Ways of Fixing 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress?

WordPress is the most used platform but do you know? Sometimes it creates significant errors. Some of them are WSoD(White screen of death), error 400, error 503, and 500 internal server error. These errors are frustrating and can waste some time of yours. But don’t worry, every error has not come alone; it comes up with a relevant solution. Today we will discuss 500 internal server errors and also describe appropriate ways to fix this error.

So read on the full blog to know the various methods by which this internal server error gets solved.

Table of contents

1. What is the internal server error?
2. What are some other names of 500 internal server error
3. Ways of fixing error 500

3.1. Deactivate/disable all the plugins

3.2. On debugging mode

3.3. Deactivate /disable all the themes

3.4. Examine .htaccess file

3.5. Increase PHP Memory limit

3.6. Do reinstallation of WP

3.7. Clear your cache browsing

3.8. Seek the help of your host

What is the internal server error?

The internal server error or the 500 internal server error usually happens when there gets a problem with the file system server. Chances are high when there could be an issue with the server of the host.

What are some other names of 500 internal server errors?

The 500 server error called by the following names

• HTTP Error 500
• Internal Server error
• HTTP 500 Internal error
• HTTP 500 internal server error
• 500 error

Ways of fixing error 500

Deactivate/disable all the plugins

You know what sometimes faulty plugins are the biggest culprits. They can create a problem and aren’t even aware of it. When you install any new plugin, then the chances are high that error 500 happens. So it is advisable to disable /deactivate all the plugins. For this, you can do so one by one and can know which is creating the problem. When all deactivate all after that, you have to activate that also.

If you are unable to know in this way the reason for the error, then some other problem is creating error 500.

on debugging mode

In case WP is troubling you by either giving White Screen of Death (WSoD) and internal server error, then you need to turn on your debugging mode. This is not for getting rid of the problem, but it helps you in knowing what are the issues due to which this problem occurred. You can follow these steps:-

1. a) Go to cPanel.
2. b) Then move to file manager
3. c) There you will get wp-config.php, then you need to find the WP_DEBUG file.
4. d) When you discover it, make it “TRUE”.
5. e) In case, you are not able to see that; you can create it(define(“WP_DEBUG”, TRUE);
6. f) When you make all the changes, then check if the internal server error has gone or not.

If yes, then it is good, others proceed with the following way of fixing.

Deactivate /disable all the themes

Just like plugins, themes are also problem creators. When you install new themes, the error 500 can occur. What do you have to do then? Switch to the default theme, let say you can shift to theme Twenty-Twenty. Then again do reloading of your site, if it loads without showing error, it may be due to faulty themes.

.

Examine your .htaccess file

We are unable to notice that .htaccess file can create issues. The main aim of this file is to rewrite the URL. You can move to your cPanel account and examine .htaccess file there in the root directory. You need to delete the content of the file. Then again you can rename this. May it work.

Increase PHP memory limit

You know what in some cases, increasing the PHP memory limit can help. Open the wp-config.php file. Then it would be best if you discovered WP_MEMORY_LIMIT. At last, you need to change the value to 256 M.

define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);

Now you can check whether the error has gone or not by reloading your site. If yes, then less memory was the reason and if still prevails then move to the next method.

Do Reinstallation of WordPress

Sometimes, if you reinstall WP, then it might help. Do manual WP updating. Maybe this works.

Clear the browsing cache

When you see that error 500 prevails, then you can clear the browsing cache from your browser. It sometimes proves helpful.

Seek the help of the host

When you are unable to examine the cause, then seek the expert’s advice. You can ask the host why this is happening and how to fix this 500 error.

Final Thoughts

There are so many errors in WP, but don’t you need to be panic as there are their fixes too. Here we have discussed 500 internal server errors. We hope that this blog works for you. If you are having any issues, kindly ask us in the comment section.