Fix 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress – Step-by-Step Guide

how to fix the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress. Causes include plugins, themes, .htaccess issues, or PHP limits. Step-by-step troubleshooting.

What is the 500 Internal Server Error?

The 500 Internal Server Error is a generic error that means something went wrong on the server, but it doesn’t tell you exactly what.

It’s one of the most common WordPress errors and can be caused by:

• Corrupted .htaccess file
• Plugin or theme conflict
• PHP memory limits reached
• Incorrect file permissions
• Server misconfiguration

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Step-by-Step Fix

✅ Step 1: Check for Corrupted .htaccess File

1. Access your site via FTP or SSH.
2. Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old.
3. Try reloading your site.

If it works → Go to WordPress Dashboard → Settings → Permalinks → Save to regenerate a new .htaccess file.

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✅ Step 2: Increase PHP Memory Limit

Add this line in your wp-config.php:

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

You can also update the limit in php.ini:

memory_limit = 256M

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✅ Step 3: Disable All Plugins

If the error persists:

wp plugin deactivate --all

Then activate plugins one by one to find the culprit.

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✅ Step 4: Switch to a Default Theme

Sometimes themes cause errors. Switch to a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four):

wp theme activate twentytwentyfour

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✅ Step 5: Check File Permissions

Correct permissions should be:

• Folders: 755
• Files: 644

Run:

find /var/www/html -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
find /var/www/html -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

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✅ Step 6: Review Server Error Logs

Check logs for details:

tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log

or

tail -f /var/log/apache2/error.log

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⚡ Quick Recap

• Rename .htaccess and regenerate it.
• Increase PHP memory.
• Disable plugins & switch themes.
• Check file permissions.
• Review server logs for clues.

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✅ These steps will resolve most cases of 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress.