WordPress
How to Fix 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress
Quick Fix
The most common cause of 500 errors in WordPress is: Corrupted .htaccess file
Quick solution: Rename existing .htaccess to .htaccess.old via FTP
The 500 Internal Server Error error in WordPress indicates a problem specific to your WordPress configuration or environment. This guide provides platform-specific solutions.
Common Causes in WordPress
- Corrupted .htaccess file
- PHP memory limit exhausted
- Plugin conflict or error
- Theme compatibility issue
- Corrupted WordPress core files
- Database connection error
Step-by-Step Solutions
Solution 1: Regenerate .htaccess File
- Rename existing .htaccess to .htaccess.old via FTP
- Go to WordPress Admin → Settings → Permalinks
- Click Save Changes without making any changes
- WordPress will generate a new .htaccess file
- Test if error is resolved
Solution 2: Increase PHP Memory Limit
- Edit wp-config.php file
- Add this line before /* That's all, stop editing! */: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
- Save and upload the file
- Alternatively, edit php.ini: memory_limit = 256M
Solution 3: Deactivate All Plugins
- Via FTP, rename /wp-content/plugins/ to /wp-content/plugins-old/
- Check if site works - this deactivates all plugins
- Rename back to plugins/
- Rename plugin folders one by one to identify the problematic plugin
- Delete or replace the faulty plugin
Solution 4: Switch to Default Theme
- Via FTP, rename /wp-content/themes/your-theme/ to /wp-content/themes/your-theme-old/
- WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme
- If this fixes it, your theme has an error
- Contact theme developer or restore from backup
Solution 5: Enable WordPress Debug Mode
- Edit wp-config.php
- Change define('WP_DEBUG', false); to define('WP_DEBUG', true);
- Add define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
- Add define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
- Check /wp-content/debug.log for error details
Prevention Tips
- Monitor WordPress error logs regularly
- Implement proper health checks and monitoring
- Keep WordPress and dependencies up to date
- Set up alerting for error rate increases
- Document your configuration changes
- Test configuration changes in staging first