Are you getting an Internal Server Error in WordPress? One of the more common WordPress issues is the Internal Server Error WordPress. Since the mistake doesn't provide any further information, it can be a little challenging. Many first-timers find it to be very bothersome. We'll walk you through fixing the 500 external server issues associated with WordPress in this article.
What does the Troubleshooting Internal Server Error WordPress mean?:

One frequent web server issue is the 500 Internal Server Error WordPress. It can occur on any website and is not unique to WordPress. Technically, the problem code 500 in the message that is displayed is an HTTP error number. The typical description of this code will be displayed when you look it up.
The response code 500 Internal Server Error denotes an unforeseen circumstance that hindered the server's ability to process the request.
The fact that the error code is generic and catch-all indicates that the server couldn't manage to identify a more suitable and useful error message at the time the problem happened.
Depending on whatever software for the web server (Apache and Nginx) your website utilizes and which computer you are using, the error page will appear differently.
When you are using Google Chrome with Nginx, it could look the same. In the case that Google Chrome cannot locate a page with errors to display, it will also appear in distinct ways:
This can be very annoying for beginners. Nothing can point them in the correct direction to make the required immediate fixes. Asking a physician how to treat your discomfort without disclosing its location is analogous to asking them how to fix a server's internal fault.
To correct the mistake without damaging anything, you can attempt to treat each common source of the error one at a time if you are aware of them.
What might be leading to WordPress's internal server error?:
Internal Server Error WordPress often comes from a malformed.htaccess file, shoddy plugin coding, or your current WordPress theme. Internal Service error WordPress can additionally be caused by a corrupt core WordPress file and a PHP memory limit.
Under specific conditions, the entire website may function properly, but the internal server problem displays only when you attempt to access the administrator's area.
The problem usually happens before WordPress loads, and the server is unable to obtain enough data to determine what prompted it to halt.
Having said that in mind, let us now examine the process of troubleshooting WordPress' internal server problem.
How to fix the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress:
Verify that you have a full WordPress backup of the site on hand before you start troubleshooting. Some of you can make a full backup of the website using a WordPress backup plugin when you are connected to the Blogger admin area.
We advise addressing this with Duplicator. It additionally makes website backups easy to do, but it also allows you to store copies on the cloud and—above all—restore webpages from backups.
Alternatively, you can use phpMyAdmin as well as an FTP client to manually build a WordPress backup when you do not have access to the WordPress administration area.
After that, you're able to troubleshoot and fix the internal server error on the website by following the procedures mentioned above.
Clear your WordPress and browser cache:
Error page caches can occasionally be unintentionally stored by browsers and WordPress caching plugins. Cleaning the cache in your internet browser is the first step toward fixing this. After that, go to the options page of your cache plugin and delete the WordPress cache when you are able to access the WordPress administration area of your online presence.
Examining the.htaccess file for corruption:
WordPress uses the.htaccess file, which is the server's configuration file, for setting up redirection. The corrupt.htaccess file constitutes one of the most prevalent causes of a server-specific error.
The simplest solution is to go to the WordPress administration area's Settings » Permalinks page and select the "Save Changes" button before making any modifications at all.
WordPress will now attempt to generate a new.htaccess file for you or update the existing one. Check to verify if an Internal Server Error WordPress has been fixed by going to the website in question.
Verify that WordPress has the ability to create and write to the.htaccess file when the issue is still present. Sometimes WordPress is unable to produce and write to your.htaccess file because of file and location restrictions.
Now you may attempt a manual update of the.htaccess file. Utilizing FTP, or the File Management program, from the hosting account's control, you must first log in to your website. The primary.htaccess file has to be changed to something like.htaccess_old next. WordPress cannot find the file, but you can save it as a second copy because of this.
You must access your website utilizing FTP or through the File Manager application in the cPanel dashboard of the hosting service you are using in order to rename the.htaccess file.
The.htaccess file can be found in the exact same directory as the wp-content, wp-admin, and wp-includes directories once you've connected. To change the filename of the.htaccess file to.htaccess_old, just right-click on it.
