There are several reasons why your WordPress website could suddenly stop working. One of the most common errors is the 500 Internal Server Error, which could show up unannounced at any time. Without any warning or explanation, any page you load returns this error with no clear instructions to debug it. In this article, we explore how to fix 500 internal server error with the least effort and time.
The WordPress 500 internal server error is an HTTP status code that indicates that your server has encountered an unexpected condition, preventing it from fulfilling the request. In other words, the server is telling you that something broke, but it is not sure of what it is. This makes it difficult for the server to point out the error and what to fix. Although the appearance of this error will differ depending on your hosting setup and web browser, it requires attention for your website to return to normal functioning.
Since the 500 Internal Server Error could be caused by a variety of factors, fixing it also requires different approaches. Before you start troubleshooting, make sure you have completely backed up your WordPress site. A WordPress backup plugin such as Duplicator is a great choice for this, allowing you to quickly back up your website and store it on the cloud for easier restoration. Once you have backed up the website, you can use the following steps to fix the WordPress 500 internal server error:
Your WordPress caching plugins and browsers can mistakenly store a cached copy of the error page. Clearing both the browser and WordPress cache is the first thing you need to do when clearing the HTTP error 500 in WordPress.
If you are still seeing the errors after clearing the cache, check whether your .htaccess file is corrupted. This file is a server configuration file that WordPress uses to set up redirects. You can check and fix the file by visiting the Settings » Permalinks page in the WordPress admin area. Then click Save Changes without making any changes. This will prompt WordPress to update your .htaccess file or generate a new one. You can now visit your website again to see if the internal server error has been resolved.
If the internal 500 server error persists, it could mean that a script consumes all the PHP memory limit. You can easily increase the PHP memory limit by editing the wp-config.php file. However, this requires extra care as any mistake in the WordPress core file can break your entire website.
Connect your WordPress website using the File Manager app in your hosting account control panel or an FTP client. Locate the wp-config.php file inside the main folder of your website.
Right-click on the file and select Download to make sure you have created a backup file in case something goes wrong. Right-click on the file again and select View/Edit.
If the internal server error only appears when you log in to your WordPress admin or upload an image in your wp-admin, increasing the memory limit should resolve it:
If you are still experiencing the HTTP error 500 after trying the above solutions, it could be due to a specific plugin or a combination of plugins installed on your website. If you can still access the WordPress admin area, go to the plugins page and deactivate all WordPress plugins. If you cannot access the WordPress admin area, connect to your WordPress website using an FTP client or the file manager app, navigate to the /wp-content/ folder, and rename the plugins folder to plugins.deactivated. Then, rename the folder back to plugins and visit your WordPress Admin page to activate each plugin individually to find out which one is causing the error.
The HTTP error 500 in WordPress can be a tough one to fix due to the various possible causes. If you are struggling to fix the error yourself, it is best to have an expert work on it. At WP Depend, we provide comprehensive WordPress repair and maintenance services. Get in touch with us today if you need to fix the 500 internal server error or any other issues in your WordPress site.
A seasoned technology writer and marketing consultant with over a decade of experience helping businesses grow online. I specialize in content marketing, SEO, web design, and e-commerce development. I am enthusiastic about using cutting-edge technology to acquire high-quality traffic, generate leads, and increase sales for my clients.
