How to Fix WordPress "500 Internal Server Error" (Easy Guide)

The "500 Internal Server Error" in WordPress is a common issue that can occur for various reasons. It's a frustrating error, but don't worry! Follow this guide to fix it and get your website working again.

What is the 500 Internal Server Error?

The "500 Internal Server Error" is a generic error that shows up when something goes wrong with the server hosting your website. It doesn’t provide specific information about what caused the issue, but here are some common fixes.

How to Fix the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress

Method 1: Deactivate All Plugins

1. Log in to your cPanel or use FTP to access your WordPress files.

2. Go to the wp-content folder.

3. Rename the plugins folder to plugins_old.

4. Try accessing your website. If it works, then one of the plugins is causing the error.

5. Rename the folder back to plugins, and then deactivate plugins one by one to identify the problematic one.

Method 2: Switch to Default WordPress Theme

1. Using FTP or File Manager, go to the wp-content/themes folder.

2. Rename your active theme folder (e.g., mytheme to mytheme_old).

3. WordPress will automatically switch to the default theme (like Twenty Twenty-One).

4. Check if your website works now. If it does, the issue lies with your theme. Consider updating or reinstalling the theme.

Method 3: Increase PHP Memory Limit

1. Access your wp-config.php file via FTP or File Manager.

2. Add the following line of code before the line that says “**/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */”:

   php

    

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


3. Save the file and check your website again. This will increase the PHP memory limit.

Method 4: Check for a Corrupt .htaccess File

1. Access your WordPress files using FTP or File Manager.

2. Find the .htaccess file in the root folder.

3. Rename the file to .htaccess_old.

4. Check your website. If it loads, the issue was with the .htaccess file.

5. To regenerate it, go to Settings > Permalinks in the WordPress dashboard and click Save Changes.

Method 5: Re-upload Core WordPress Files

Sometimes WordPress core files may be corrupted. You can fix this by re-uploading the WordPress files.

1. Download the latest version of WordPress from wordpress.org.

2. Extract the files to your computer.

3. Upload all files (except wp-content and wp-config.php) to your WordPress installation folder via FTP.

4. Overwrite the existing files with the new ones.

Method 6: Contact Your Hosting Provider

If none of the above methods work, there may be an issue with your hosting environment. Contact your hosting provider and ask them to check the server logs for errors. They may be able to fix it or provide more details.

Conclusion

The "500 Internal Server Error" can be fixed by deactivating plugins, switching themes, increasing the PHP memory limit, or checking the .htaccess file. If these steps don’t work, consider re-uploading WordPress core files or contacting your hosting provider for further help.

For more assistance, visit Tech Fix Forum where we can help you troubleshoot further.

This easy guide should help you resolve the "500 Internal Server Error" in WordPress! 😊