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

A 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress is one of the most frustrating issues you can face. You try to open your site — but instead of your homepage, you get a blank screen or a message like this:

“500 Internal Server Error — Something went wrong on the server.”

Don’t panic — it’s fixable. If you need immediate help fixing this, you can get emergency WordPress support to quickly resolve the issue and get your site back online.
This guide will walk you through every possible reason and step-by-step solutions for fixing the 500 error in WordPress. By the end, your website will be back up and running without losing data.

What Is a 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress?

The 500 Internal Server Error is a server-side error — meaning your website’s server encountered a problem but couldn’t specify what exactly went wrong.

Unlike the 404 “Page Not Found” error, the 500 error is generic. It can appear in multiple forms:

• “HTTP 500 – Internal Server Error”

• “500 Error”

• “WordPress Internal Server Error”

• “The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration”

This error usually indicates something went wrong in your:

• .htaccess file

• PHP configuration

• plugins or theme

• WordPress core files

• or even server limits like memory or execution time.

Step 1: Check for Temporary Server Glitch

Before diving deep, refresh your site or try again after a minute.
Sometimes, your web host’s server may have a temporary overload or timeout.

You can also:

• Clear your browser cache.

• Check the site in Incognito mode or another device.

• If you’re using a caching plugin, clear its cache from your host control panel.

If the error persists, continue below.

Step 2: Enable Debugging in WordPress

WordPress has a built-in debugging mode that helps reveal what’s going wrong behind the scenes. You can follow our detailed guide on how to enable WordPress debug mode to find errors for a complete step-by-step walkthrough.

1. Access your website’s files using FTP or File Manager (from cPanel).

2. Locate your wp-config.php file in the root directory.

3. Add or edit these lines:

Now, reload your site.
If there’s a specific PHP or plugin error, WordPress will log it in a file named:

Check that file — it will usually tell you which plugin, theme, or function is causing the issue.

Once done, remember to turn off debugging by setting:

Step 3: Check and Fix the .htaccess File

One of the most common causes of a 500 error is a corrupted .htaccess file.

How to Fix:

1. Connect to your site via FTP or File Manager.

2. Find the file named .htaccess in your site’s root folder.

3. Download a backup of this file (just in case).

4. Delete the .htaccess file from the server.

5. Try reloading your site.

If the site works fine now — the issue was the corrupted .htaccess file.

Now, regenerate a new one:

• Go to WordPress Dashboard → Settings → Permalinks

• Click Save Changes (without modifying anything)

This will automatically create a clean .htaccess file with default WordPress rules.

Default .htaccess example:

Step 4: Deactivate All Plugins

A faulty or outdated plugin can crash your site, triggering a 500 Internal Server Error.

Option 1: If You Can Access WordPress Admin

• Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins

• Select all → Choose Deactivate → Apply.

Now reload your site.
If the error is gone, reactivate plugins one by one to identify the culprit.

Option 2: If You Can’t Access Admin Panel

• Use FTP/File Manager. If you want a full guide on how to disable WordPress plugins without admin access, check out this step‑by‑step tutorial — it covers multiple methods you can use when the dashboard isn’t available.

• Go to /wp-content/.

• Rename the plugins folder to something like plugins_disabled.

Now refresh your site.
If it works — one of your plugins was causing the problem.

Rename it back to plugins, and then rename each plugin folder one by one to find the bad one.

Step 5: Switch to a Default Theme

If the error isn’t caused by a plugin, your theme might be the issue.

To test it:

1. Access your site via FTP.

2. Go to /wp-content/themes/.

3. Rename your active theme folder (e.g., astra → astra_old).

WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Five. If you need an alternative method to change your theme when you can’t access the dashboard, check out how to safely change WordPress theme via database for a step‑by‑step database‑level solution.

If your site loads correctly now — your theme was the culprit.
Reinstall or update it to fix the problem.

Step 6: Increase PHP Memory Limit

If your website runs out of server memory, it can trigger a 500 error.
You can increase the PHP memory limit manually. For a complete solution if you’re seeing memory‑related errors, see our guide on how to fix the “Allowed Memory Size Exhausted” error in WordPress — it walks through adjusting memory limits and preventing future issues.

