How to Quickly Fix 500 Internal Server Error on WordPress

For beginners, this may be enormously frustrating. No clue or message will point them inside the right course to fast restore it.

Asking a way to restore an internal server errors is like asking your health practitioner how to restore the ache you are experiencing without telling them where the ache is.

However, if you realize the common place reasons that cause this error, then you may attempt fixing them one by one to solve the mistake with out breaking something.

An Internal Server Error (HTTP 500) in WordPress can be frustrating, but there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve it. Here’s a comprehensive guide:

What Causes the Internal Server Error in WordPress?

Internal server error in WordPress is often caused by a corrupt .htaccess file, poorly coded plugins, or your active WordPress theme.

Other possible causes of the internal server error in WordPress are PHP memory limit or corrupt core WordPress files.

In some conditions, the internal server error may only show up when you are trying to access the WordPress admin area while the rest of the site works fine.

Usually, the error is triggered before WordPress can load and the server cannot get enough information about what stopped it.

but there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve it. Here’s a comprehensive guide:

Check the .htaccess File

The .htaccess file controls server settings and can sometimes cause issues if it’s corrupted or misconfigured.

• Access the .htaccess File:
  • Use FTP, SFTP, or your hosting provider’s file manager to locate the .htaccess file in your WordPress root directory
• Reset the .htaccess File:
  • Rename the .htaccess file to something like .htaccess_old.
  • Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard. Go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes to regenerate a new .htaccess file.

Increase PHP Memory Limit

A common cause of Internal Server Errors is exhausting the PHP memory limit.

1. Edit the wp-config.php File:
   • Access your WordPress root directory and open the wp-config.php file.
   • Add the following line before the /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */ line:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

Deactivate Plugins

A faulty or incompatible plugin might be the culprit.

1. Deactivate Plugins via FTP:
   • Connect to your site via FTP or your hosting provider’s file manager.
   • Navigate to wp-content and rename the plugins directory to something like plugins_old.
   • This will deactivate all plugins. If the site works, rename the directory back to plugins and reactivate plugins one by one via the WordPress admin dashboard to identify the problematic one.

Switch to a Default Themes

Sometimes, the active theme may cause conflicts.

1. Change the Theme via FTP:
   • Connect to your site via FTP or file manager.
   • Navigate to wp-content/themes and rename the directory of your current theme.
   • WordPress will revert to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One. If the site works, there might be an issue with your previous theme.

Check File and Directory Permissions

Incorrect file permissions can also lead to server errors.

• Set Correct Permissions:
  • Files should generally be set to 644 and directories to 755.
  • You can adjust permissions using FTP or your hosting provider’s file manager.

Check for Corrupt Core Files

Corrupt WordPress core files can cause issues.

• Re-upload Core Files:
  • Download a fresh copy of WordPress from WordPress.org.
  • Extract the files and upload them to your server via FTP, excluding the wp-content directory and wp-config.php file.

Review Error Logs

Server error logs can provide specific details about what’s going wrong.

• Access Error Logs: Check your hosting control panel for access to error logs or contact your hosting provider for assistance.

Check for .htaccess Syntax Errors

If you’ve made changes to .htaccess, ensure that there are no syntax errors.

• Verify .htaccess Content: The basic WordPress .htaccess content should look like this

# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>
# END WordPress

Contact Hosting Support

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, your hosting provider might be able to help.

• Get in Touch with Support: Provide them with details about the problem and any error messages you’ve encountered.

By systematically going through these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the Internal Server Error on your WordPress site.