WordPress 500 Internal Server Error
16 mins read

WordPress 500 Internal Server Error

Mike0

Table of Contents

1. What Is the WordPress 500 Internal Server Error?

The 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress is a common HTTP status code that indicates something has gone wrong on the server while attempting to load a web page or perform an action within a WordPress website. This error does not provide specific details about the underlying problem but serves as a generic notification that the server encountered an issue while processing the request.

The 500 Internal Server Error can result from various causes, including misconfigured server settings, plugin or theme conflicts, PHP memory limitations, corrupted files, and database issues. Troubleshooting this error typically involves checking server logs, adjusting file permissions, increasing PHP memory limits, and deactivating plugins or themes to identify and resolve the specific issue causing the error.

It is important to address the 500 Internal Server Errol, as it can disrupt your website’s operation and negatively impact the user experience. Effective troubleshooting and resolution often require a systematic approach to diagnose and fix the underlying problem, restoring your WordPress site to regular operation.

2. Primary Reasons for the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress?

Various factors can cause the WordPress 500 Internal Server Error, and it typically indicates that something has gone wrong on the server side while trying to process a request or load a webpage.

Here are several typical factors that can generate the WordPress 500 Internal Server Error:

    • Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Incompatibility or clashes with plugins or themes can be responsible for this error. If you’ve recently updated plugins or themes, consider deactivating them individually to pinpoint the problematic one.
    • Exhausted PHP Memory: WordPress relies on PHP to run, and if your server runs out of PHP memory, it can trigger a 500 error. You can add PHP memory by making edits to the wp-config.php file or by reaching out to your hosting provider.
    • Damaged .htaccess File: Within your WordPress directory, the .htaccess file may become corrupted, resulting in server errors.
    • Server Configuration Issues: At times, server misconfigurations, such as improper file permissions or server settings, can be the cause of a 500 Error.
    • Database Problems: If there are issues with the WordPress database, it can lead to server errors. You can attempt database repair using phpMyAdmin or contact your hosting provider for assistance.
    • PHP Errors: Syntax errors or other PHP-related issues in your theme or plugins can cause a 500 error. Checking the PHP error logs can help identify these problems.
    • Hosting Server Problems: When your hosting server faces problems or becomes overloaded, it can lead to 500 errors. In such instances, it might be necessary to get in contact with your web hosting provider for better assistance.

3. How to Resolve the 500 Internal Server Error on Your WordPress Website?

Resolving the 500 Internal Server Error on your WordPress website can be a complex task, given its diverse potential causes. Below step-by-step guide designed to help you systematically troubleshoot and ultimately resolve the issue:

1. Check for Server-Side Issues:

Begin by locating your server’s error logs, as they often contain more detailed information about the cause of the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress. You can typically find error logs either within your hosting control panel or by establishing an SSH (Secure Shell) connection to your server.

2. Increase PHP Memory Limit:

Edit wp-config.php: If the error is related to insufficient PHP memory, You can attempt to raise the PHP memory limit by making edits to your wp-config.php file. Here’s the process to raise the PHP memory limit

Method 1: Editing the wp-config.php File

    1. Access Your Website’s Files
      • An FTP client such as FileZilla or employ a file manager available in your hosting control panel to gain access to your website’s files.
    1. Locate the wp-config.php File
      • Typically, the wp-config.php file is located in the main directory of your WordPress installation.
    1. Open the wp-config.php File for Editing
      • Right-click on wp-config.php, select “View/Edit,” and choose a text editor to open the file.
    1. Edit the Memory Limit

Insert the subsequent line of code just prior to the line that reads “That’s all, stop editing.”

define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);

      • You can change ‘256M’ to the desired amount of memory. Common values are ‘128M’ or ‘256M,’ but You have the option to raise it further if necessary.
    1. Save the File
    2. Save the alterations made to wp-config.php and then upload the updated file back to your server
    3. Test Your Site
      • After increasing the PHP memory limit, test your website to check if the website Internal Server Error is resolved. If not, you can consider further troubleshooting.