Option 1: Edit wp-config.php

Add this line before the line that says “That’s all, stop editing!”:

Option 2: Edit .htaccess

Add this code at the top:

Option 3: Edit php.ini (if you have access)

If none of these work, contact your hosting provider — some shared hosts block manual memory increases.

Step 7: Re-upload Core WordPress Files

Sometimes, core files like index.php or wp-settings.php become corrupted during updates.

Here’s how to safely replace them:

1. Download a fresh copy of WordPress from wordpress.org/download.

2. Extract the ZIP file on your computer.

3. Upload the following folders/files via FTP:

   • /wp-admin/

   • /wp-includes/

   • All root PHP files (except wp-config.php and /wp-content/)

When prompted, replace the existing files.

This will fix any corrupted WordPress core file without affecting your themes, plugins, or content.

Step 8: Check File Permissions

Incorrect file permissions can also cause the 500 error.

Here’s the correct setup:

• Folders: 755

• Files: 644

If you’re using FTP:

• Right-click on your WordPress root folder.

• Choose File Permissions.

• Set directories to 755 and files to 644, then apply changes recursively.

Step 9: Check Server Logs

Your web hosting control panel (like cPanel or Plesk) usually includes Error Logs.

• Login to your cPanel.

• Look for Metrics → Errors or Logs → Error Log.

• You’ll see entries like:

  [Sat Oct 4 09:35:27.564321] [error] [client 192.168.1.1] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function...


These lines help identify what exactly caused the issue.

Step 10: Contact Your Hosting Provider

If you’ve tried everything above and the issue persists, the problem may lie deeper:

• Server misconfiguration

• PHP version mismatch

• Firewall or security modules blocking scripts

Your web host can:

• Check real-time server logs

• Fix permission issues

• Adjust PHP configurations

Just mention:

“I’m getting a 500 Internal Server Error in my WordPress site. I’ve already tested plugins, themes, and .htaccess.”

They’ll understand exactly where to look.

Bonus: How to Prevent 500 Errors in the Future

To keep your WordPress site error-free:

• Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated.

• Avoid nulled or outdated plugins.

• Take regular backups (use UpdraftPlus, WPVivid, or Jetpack). You can also choose from the top 5 backup plugins for WordPress to automate backups and protect your site against unexpected errors like the 500 Internal Server Error.

• Use reliable hosting (like Cloudways, SiteGround, or Hostinger).

• Optimize your PHP memory and database.

Conclusion

The 500 Internal Server Error might look scary, but it’s actually one of the most straightforward WordPress errors to fix once you know where to look.

Start with the .htaccess file, then check plugins, theme, and memory limits — and you’ll get your site back online in no time.

Remember, regular backups and updates are your best protection against future issues.

If you still face the problem, WPThrill’s expert team can help you debug and restore your site safely.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What causes the 500 Internal Server Error ?

This error usually happens when something goes wrong on the server side. Common causes include corrupted .htaccess files, plugin or theme conflicts, PHP memory limits, or incorrect file permissions. Sometimes it can also be due to server misconfiguration from your hosting provider.

2. How can I quickly fix the Error?

Start by renaming your .htaccess file to .htaccess_old to reset it, then reload your website. If that doesn’t work, deactivate all plugins using FTP and reactivate them one by one. You can also increase the PHP memory limit or switch temporarily to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Five.

3. Can I fix the 500 Error without cPanel or hosting access?

Yes. You can use an FTP client like FileZilla or your hosting’s file manager to access your WordPress files. From there, you can rename or edit files like .htaccess and disable plugins or themes manually.

4. Will reinstalling WordPress fix the Issue?

Sometimes, yes — especially if the core files are corrupted. Reinstalling WordPress replaces all core files without affecting your content, plugins, or themes. However, always back up your site before doing this step.

5. How can I prevent the 500 Internal Server Error in the future?

Keep your WordPress version, plugins, and themes updated. Avoid installing poorly coded plugins, and regularly check your error logs. It’s also good to use reliable hosting with enough PHP memory allocated.

6. What if I can’t fix the error myself?

If you’ve tried all the steps and your site still shows a 500 error, it’s best to get professional help. You can use our WordPress 500 Error Fix Service for just $29 — our experts will diagnose and fix the issue within hours.