{"id":1819,"date":"2026-09-23T17:36:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T12:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/?p=1819"},"modified":"2026-09-23T17:37:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T12:07:11","slug":"how-to-fix-500-internal-server-error","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-500-internal-server-error\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix 500 Internal Server Error"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Fix 500 Internal Server Error<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <strong>500 Internal Server Error<\/strong> is a common server-side error that means your website could not complete a request successfully. The error usually appears when there is a problem with the website&#8217;s code, server configuration, PHP settings, plugins, themes, or <code>.htaccess<\/code> file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The error can affect WordPress websites, PHP applications, and websites hosted on cPanel or other hosting panels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide explains the most common ways to fix a 500 Internal Server Error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Refresh the Website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, refresh the page and check whether the error is temporary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also try opening the website in a private or incognito window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the website loads normally after refreshing, the issue may have been temporary. If the error continues, proceed with the steps below.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Check the <code>.htaccess<\/code> File<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A corrupted or incorrectly configured <code>.htaccess<\/code> file is one of the common causes of a 500 error, especially on WordPress websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are using cPanel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to cPanel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open <strong>File Manager<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to your website&#8217;s root directory, usually <code>public_html<\/code>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enable <strong>Show Hidden Files<\/strong> if necessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find the <code>.htaccess<\/code> file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rename it to something such as <code>.htaccess-old<\/code>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open your website again.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the website starts working, the <code>.htaccess<\/code> file was likely causing the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Generate a New WordPress <code>.htaccess<\/code><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After confirming the issue, log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Settings &gt; Permalinks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without changing anything, click <strong>Save Changes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress will normally generate a new <code>.htaccess<\/code> file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Increase the PHP Memory Limit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A website can return a 500 error when a PHP script uses more memory than the server allows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For WordPress, you can increase the memory limit by adding the following line to <code>wp-config.php<\/code>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Add it before the line:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>\/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. *\/\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also check the PHP memory limit in your hosting control panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your application requires more resources, contact your hosting provider to check whether the server has enough available memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Check PHP Version<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An incompatible PHP version can cause a 500 error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This commonly happens after changing PHP versions or installing an application that requires a different PHP version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In cPanel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open <strong>MultiPHP Manager<\/strong> or <strong>Select PHP Version<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select your domain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check the currently assigned PHP version.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Try a PHP version supported by your website or application.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For WordPress, make sure your themes and plugins are compatible with the selected PHP version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not switch to an outdated PHP version permanently just to fix the error. Use a currently supported PHP version whenever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Disable WordPress Plugins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A faulty or incompatible plugin can cause a 500 Internal Server Error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you can access the WordPress dashboard:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to <strong>Plugins<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deactivate all plugins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reload the website.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the website works after disabling the plugins, activate them one at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the error returns, the last activated plugin is likely causing the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If You Cannot Access WordPress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can disable plugins through cPanel File Manager:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open <code>public_html<\/code>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to <code>wp-content<\/code>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find the <code>plugins<\/code> folder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rename it to <code>plugins-old<\/code>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reload your website.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the website starts working, a plugin is likely responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Check the WordPress Theme<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A damaged or incompatible theme can also cause a 500 error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you can access WordPress, temporarily activate a default WordPress theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you cannot access the dashboard, you can rename the active theme&#8217;s folder from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>wp-content\/themes\/\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress may then fall back to an available default theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the website starts working, check the theme for compatibility issues or recent changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Check File and Folder Permissions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Incorrect file permissions can prevent the web server from accessing required files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Common WordPress permissions are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>Folders: 755\nFiles: 644\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Avoid setting all files and folders to <code>777<\/code>. This can create security problems and is usually unnecessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you recently changed permissions or migrated the website, restore the correct permissions and test the website again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Check the Error Logs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the previous methods do not solve the problem, check your server&#8217;s error logs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In cPanel, look for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Metrics &gt; Errors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on your hosting configuration, you may also find logs inside your account&#8217;s domain or log directories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The error log can reveal the exact reason for the 500 error, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PHP fatal errors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Memory limit errors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Permission problems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Missing PHP extensions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Invalid <code>.htaccess<\/code> directives<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plugin or theme errors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Server configuration problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, an error such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>PHP Fatal error\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">usually indicates a PHP, plugin, theme, or application problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Check Recent Changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think about what changed immediately before the error appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Common causes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Installing a new plugin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Updating WordPress<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Updating a theme<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Changing PHP versions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Editing <code>.htaccess<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Changing PHP settings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uploading new code<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Migrating the website<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Changing server configuration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the error appeared immediately after a change, temporarily undo that change and test the website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Check PHP Extensions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some PHP applications require specific PHP extensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a required extension is missing or disabled, the application may generate a 500 error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In cPanel, open <strong>Select PHP Version<\/strong> and check the available PHP extensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Common extensions used by PHP applications include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>mysqli\ncurl\nmbstring\nxml\nzip\ngd\nintl\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The exact requirements depend on your application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. Check Server Resource Usage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A website may return a 500 error when the hosting account reaches its resource limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check your hosting panel for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>CPU usage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RAM usage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Entry processes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I\/O usage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Number of processes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disk space<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inode usage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the account is regularly reaching its limits, you may need to optimize the website or upgrade the hosting resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12. Restore a Working Backup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the error started after a major change and you cannot identify the cause, restoring a recent working backup can be an effective recovery method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before restoring, make sure you have a backup of the current website and database if possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After restoration, identify what caused the original issue before making the same changes again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">13. Contact Your Hosting Provider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have checked the website files, PHP configuration, plugins, themes, and logs but the error continues, the problem may be related to the server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Provide your hosting provider with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your domain name<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The approximate time the error started<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recent changes you made<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The error log<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any relevant PHP error message<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The hosting provider can then check server-level logs and configuration that may not be accessible from your hosting account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <strong>500 Internal Server Error<\/strong> does not usually identify the exact problem by itself. The cause can be anything from a corrupted <code>.htaccess<\/code> file to a PHP error, plugin conflict, incorrect permissions, or server resource limitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For WordPress websites, start by checking the <code>.htaccess<\/code> file, plugins, theme, PHP version, memory limit, and error logs. For other PHP applications, check the application logs, PHP configuration, required extensions, and server resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most important step is to <strong>check the error log<\/strong>. It usually provides the information needed to identify the actual cause instead of making random configuration changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"How to Fix 500 Internal Server Error A 500 Internal Server Error is a common server-side error that&hellip;","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1821,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tutorial","category-wordpress","cs-entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1819"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1819\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1822,"href":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1819\/revisions\/1822"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nivohost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}