How to Fix the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress (10 Tips)

Seeing a 500 internal server error where your website should be is enough to throw anyone into a panic. When your website goes down, you lose out on potential traffic and sales. If it’s offline for a while, it can also negatively impact your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) efforts.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to go about fixing this error. Many of these solutions are fairly straightforward, and you don’t need a lot of technical know-how to start troubleshooting.

In this guide, we’ll cover what the 500 internal server error in WordPress is and discuss some potential causes. Then we’ll give you 10 tips to help you get your website back in working order.

1. Back up your website.
2. Try reloading the page.
3. Clear your browser cache.
4. Access your error logs.
5. Check for the “Error Establishing a Database Connection.”
6. Look for permission errors.
7. Increase your PHP memory limit.
8. Check for problems with your .htaccess file.
9. Look for coding or syntax errors in your CGI/Perl script.
10. Ask your web host about potential server issues.

Let’s get started!

What Is the 500 Internal Server Error?

The 500 internal server error is frustratingly nonspecific. When the error occurs, you usually don’t get many details about it. In fact, you might not receive any information at all.

The 500 error is a generic issue that isn’t specific to WordPress. Chances are you’ve seen it before during your internet explorations. Despite the name, it doesn’t necessarily mean that something is wrong with your server. It could be an issue with your website or browser.

If you do see this error on your site, you’ll want to get it fixed as quickly as possible. A 500 error can impact your SEO if allowed to linger. If your site is crawled while it’s offline, there’s a chance that Google may interpret the error as an issue with your website.

This error can also hurt your User Experience (UX) and give visitors the impression that you’re unprofessional. Not only can a poor UX affect the way Google ranks your site, but it can cause you to lose customers as well. After all, you can’t do business if your site isn’t accessible.

A wide variety of situations can result in the 500 error, making it a bit of a chore to sort out. Potential causes of the 500 internal server error in WordPress include:

• Plugin compatibility issues
• Exhausted PHP memory limit
• Corrupted files
• Coding or syntax errors

The fact that the error message itself tends to be vague doesn’t help. Fortunately, you can solve many of these issues on your own with a bit of know-how.

Related: Got a Different WordPress Error? Check Out These Solutions

Variations on the 500 Internal Server Error

Depending on your operating system, browser, and the cause of the error, there are variations in how it will appear. For example, if a database connection can’t be established, you might see something like this:

A plain white screen, sometimes referred to as the White Screen of Death (WSoD), can indicate a 500 internal server error.

Also, many site owners have the option to customize their 500 error messages. So you might see this error in many different forms.

How to Fix the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress (10 Tips)

Now that you’ve had an introduction to the 500 internal server error, it’s time to discuss how to resolve it. Let’s take a look at ten tips you can use to fix this issue in WordPress.

1. Back up your website.

Before tinkering under the hood, it’s always smart to make a backup of your website. If DreamHost hosts your site, you can take advantage of our one-click backup feature. You can also create a manual backup if you prefer.

To make a complete backup, you’ll need to save copies of your WordPress files as well as your databases. You can back up your site’s files using a Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) client such as FileZilla.

Once you’re connected to your server, navigate to the WordPress files you want to save. These files include the WordPress core installation, plugins, themes, images, and more. To save the files, simply right-click on them and select Download.

Now you’ll need to back up your database, which you can do by logging into phpMyAdmin. Select the database you want to download from the left-hand panel, and then click on the Export tab.

You’ll then need to choose between a “Quick” or a “Custom” export. The Quick export will likely work just fine unless you need to manage more advanced options.

Click on the Go button, and your download should start. Once your website is safely backed up, you can get to work on fixing that 500 error.

Related: How to Create Your First WordPress Plugin

2. Try reloading the page.

Let’s start with the best-case scenario. Some situations that cause a 500 internal error clear up on their own within a few minutes. For example, if you’ve just made changes to a plugin or theme, or if your host is experiencing unusually heavy traffic, you may see a server error. If this is true in your case, you’re in luck, as a simple page reload should get things back to normal.

Therefore, the first thing to try is simply waiting a minute or two, during which the error will hopefully resolve itself. Then you can try reloading the page by pressing F5 or (command + R if you’re using a Mac).