Method 2: Editing the .htaccess File

    1. Access Your Website’s Files:
      • Use an FTP client or your website hosting control panel’s file zilla (FTP) to access your website files.
    2. Locate the .htaccess File:
      • The .htaccess file is typically located in the root of your website WordPress installation.
    3. Open the .htaccess File for Editing:
    4. Edit the Memory Limit:
      • Insert this line of code at the outset of the .htaccess file:

                     php_value memory_limit 256M

      • You can change ‘256M’ to the desired memory limit.
    1. Tap to Save:
      • Save changes to .htaccess and upload the updated file back to your hosting server.
    2. Test Your Site:

After increasing the PHP memory limit, test your website to see if the WordPress 500 Internal Server Error is resolved.

3. Check the .htaccess File:

Backup .htaccess: Rename or backup your existing .htaccess file.

Regenerate .htaccess: Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to “Settings” > “Permalinks,” and click the “Save Changes” button. This action will regenerate a new .htaccess file.

4. Deactivate Plugins:

  1. A) Deactivate Plugins: If the error occurs after installing or updating a plugin, deactivate all your plugins. If you unable to access the WordPress dashboard, you can do this by renaming the “plugins” folder in the “wp-content” directory via FTP or a file manager. This will deactivate all plugins.

Deactivating all WordPress plugins is a crucial troubleshooting step if you’re encountering the 500 Internal Server Error or other issues on your website. This helps determine if the problem is caused by a plugin conflict. Here’s how to deactivate all WordPress plugins:

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Note: Before you proceed, it’s crucial to generate a backup of your WordPress website. Deactivating plugins can affect your site’s functionality, and you may not be able to access the WordPress dashboard if you encounter the error again. Maintaining a backup ensures you can restore your site if the need arises.

Method 1: Accessing the WordPress Dashboard

      1. Log in to your website WordPress admin dashboard.
      2. Go to the “Plugins” section located in the left sidebar.
      3. You will encounter a list containing all the installed plugins on your website.
      4. Choose all the plugins by either clicking the checkbox at the top of the list or individually selecting each plugin.
      5. From the “Bulk Actions” dropdown menu, opt for “Deactivate.”
      6. Click the “Apply” button situated next to the dropdown menu.
      7. WordPress will proceed to deactivate all the plugins you have selected.

In cases where you can’t access the WordPress dashboard due to the error, you can manually deactivate plugins using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or a file manager available through your hosting control panel. Here’s how:

      1. Connect to to your website’s server using an FTP client (such as FileZilla) or the file manager provided by your hosting account.
      2. Navigate to the primary directory of your WordPress installation.
      3. Find the “wp-content” folder and open it.
      4. Within the “wp-content” directory, you’ll come across a folder named “plugins.” Rename this folder to a new name, such as “plugins_old.
      5. This effectively deactivates all the plugins because WordPress would not be able to locate them.
      6. After renaming the “plugins” folder, try accessing your website again. If the 500 Internal Server Error is no longer present, it suggests that a plugin was the root cause of the issue.
      7. To identify the problematic plugin, rename the “plugins_old” folder back to “plugins.” Then, individually rename each plugin folder within the “plugins” directory to something else (e.g., add “_old” to the end of each plugin folder name).
      8. After each rename, check your website to see if the error reappears. When it does, you’ve found the problematic plugin.
      9. Once you’ve identified the problematic plugin, delete or update it as needed to resolve the issue.

Remember that after troubleshooting, you should restore the original names of the folders (e.g., rename “plugins_old” back to “plugins” or remove “_old” from the individual plugin folder names) to reactivate the necessary plugins.

2. B) Activate Plugins One-by-One: Following the deactivation of all plugins, reactivate them individually, and examine whether the error reappears with each activation. This process aids in pinpointing the troublesome plugin.

5. Switch to a Default Theme:

Change Theme: If the issue persists, switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-One). This can help determine if the problem is theme-related. Here’s how to switch to a default theme

    1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
    2. Navigate to the “Appearance” section in the left sidebar.
    3. Click on “Themes.”
    4. You’ll see a list of installed themes on your site. Locate one of the default themes (e.g., Twenty Twenty-One) and click the “Activate” button below it.
    5. Your site will switch to the selected default theme.
    6. Test your website to see if the 500 Internal Server Error is resolved. If the error disappears, it suggests that your previous theme may have been causing the issue.

