks — I’ll try those options.
 *  Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * (@macmanx)
 * [11 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/capabilitiesphp-and-require_oncepluggablephp/#post-6046078)
 * You’re welcome!

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

The topic ‘capabilities.php and require_once('pluggable.php');’ is closed to new
replies.

## Tags

 * [pluggable.php](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/pluggable-php/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 3 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * Last activity: [11 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/capabilitiesphp-and-require_oncepluggablephp/#post-6046078)
 * Status: not resolved

## Topics

### Topics with no replies

### Non-support topics

### Resolved topics

### Unresolved topics

### All topics