3. Clear your browser cache.

Another potential server error fix that’s quick and easy is clearing your browser cache. It’s possible the cache became corrupted, which would cause problems when attempting to access websites.

First, you might check Down For Everyone Or Just Me. This will determine whether there’s a widespread problem or you’re the only one experiencing difficulties.

If you’re alone in your 500 error frustration, the problem may be your browser. Try accessing your site from a different browser. If an alternative works, it’s a sign that the issue is with your cache.

In Google Chrome, you can clear your cache by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Delete. Alternatively, you can click on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner, followed by More tools > Clear browsing data.

Be sure to check the Cached images and files box. Then click on the Clear data button.

In Firefox, you can clear the cache using the Ctrl + Shift + Delete keyboard shortcut. This will open the Clear Recent History window. In the Time range to clear drop-down menu, select Everything. Check the Cache box, and then click on OK.

In Safari, you can navigate to the History menu item and choose Clear History. Keep in mind that this will delete everything, including cookies and visited pages.

Once you’ve cleared your browser cache, you can attempt to access your website again. If you’re still seeing the 500 internal server error, it’s time to move on to more involved fixes.

4. Access your error logs.

Your site’s error logs may provide insight into what’s causing the 500 error. Depending on your host, these logs may be cycled quite often, so you’ll want to take a look as soon as possible.

You can check your error logs by accessing your site’s files via SFTP and looking for the /logs directory. Next, select the site that’s experiencing the error. You may see several directories at this point. You’ll want to check the one with the most recent date.

You can view the log by downloading it and opening it with your preferred text editor. Hopefully, your error logs will provide you with some additional context for the 500 error.

Another option is to enable the WordPress debug log. You can do this by connecting to your site via SFTP and opening your wp-config.php file. Within it, look for the following line:

define('WP_DEBUG', false);

Once you find it, replace it with the following:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );

define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );

This will create a debug.log file, which you can find under the /wp-content/ directory. Just be sure to change the WP_DEBUG value back to “false” when you’re done troubleshooting.

5. Check for the ‘Error Establishing a Database Connection.’

If there’s been a problem establishing a database connection, not only will your site be offline for visitors, but you won’t be able to access the WordPress admin dashboard either. There are a few possible causes of this:

• Incorrect database login credentials
• A corrupted WordPress database
• A corrupted WordPress installation file

Let’s start with incorrect login credentials, as this is a common cause of the database connection error. If you’re a DreamHost user, you can find your database credentials in your panel. However, if you use a different host, you’ll likely follow a similar procedure.

Navigate to MySQL Databases and find the one that corresponds to your website under the Database(s) on this server section. Here, you’ll find your database name under the Database heading. The username is listed under the Users Access column.

Alt-text: Where to find your MySQL username in DreamPanel.

To find the password, click on the username. On the next screen, scroll down and click on the Show button next to the password field.

Next, you’ll compare these credentials to those in your wp-config.php file. You can access this file in your site’s main directory via SFTP. Once you have the file downloaded, open it and verify that the information under MySQL Settings matches what you found in your panel.

Next, if your database is corrupted, you can quickly repair it through phpMyAdmin. Log in and click on your database in the left panel. Select all of the tables in the database, and then choose the Repair table option from the drop-down menu.

Finally, let’s look at how to handle a corrupted WordPress installation file. Start by downloading a new copy of WordPress and unzipping the file. You’ll need to delete the wp-content folder and the wp-config-sample.php file.

Upload the rest of the files to your site via SFTP, overwriting any existing ones. You now have a brand new, uncorrupted WordPress installation. You’ll also want to clear your browser cache before checking your website again.

6. Look for permission errors.

If any of your files have permissions set incorrectly, you may see the 500 internal server error as a result. Again, you can check and change these permissions using SFTP.

Right-click on any file and select File permissions to open a new dialogue window. In this window, you can check and, if necessary, set new permissions for the file.

Typically, you’ll want to set files to “644” and directories and executables to “755”. However, you may want to check with your host if you’re unsure about the correct values.

7. Increase your PHP memory limit.

Another reason you might see the 500 internal server error is if you’ve exceeded your server’s PHP memory limit. There are several ways to increase your limit, and they all involve using SFTP.

