Server error
WordPress 500 Error
"500 Internal Server Error"
This error indicates a server-side problem. Discover common causes and how to fix them.
Causes and solutions for the 500 error
Corrupted .htaccess file
The .htaccess file contains incorrect rules or is corrupted.
Rename .htaccess and regenerate it via Settings > Permalinks
PHP memory limit exceeded
WordPress doesn't have enough memory to run scripts.
Increase WP_MEMORY_LIMIT to 256M in wp-config.php
Faulty plugin or theme
A plugin or theme causes a fatal error on the server.
Deactivate all plugins via FTP to identify the culprit
Incorrect file permissions
WordPress file/folder permissions are misconfigured.
Files: 644, Folders: 755, wp-config.php: 600
Step-by-step diagnosis
1
Enable debug
Add define('WP_DEBUG', true); in wp-config.php to see the exact error.
2
Check .htaccess
Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old and reload the site.
3
Increase memory
Add define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); in wp-config.php.
4
Deactivate plugins
Rename /wp-content/plugins/ via FTP to deactivate all.
5
Switch theme
Rename the active theme folder to activate a default theme.
6
Check logs
Check error_log in your hosting for more details.