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Fixing Blank PDF Invoices and Packing Slips in WooCommerce

39 threads Sep 17, 2025 Plugin → Pdf invoices & packing slips for woocommerce

Content

One of the most common issues users encounter with the 'PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce' plugin is documents generating as blank or white pages. This problem can be frustrating, especially after a site migration, update, or change in hosting environment. Based on community reports and solutions, this guide outlines the primary causes and the most effective troubleshooting steps to resolve blank PDF generation.

Why Do Blank PDFs Occur?

Blank PDFs are almost always related to one of two core issues: missing plugin fonts or a server configuration conflict. The fonts required for PDF generation are stored in a temporary directory within your site's uploads folder. If these fonts are missing, corrupted, or inaccessible, the PDF engine cannot render the document text, resulting in a blank page. Server changes, migrations, or even certain cleanup routines can accidentally remove these essential files.

How to Fix Blank PDF Invoices and Packing Slips

1. Reinstall the Plugin Fonts (The Most Common Fix)

This is the first and most successful step for the majority of users. The process forces the plugin to recreate its necessary font files.

  1. Navigate to WooCommerce > PDF Invoices > Advanced.
  2. Click on the Tools tab.
  3. Click the 'Reinstall fonts' button.
  4. After the process completes, test by generating a new PDF invoice or packing slip.

2. Check for PHP Memory Limit Errors

Insufficient PHP memory can cause the PDF generation process to fail silently. This often manifests as a blank page or a critical error.

  1. Contact your web host and ask them to check your server's error logs for memory-related issues.
  2. Request that they increase your PHP memory limit. A limit of 256MB or higher is often sufficient to resolve the problem.

3. Investigate Plugin or Theme Conflicts

A conflict with another plugin or your theme can interfere with PDF generation.

  1. Temporarily switch your WordPress theme to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
  2. Deactivate all other plugins except for WooCommerce and the PDF Invoices plugin.
  3. Test if the PDFs generate correctly. If they do, reactivate your plugins and theme one by one to identify the culprit.

4. Review WooCommerce Error Logs

The plugin often logs specific errors that can pinpoint the exact issue.

  1. Go to WooCommerce > Status > Logs.
  2. Look for log files that start with fatal-errors, wpo-wcpdf, or the current date.
  3. Open the most relevant log file and look for any error messages related to PDF generation, missing files, or permissions.

5. Verify Temporary Folder Permissions

The plugin needs write permissions to its temporary folder inside wp-content/uploads.

  1. Use an FTP client or your hosting provider's file manager.
  2. Navigate to /wp-content/uploads/.
  3. Ensure the wpo_wcpdf folder (or similarly named folder) exists and has write permissions (usually 755 for folders and 644 for files).

When to Seek Further Help

If the steps above do not resolve the issue, the problem may be more complex. Common advanced issues include custom template errors, specific server module requirements (like GD or MBString), or conflicts with optimization/security plugins that modify URLs or block admin-ajax.php requests. In these cases, providing your system status report and error logs to a knowledgeable developer is the best next step.

By methodically working through these common solutions, you can quickly identify and fix the cause of your blank PDF invoices and packing slips.

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