Before you try increasing your memory limit, you may want to start by seeing what it’s currently set to. You can do this through the WordPress admin dashboard. Keep in mind that, with some variations of the 500 error, you won’t be able to access the dashboard. If that’s the case, you may have to skip this step.

From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Tools > Site Health. Click on Info at the top of the screen, and scroll down to the Server section. You should see your PHP memory limit there.

To increase the PHP memory limit, there are a few files you can edit. One is your .htaccess file, typically located in your site’s root directory. Open the file and add the following code:

php_value memory_limit xxxM

You can replace the “xxx” with your desired amount of memory. Usually, 256M is plenty.

You can also increase your memory limit by editing your php.ini file. You should be able to find this file in your root directory. If not, you can go ahead and create one. Add or update its code to the following:

memory_limit = xxxM

Another option is to add in the following code at the top of your wp-config.php file:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', 'xxxM');

If this resolves the 500 error, your next task will be to figure out what is causing the memory limit exhaustion. It could be a problematic plugin or theme. You might consider reaching out to your host for help on finding the exact server diagnostics.

Related: Tutorial: How to Install a WordPress Child Theme

8. Check for problems with your .htaccess file.

Your .htaccess file is one of the core WordPress files. It contains rules for your server, so it could contribute to a 500 internal server error.

If your .htaccess file has become corrupted, you’ll want to go ahead and create a fresh one. Start by logging into your site via SFTP and finding your .htaccess file. Rename the file to .htaccess_old.

Now, create a new .htaccess file in your text editor and paste in the following:

# BEGIN WordPress

RewriteEngine On

RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]

RewriteBase /

RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d

RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

# END WordPress

Go ahead and upload your newly created .htaccess file. Then refresh your site in your browser, and check to see whether the error message is showing.

9. Look for coding or syntax errors in your CGI/Perl script.

If you’re running Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts, any coding errors you’ve made could result in a 500 error. To unearth potential issues with your CGI scripts, log into your site using Secure Shell Access (SSH).

Once you’ve logged in, you can troubleshoot your CGI with this command:

[server]$ ./cgi_name.cgi

The terminal should return a general error message and the line number the culprit is located on. From there, you can work your coding magic!

When working with CGI, there are a few best practices to keep in mind to avoid problems. First, it’s wise to use a plain text editor to ensure that you maintain ASCII format. When you upload scripts, you should also be able to select ASCII mode in your FTP client.

Finally, if necessary, upload to the cgi-bin directory on your server. Then you can double-check your files’ permissions once you have them uploaded.

10. Ask your web host about potential server issues.

If all else fails, there may be a server issue, which only your host can confirm. Unfortunately, if your host’s server is experiencing a problem, you may have to wait out some website downtime.

If you’re a DreamHost client, you can check the DreamHost Status page. This resource provides you with information on all of our services.

If you run into any problems while trying to repair the 500 internal server error, you can always reach out to our tech support team. They’re ready and waiting to lend you a hand! If you’ve followed the tips in this guide, you’ll have plenty of valuable information for the technician.

Additional WordPress Error Reading

Want to learn more about fixing common WordPress errors? We’ve put together several tutorials to help you if you encounter any other issues.

• How to Fix Syntax Errors in WordPress
• How to Fix the WordPress Not Sending Email Issue
• How to Fix the Error Establishing Database Connection in WordPress
• How to Fix WordPress Error 404 Not Found
• How to Fix the Sidebar Below Content Error in WordPress

Let’s Get Your WordPress Website Back on Track

While having to sort out a 500 internal server error isn’t exactly fun, it’s also not as painful as you might imagine. With a little patience and the tips we’ve provided, you should be able to make some progress on getting your website back online.

You can start small by refreshing your page and clearing your browser cache. Then you might want to move onto more involved fixes, such as increasing your PHP memory limit. If you’re not able to resolve the error on your own, DreamHost’s award-winning tech support is just a click away.

When you do run into errors, it’s easier to get back up and running when you have a reliable hosting provider. DreamPress is fast, secure WordPress hosting with powerful features to help make your site a success!