Seeing a “500 Internal Server Error” on your website is scary. It usually means something is wrong, but the server won’t tell you exactly what. Your site goes down, and you might panic.
But don’t worry. This is a very common error. It usually comes from a bad plugin, a corrupt file, or a memory issue. In this guide, we will show you how to fix it step-by-step.
Step 1: Create a Backup
Before you touch anything, back up your site. You are about to change core files. If something goes wrong, you need a safe copy. You can use your hosting panel to download a backup of your files and database.
Step 2: Check for Plugin Conflicts
Bad plugins are the most common cause of this error. Did you just install or update one?
To check this:
Log in to your hosting account (cPanel or FTP).
Go to the wp-content folder.
Rename the plugins folder to plugins_old.
Check your site. If it loads, a plugin is the problem.
Rename the folder back to plugins and turn them on one by one to find the bad one.
Step 3: Check Your Theme
If plugins are not the issue, it might be your theme.
Go to the wp-content/themes folder.
Rename your current theme’s folder.
WordPress will automatically switch to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-One).
If your site comes back, your theme has a bug. You might need to contact the theme developer.
Step 4: Fix Your .htaccess File
A corrupt .htaccess file breaks your site. This file controls how your server directs traffic.
Connect to your site using an FTP tool like FileZilla.
Find the .htaccess file in your main folder.
Rename it to .htaccess_old.
Check your site. If it works, you fixed it!
Go to your WordPress Dashboard > Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes to create a new, clean file.
Step 5: Increase PHP Memory Limit
Sometimes your site just runs out of memory. You can give it more power by editing the wp-config.php file.
Open wp-config.php in your file manager.
Look for the line that says “That’s all, stop editing.”
Right above it, paste this code:
define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );Save the file and refresh your site.
Step 6: Re-upload Core Files
If nothing else works, your main WordPress files might be broken.
Download a fresh copy of WordPress from WordPress.org.
Unzip the file on your computer.
Upload the wp-admin and wp-includes folders to your server, overwriting the old ones.
Do not overwrite your wp-content folder, or you will lose your photos and themes.
Conclusion
The 500 Internal Server Error is frustrating, but it is fixable. By checking your plugins and files patiently, you can get your site back online.
If you have tried all these steps and your site is still down, do not stress. It might be a deeper server issue. Our team offers professional WordPress maintenance plans. We can dig into the server logs, find the exact error, and fix it for you quickly. Get your site running smoothly again today.
