How to Fix Internal Server Error (500)

The “Internal Server Error (500)” in WordPress is a general server-side error, which means something is wrong on your server, but it’s not specific about what.

Error Example:

You might see:

500 Internal Server Error
The server encountered an internal error and was unable to complete your request.

How to Fix the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Check .htaccess File

A corrupted .htaccess It is the most common cause.

How to Fix:

1. Go to your site via FTP or File Manager.
2. Locate and rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old
3. Visit your website again.

If it works, go to Dashboard > Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes to regenerate a clean .htaccess.

Step 2: Increase PHP Memory Limit

A server may be running out of memory.

Edit wp-config.php and add:

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

If not working, try increasing memory in .htaccess:

php_value memory_limit 256M

Or in php.ini:

memory_limit = 256M

If your host doesn’t allow memory changes, ask them directly.

Step 3: Deactivate All Plugins

A broken plugin can cause 500 errors.

How to disable:

1. Go to /wp-content/
2. Rename the folder plugins to plugins_old
3. Check your site.

If it works, rename back and activate plugins one by one to find the bad one.

Step 4: Switch to Default Theme

Sometimes themes cause errors.

How to switch manually:

1. Go to /wp-content/themes/
2. Rename your active theme folder (e.g., mytheme → mytheme_old)
3. WordPress will fall back to a default theme like twentytwentyfour

Step 5: Check File Permissions

Incorrect file/folder permissions can cause server errors.

Set:

• Folders: 755
• Files: 644

Step 6: Re-upload Core WordPress Files

Corrupted core files can also be the cause.

Steps:

1. Download fresh WordPress from wordpress.org
2. Upload only the /wp-admin/ and /wp-includes/ folders via FTP to overwrite your site.

Do NOT replace wp-content or wp-config.php

Step 7: Check Server Logs

Check your server’s error logs (ask the host if needed). You’ll often find the exact issue, like a plugin, theme, or PHP fatal error.

Step 8: Contact Hosting Support

If none of the above helps, your server may have:

• PHP version issues
• .htaccess rules conflict
• Server-side software crash

Ask your hosting provider to check logs and fix the error.

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