How to Fix 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress
This guide shows you how to fix the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress. This is one of the most common website errors and usually indicates a server-side issue, but the exact cause is not always obvious.
Follow the steps below to quickly identify and resolve the issue using either cPanel or DirectAdmin.
What Causes a 500 Error?
A 500 Internal Server Error can be caused by several issues, including plugin conflicts, corrupted files, incorrect permissions, or server configuration problems.
Plugin Conflict
A faulty or incompatible plugin may break your site.
.htaccess File Issue
Corrupted or incorrect rules can trigger server errors.
PHP Memory Limit
Your website may not have enough memory to run.
File Permissions
Incorrect permissions can prevent files from executing.
Step-by-Step Fix
Fix Using cPanel
Step 1: Disable Plugins
Go to File Manager → public_html → wp-content and rename the plugins folder.
Step 2: Reset .htaccess
Rename your .htaccess file and allow WordPress to generate a new one.
Step 4: Increase PHP Memory
Update memory limits in cPanel or inside wp-config.php.
Fix Using DirectAdmin
Step 1: Disable Plugins
Go to File Manager → domains → yourdomain.com → public_html → wp-content and rename the plugins folder.
Step 2: Reset .htaccess
Rename your .htaccess file and allow WordPress to recreate it.
Step 3: Check File Permissions
Set files to 644 and folders to 755.
View DirectAdmin Permissions GuideStep 4: Increase PHP Memory
Update memory limits via hosting settings or wp-config.php.
Final Step: Test Your Website
Refresh your website and check if the error has been resolved.
Quick Fix (Advanced)
Default .htaccess File
# BEGIN WordPress
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
# END WordPress
Common Issues & Fixes
Still Getting Error
Re-enable plugins one by one to identify the issue.
Blank Page
This may indicate a white screen of death issue.
Check Error Logs
Use your hosting panel to view server error logs for more details.
