How Do I Fix Internal Server Error 500? Print

A 500 Internal Server Error is a generic error that means "something went wrong on the server." It doesn't tell you exactly what, so you have to play detective.

Fix 1: Check the .htaccess File (Most Common)
A corrupted .htaccess file is often the culprit.

1. Access your site via FTP or cPanel File Manager.

2. Navigate to the public_html folder and find the .htaccess file.

3. Rename it to something like .htaccess_old.

4. Reload your website. If it works, the .htaccess file was the problem.

5. To generate a new default one for WordPress, go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress admin and click "Save Changes."

Fix 2: Increase PHP Memory Limit
If the error started after installing a plugin, you may need more memory.

• Edit your wp-config.php file and add this line:
  define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

Fix 3: Check Error Logs
The real error is usually recorded in a log file.

• In cPanel, look for the "Errors" or "Error Log" icon (often under "Metrics" or "Logs").

• Open the latest error log. It will often tell you exactly which file is causing the problem (e.g., a specific plugin file).

Fix 4: Deactivate All Plugins (via FTP)
If you can't access your admin panel, deactivate all plugins manually:

1. Go to /wp-content/ via FTP.

2. Rename the plugins folder to plugins_old .

3. This turns off all plugins. If the site works, rename the folder back and reactivate plugins one by one to find the bad one.