[Fixed] 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress

WordPress users frequently encounter HTTP Error 500, commonly known as Internal Server Error. This issue can be caused by a number of factors, including wrong file permissions, plugin conflicts, or a corrupted .htaccess file. Here’s how to fix a WordPress HTTP Error 500 step by step:

Step 1: Check the .htaccess File

The .htaccess file is a configuration file that is essential to the operation of your WordPress site. An HTTP Error 500 might be caused by a corrupted .htaccess file. To resolve this, head to the root folder of your WordPress installation using your website’s file manager or FTP client. The .htaccess file is located here. Simply rename it to something like .htaccess.old and save the modifications.

Step 2: Deactivate all Plugins

HTTP Error 500 can also be caused by plugins. To see if this is the case, deactivate all of your plugins. Go in to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to the Plugins page, and select “Deactivate” for each plugin.

Step 3: Increase the PHP Memory Limit

When your PHP memory limit is exceeded, the HTTP Error 500 may occur. To resolve this, modify the PHP memory limit in your wp-config.php file. To do so, go to your website’s file manager or FTP client, navigate to the root folder of your WordPress installation, and find the wp-config.php file.

Open the file using a text editor, and add the following line of code at the top:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

Save the changes, and then check if the HTTP Error 500 has been resolved.

Step 4: Check File Permissions

The HTTP Error 500 can also be caused by incorrect file permissions. To resolve this, make sure that the correct file permissions are configured for your WordPress files and directories.

WordPress recommends 755 permissions for directories and 644 permissions for files. To alter the file permissions, open your website’s file manager or FTP client, navigate to the root folder of your WordPress installation, and then select all folders and files. Choose “File Permissions” from the context menu when you right-click on the chosen items. Change the file permissions to the suggested levels here.

For Linux users, navigate to the root of your WordPress installation and execute the following commands to set the correct permissions –

sudo find . -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;

sudo find . -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

Step 5: Contact Your Hosting Provider

If none of the above steps resolved the HTTP Error 500, the problem could be with your hosting provider. In this situation, you should contact your hosting provider and provide them with as much information about the problem as possible, including any error messages you’ve received. They will be able to assist you in resolving the problem.

Conclusion

HTTP Error 500 can be a frustrating issue to handle, but by following the methods given above, you should be able to resolve the issue and get your WordPress site back up and running. If the problem persists, please contact your hosting provider for further assistance.