Making a new.htaccess file is the next step:
Right-click on the main folder of your website and select the File Manager and FTP client's "Build new file" option. To save the newly created file, give it a name. .htaccess and select "OK." It is now necessary for you to apply the standard WordPress rewriting rules to this empty. htaccess file.
All you have to do is click right on the object in question and choose 'View/Edit' from your File Manager program and FTP client.
Notepad, TextEdit, and another simple text writer will appear with a blank file. The code next has to be pasted inside it now:
- # BEGIN WordPress
- <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
- RewriteEngine On
- RewriteBase /
- RewriteRule ^index.php $ - [L]
- RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME}! -f
- RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME}! -d
- RewriteRule: /index.php [L]
- </IfModule>
- #END WordPress
WordPress uses this code as its default rule set. Remember to save your edits and submit the file to the server once more.
Check to verify if the server's internal issue has been fixed by going to your website. If so, congratulations! You've dealt with the internal server problem.
Important: Make sure you go to your WordPress admin area's Settings » Permalinks page and click the Save icon before making any changes, before proceeding. This will make sure that your written pages refrain from returning a 404 error by generating a new.htaccess file that is filled with the necessary rewrite rules.
When you were unable to locate the solution for a corrupt.htaccess document, you should read this article again.
Raising the PHP Memory Limits:
When a script uses up all of the PHP memory restrictions, an internal server error may occasionally occur.
Changing the wp-config.php file is the simplest method for raising the PHP memory limit. If you're just starting out, use caution when doing this. Because even minor errors with WordPress's fundamental files can cause your website to break down, you should carefully follow these steps.
To get started, choose between an FTP client and the File Manager program from the hosting provider's control panel for connecting to your site using WordPress.
The wp-config.php file is located in the website's main folder. If you right-click on it, choose "Download." By doing this, you'll make sure you have an extra file in case anything goes wrong. After saving that, you can choose to "View/Edit" with a click right on it.
You must insert the following code within the wp-config.php file, directly above the line that says, "That's all, stop modifying!" Congratulations on your great publication!
- define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );
You should raise the RAM limit by doing the following, assuming you only get an internal server issue while attempting to upload an image and log into the WordPress admin:
- Make sure that your computer has a blank text file called php.ini.
- Enter the following code there as well: memory is 256 MB.
- Save the file.
- Using FTP, upload it to your /wp-admin/ folder.
If raising the memory limit solved the issue for you as well, then it was only momentarily resolved. The explanation for why your memory is running out is still something you are required to explore.
This can be a theme function or a plugin with bad design. To assist you in locating the precise assessments, we highly advise you to request that your website's web hosting provider examine the server logs.
If increasing the PHP RAM limit fails to fix the problem for you, more troubleshooting is required
Deactivate every plugin for WordPress:
When none of the solutions mentioned above resolve the issue for you, a certain plugin that is installed on the website is probably responsible for it.
A different possibility is that there are several plugins combined that aren't getting along. You may easily remove every WordPress plugin by visiting the plugins page if you have access to the website's WordPress admin area.
On the other hand, you can use FTP to remove all WordPress plugins when you are able to enter the WordPress admin area.
Just use an FTP client and the file management software found in the hosting account's dashboard to create a connection to your WordPress website.
After interacting, locate the plugins folder in the /wp-content/ folder and modify it to plugins.deactivated. WordPress searches the plugins folder for plugins. All plugins will be automatically deactivated when a plugins folder cannot be located.
To check if this fixed the server's internal issue on your website, attempt to access it right away. You only need to modify the "plugins.deactivated" folder in the plugins in order to restore all of your plugins.
Now that they are backwards, your plugins will still be inactive. To identify which plugin is generating the internal server issue, you can now enable each plugin individually when you go to your website.
Go on reading when switching off every plugin fails to fix an internal server problem in your online presence.
Change to WordPress's Default Template:
A WordPress theme's code could be the source of the Internal Server Error WordPress. You must change the theme to the WordPress default template in order to ascertain whether this is the case.
Navigate to the Appearance > Themes page when you can access the WordPress administrator area. To change the design of the theme, just click the activate button when the default template is already installed.
You can install a default theme (such as Twenty-two-three, Twenty-two-two, and so on) by clicking the 'Add New' icon at the top when you don't already have one installed. Some of you can still change to the default template when you aren't able to enter the WordPress admin area.
