Error 500 (Internal Server Error)
What error 500 means and how to fix it: .htaccess, PHP version, plugins and logs.
Error 500 means the server ran into a problem it cannot process, and it does not say what exactly. The cause is almost always in the site files.
Symptoms#
The browser shows "500 Internal Server Error" or "HTTP ERROR 500" instead of the page.
Most common causes#
- an invalid entry in
.htaccess, - a PHP error in code, a plugin or a theme,
- a PHP version incompatible with the application,
- wrong file or folder permissions,
- lack of memory or an expired execution time.
Step-by-step fix#
- Check the error log. In cPanel open Metrics → Errors or the
error_logfile in the site folder. The last line usually names the file and line of the error (PHP errors and logs). - Disable
.htaccess: rename it to.htaccess-oldand refresh. If the site works, the problem is in the rules (.htaccess basics). - Check the PHP version and revert to the previous one if the error began after a change (Changing the PHP version).
- Disable plugins and the theme: rename the
wp-content/pluginsfolder or the problem plugin. - Check permissions: folders 755, files 644 (File permissions).
When to open a ticket#
If none of the above helps, open a ticket and state: the domain, the start time, what you changed, the last few lines of the error log and the PHP version.
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.htaccess basicsWhat .htaccess is, how to edit it safely and examples of common rules.File permissionsWhat numbers like 644 and 755 mean, which values are usual and how to change them.Changing the PHP versionHow to choose a PHP 8.x version for a domain in MultiPHP Manager and what to check afterwards.PHP errors and logsWhere to find error_log, how to enable error logging and how to read errors when troubleshooting.