If you’re running a WordPress site, you may encounter the 500 Internal Server Error, which can be frustrating and difficult to diagnose. This error can occur due to a variety of reasons, such as plugin conflicts, server issues, or corrupted files. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to fix the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress.
Step 1: Check for the cause of the error
The first step in fixing the 500 Internal Server Error is to determine the cause of the error.
You can check the error logs to see if there are any specific error messages that can help identify the issue.
In some cases, the error may be caused by a plugin conflict or a theme issue.
Step 2: Deactivate plugins
One common cause of the 500 Internal Server Error is a plugin conflict. To check if a plugin is causing the issue, deactivate all plugins and check if the error still occurs. If the error disappears, reactivate your plugins one by one until you find the plugin that is causing the issue.
You can deactivate plugins from your wordpress manager in your cpanel of your hosting provider. This way you don’t even have to be logged in to disable the wordpress plugins that might be causing your site to break.
Step 3: Switch to a default theme
If deactivating plugins does not resolve the issue, the next step is to switch to a default WordPress theme that is up to date, such as Twenty Twenty-Three. If the error disappears after switching the theme, the issue may be caused by your previous theme.
Sometimes even deactivated theme can cause a conflict in code, which takes down your entire site.
Remember: You can also use the debug mode in your wordpress management overview like shown in the image below.
Step 4: Increase PHP memory limit
If your website has a large number of plugins or a high traffic volume, the 500 Internal Server Error may be caused by the PHP memory limit. To increase the PHP memory limit, you can edit the wp-config.php file or contact your hosting provider.
If you have access to a CPanel you can change these settings in the Multi PHP INI Editor like shown below.
Step 5: Fix corrupted files
If the 500 Internal Server Error is caused by corrupted files, you can try reinstalling WordPress.
Before doing so, create a backup of your website to avoid losing any data.
Again this is easy with Cpanel filemanager.
Just upload the latest wordpress installation file to your root and unpack ..
If all this doesn’t work , then check your PHP settings.
You might be running an outdated php version on your server.
Which leads us to step number 6.
Step 6: Contact your hosting provider
If the above steps do not resolve the issue, the error may be caused by server issues. Contact your hosting provider’s support team and provide them with the error logs to help identify and resolve the issue.
If you can even check the error log before you submit a ticket.
Step 7: Troubleshoot
further If the error still persists after following the above steps, you can try further troubleshooting by disabling your .htaccess file, checking file permissions, or increasing the maximum execution time.
In conclusion, the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress can be caused by various factors, but following the above steps can help diagnose and fix the issue. If you’re still unable to resolve the error, seek assistance from a professional WordPress developer or agency.
Troubleshooting 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress
If you encounter the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress, here are some troubleshooting steps you can take:
- Check error logs: Check the error logs to determine the cause of the error.
- Deactivate plugins: Deactivate all plugins to check if the error is caused by a plugin conflict. Reactivate plugins one by one to find the plugin causing the issue.
- Switch to a default theme: Switch to a default WordPress theme to check if the error is caused by a theme issue.
- Increase PHP memory limit: Increase the PHP memory limit by editing the wp-config.php file or contacting your hosting provider.
- Reinstall WordPress: Reinstall WordPress if the error is caused by corrupted files.
- Contact your hosting provider: Contact your hosting provider’s support team if the error is caused by server issues.
- Disable .htaccess file: Disable the .htaccess file to check if the error is caused by a configuration issue.
- Check file permissions: Check file permissions to ensure that files are accessible and modifiable.
- Troubleshoot further: If the error persists, try further troubleshooting steps like checking database and email settings or increasing the maximum execution time.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you can identify and fix the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress. If you’re still unable to resolve the error, seek assistance from a professional WordPress developer or agency or contact us.
Frequent Asked Questions http 500 error wordpress:
- What is the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress?
The 500 Internal Server Error is a generic error message that indicates there is a problem with the server hosting your WordPress site. - What causes the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress?
The 500 Internal Server Error can be caused by a variety of factors, including plugin conflicts, server issues, corrupted files, and more. - How do I check the error logs?