If you’re unable to access the WordPress dashboard due to the error, you can switch themes manually using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or a file manager provided by your hosting control panel. Here’s how:

    1. Connect to your website’s server utilizing an FTP client like FileZilla or your hosting account’s file manager.
    2. Navigate to the primary (root) directory of your WordPress installation.
    3. Inside the “wp-content” folder, locate the “themes” folder and open it.
    4. You’ll find folders for each installed theme. Rename the folder of your current theme to something like “theme_name_old.” Replace “theme_name” with the name of your actual theme’s folder.
    5. For example, if you’re using a theme named “MyTheme,” you would rename the folder to “MyTheme_old.”
    6. After renaming the theme folder, WordPress will automatically switch to one of the default themes (e.g., Twenty Twenty-One) because it can’t find the active theme.
    7. Test your website to see if the 500 Internal Server Error is resolved with the default theme. If it is, it suggests that the previous theme may have been causing the issue.
    8. To switch back to your original theme, simply rename the “theme_name_old” folder back to its original name (remove “_old” from the folder name).

After completing these steps, remember to thoroughly test your site with the new theme to ensure that it functions correctly. If the error was indeed caused by your previous theme, you may need to contact the theme’s developer or update the theme to a more recent version to resolve the issue.

6. Check File Permissions:

File Permissions: Incorrect file permissions can lead to server errors. Ensure that your WordPress files and directories have the correct permissions. Here’s how to check and set file permissions.

Note: You can use an FTP client like FileZilla or your hosting control panel’s file manager to manage file permissions. The steps below outline how to do this using FileZilla:

    • Connect to Your Server:
      • Open FileZilla (or your preferred FTP client) and connect to your website’s server using your FTP credentials.
    • Navigate to the WordPress Root Directory:
      • Once connected, navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation. This is typically the folder where your “wp-config.php” file is located.
    • Check File Permissions:
      • Right-click on the WordPress root directory and select “File Permissions” or “File Attributes,” depending on your FTP client.
      • You’ll see a numeric value representing the current permissions for the directory and its contents. It typically looks like “755” or “644.”
    • Here’s what these numbers mean:
      • 755: Read, write, and execute permissions for the owner, and read and execute permissions for group and others.
      • 644: Read and write permissions for the owner, and read-only permissions for group and others.
    • Adjust File Permissions:
      • To adjust file permissions, you can use the FTP client’s interface
        • For directories (folders), set the permission to “755.” Right-click on the directory, select “File Permissions,” and enter “755.”
        • For files, set the permission to “644.” Right-click on the file, select “File Permissions,” and enter “644.”
      • Apply Permissions Recursively:
        • Some FTP clients allow you to apply permissions recursively to all files and subdirectories. Check for an option like “Apply to all files and directories” or “Apply recursively.”
      • Confirm Changes:
        • After setting the correct permissions, confirm the changes, and your FTP client should apply them to the selected files and directories.
    • Test Your Site:
      • Test your website to see if the 500 Internal Server Error is resolved. Correcting file permissions often helps resolve this issue.

Remember that setting file permissions correctly is important for security. Setting overly permissive permissions can make your site vulnerable to attacks, so always aim to use the least necessary permissions to keep your site secure.

7. Database Repair:

Database Concerns: In case you have suspicions of database issues, you may consider attempting to repair your WordPress database. Gain access to your database via tools like phpMyAdmin or similar options and search for the option to repair tables.

9. Check for Theme/Plugin Compatibility:

Update Themes and Plugins: Ensure that your WordPress core, themes, and plugins are all up to date. Compatibility issues can sometimes lead to WordPress Internal Server Error.

8. Contact Your Hosting Provider:

If none of the preceding steps manage to resolve the issue, it’s plausible that the problem lies on the server side or necessitates server-level configuration adjustments. In such cases, it’s advisable to reach out to your hosting provider’s support team for professional assistance.

Always remember to create a backup of your website before implementing substantial alterations, particularly when the root cause of the error remains uncertain. This precaution ensures that you can restore your site if any complications arise during the troubleshooting process.

 

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