Just use an FTP client for access to your site using WordPress, then locate the /wp-content/ folder. To download the themes from the folder to your desktop or laptop as a backup, right-click on it. The themes folder needs to be removed from your website next. Proceed to make a new theme folder after it has been eliminated.
If the newly created themes folder is empty, it indicates that you do not currently have any WordPress templates installed.
The next step is to download the standard WordPress design to your computer by going to the WordPress templates directory. The theme will then be downloaded to your machine in zip file format by your browser.
Find a file on your machine, then extract its zip file. The file can be zipped by those who use Windows by clicking on the contents and choosing "Extract All." Double-clicking the zip file allows Mac users to extract it.
Your theme for WordPress is now visible when stored in a folder. Return to your File Manager or FTP software and transfer this archive to the themes folder that is empty.
WordPress will launch using the default design by default after it has been uploaded. To check if this fixed a private server error, go to your website.
If you're looking for a broader selection of professionally designed WordPress themes for future use or to upgrade from the default look, consider checking out the WP Theme Bundle. It offers a comprehensive set of responsive and customizable themes suitable for a wide range of websites.
You are able to reupload the WordPress templates from the backup and go back to the original theme if none of this works. Remain calm. You can still try a few additional things to resolve the problem.
Resubmitting the core files:
It is worthwhile to re-upload the /wp-admin/ and /wp-includes/ directories from a new WordPress install when the plugin and theme settings were ineffective in fixing the Internal Server Error WordPress.
In the unlikely event that a file is hacked, this might fix the issue without erasing any of your personal data.
You must first go to WordPress.org and select the "Download" option there. Your machine is going to download the WordPress zip archive as a result.
Proceed and open the zip file. You'll discover a WordPress folder within. The next step is to use an FTP client to establish a relationship with your WordPress website. Once connected, navigate to your website's root folder. It is a folder containing the wp-content, wp-admin, and wp-includes directories. Access the WordPress directory on your PC by tapping on it in the left column.
The files that reside inside your WordPress folder must now be chosen, and they must be downloaded and posted to your website. Those directories will now be uploaded to your server by your FTP client.
You'll be prompted to decide whether to replace the files. After choosing "Overwrite," tick the "Always use this operation" box and select "Apply to current batch only." Your previous WordPress files are going to be replaced with brand-new copies via your FTP client. This procedure will resolve the server's internal problem when your WordPress plugins were corrupted.
Enable debug logging in WordPress:
There is an integrated system in WordPress to store logs for problem-solving. By installing the WP Debugging plugin, users can enable it. See our instructions on adding a WordPress plugin for further information. The plugin will enable debug logs on the website you are running on WordPress once it is active.
You may enable debugging on your site using WordPress even when you don't have access to the administrative area by incorporating some of the following content into your wp-config.php file:
- define( 'WP_DEBUG', true);
- define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
After enabling debug logs, users can access these logs by going to the /wp-content/ subdirectory with an FTP client.
A text editor can be used to access the debug log file, which will display a list of issues and cautions appearing in your online presence.
Errors and warnings might sometimes be innocuous occurrences that don't always require correcting. Yet, you can steer yourself in the right direction when the website is displaying an internal server problem.
Conclusion:
The Internal Server Error WordPress is a common problem that is not specific to WordPress and may occur on any website. The 500 HTTP error code denotes an unanticipated event that made it more difficult for the server to handle the request. This error is frequently caused by a faulty core WordPress file, a badly coded plugin, or a malformed.htaccess file. Make sure you have a complete backup of your WordPress site, empty the cache in both your browser and WordPress, and follow the preceding instructions to resolve the 500 external service issue. For a smoother experience, consider using reliable and well-coded WordPress themes to minimize conflicts and reduce the risk of errors.
Re-upload the /wp-admin/ and /wp-includes/ directories from a new WordPress install to fix internal server problems. Download the WordPress zip archive, open it, and use an FTP client to connect to your website's root folder. Overwrite previous files with new ones. Enable debug logging in WordPress by installing the WP Debugging plugin. Access debug logs by FTP client and read them to identify issues and warnings.