You can check the error logs from your hosting provider’s control panel or by using a plugin like WP Log Viewer. - How do I deactivate plugins?
You can deactivate plugins from the WordPress dashboard by going to the “Plugins” section and clicking the “Deactivate” button next to each plugin. - How do I switch to a default theme?
You can switch to a default theme by going to the “Appearance” section in your WordPress dashboard and selecting the default theme from the list. - How do I increase the PHP memory limit?
You can increase the PHP memory limit by editing the wp-config.php file or contacting your hosting provider. - How do I reinstall WordPress?
You can reinstall WordPress by downloading the latest version from the official WordPress website and uploading the files to your server. - How do I create a backup of my website?
You can create a backup of your website using a plugin like UpdraftPlus or by using your hosting provider’s backup feature. - How do I disable the .htaccess file?
You can disable the .htaccess file by renaming it to something like .htaccess.old.
- What are file permissions?
File permissions determine who can access and modify files on your server. - How do I troubleshoot server issues?
You can troubleshoot server issues by contacting your hosting provider’s support team and providing them with the error logs. - How do I troubleshoot plugin conflicts?
You can troubleshoot plugin conflicts by deactivating all plugins and reactivating them one by one until you find the plugin causing the issue. - How do I troubleshoot theme issues?
You can troubleshoot theme issues by switching to a default WordPress theme and checking if the error persists. - How do I troubleshoot corrupted files?
You can troubleshoot corrupted files by reinstalling WordPress or restoring from a backup. - How do I troubleshoot PHP memory limit issues?
You can troubleshoot PHP memory limit issues by increasing the limit in the wp-config.php file or contacting your hosting provider. - How do I troubleshoot file permission issues?
You can troubleshoot file permission issues by using the File Manager tool in your cPanel or contacting your hosting provider. - How do I troubleshoot database issues?
You can troubleshoot database issues by checking the wp-config.php file and ensuring the database credentials are correct. - How do I troubleshoot email issues?
You can troubleshoot email issues by checking your email settings in WordPress or contacting your hosting provider. - Can I hire a professional to fix the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress?
Yes, you can hire a professional WordPress developer or agency to help you troubleshoot and fix the error. - How can I prevent the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress?
You can prevent the 500 Internal Server Error by keeping your WordPress site and plugins up to date, using a reliable hosting provider, and regularly backing up your website.
Related Resources for fixing http500 error wordpress
- How to Update Your Site to PHP 8.1: https://wordpress.org/support/article/how-to-update-your-site-php-version/
- MultiPHP Manager: https://documentation.cpanel.net/display/94Docs/MultiPHP+Manager+for+cPanel
- Jetpack: https://jetpack.com/
- UpdraftPlus: https://updraftplus.com/
- Troubleshooting the 500 Internal Server Error: https://wordpress.org/support/article/htaccess/#troubleshooting-500-internal-server-errors
- WP Log Viewer: https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-log-viewer/
- Twenty Twenty-One theme: https://wordpress.org/themes/twentytwentyone/
- Editing wp-config.php: https://wordpress.org/support/article/editing-wp-config-php/
- PHP Error Log: https://www.php.net/manual/en/errorfunc.configuration.php#ini.error-log
- File Manager: https://documentation.cpanel.net/display/94Docs/File+Manager+for+cPanel
- WordPress Backup: https://wordpress.org/support/article/wordpress-backups/
- .htaccess: https://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/howto/htaccess.html
- WordPress Memory Limit: https://wordpress.org/support/article/editing-wp-config-php/#increasing-memory-allocated-to-php
- Server Issues: https://wordpress.org/support/article/how-to-fix-the-internal-server-error/
- Plugin Issues: https://wordpress.org/support/article/troubleshooting-wordpress-plugins/
- Theme Issues: https://wordpress.org/support/article/troubleshooting-themes/
- Database Issues: https://wordpress.org/support/article/faq-troubleshooting/#my-site-was-hacked
- Email Issues: https://wordpress.org/support/article/faq-troubleshooting/#why-arent-emails-being-sent-from-my-site
- Hiring a Professional: https://codeable.io/
- Preventing the 500 Internal Server Error: https://wpengine.com/resources/500-internal-server-error/
