How to Fix WordPress 500 Errors Before Your Site Crashes

WordPress 500 Errors can feel like hitting a dead end: your website goes down, your visitors are blocked, and your workflow comes to a halt. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced site owner, this error can be frustrating because it reveals nothing about its real cause, even on sites running professional WordPress themes But here’s the good news: while the message may be vague, the solutions are not. Fortunately, the 500 error is also one of the most common WordPress issues, which means the fixes are well-documented and highly reliable.

In this comprehensive guide, we cut through the confusion and provide you with a structured, step-by-step troubleshooting plan. We will walk you through the most reliable, battle-tested solutions, from the fastest common fixes to the deep-dive diagnostics, to help you identify the root cause and get your WordPress site back online with minimal downtime.

What Causes WordPress 500 Errors on Your Website?

WordPress 500 Errors indicate that something has gone wrong on the server, but the system cannot pinpoint the exact cause. Below are the most common reasons behind this issue.

• A corrupted .htaccess file is one of the top causes. Since this file controls redirects and server rules, even a small error can stop your site from loading.
• Plugin conflicts are another major reason. Poorly coded or incompatible plugins, especially after updates, can overload the server or break core functionality.
• Your active theme can also trigger WordPress 500 Errors. Broken theme files, outdated code, or failed updates often lead to server crashes.
• An exhausted PHP memory limit can cause scripts to fail mid-execution, resulting in an internal server error.
• Corrupted WordPress core files, caused by incomplete updates or manual edits, may prevent WordPress from running properly.
• Server or hosting issues, such as PHP misconfiguration, insufficient resources, malware, or downtime, can also be responsible.
• Incorrect file permissions, faulty custom PHP code, or database corruption, sometimes affecting WordPress internal linking may further contribute to WordPress 500 Errors.

Most Reliable Solutions to Fix WordPress 500 Errors 

Here are the most reliable, tried-and-tested solutions to fix WordPress 500 Errors on your website. These solutions cover both beginner-friendly fixes and advanced troubleshooting methods. 

Regenerate the “.htaccess” File 

One of the most common reasons behind WordPress 500 Errors is a corrupted .htaccess file. This file controls critical server rules like redirects, permalinks, and security directives. If it becomes damaged or misconfigured, your entire website may stop loading or result in broken links in WordPress resulting in a server error. Regenerating the .htaccess file is a quick and reliable fix that restores default WordPress rules.

The easiest method is by accessing the WordPress admin area, and this should be attempted first.

• Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
• Navigate to Settings > Permalinks.
• Do not change any settings. Simply click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page.

WordPress will automatically generate a new, clean .htaccess file with the default rules for your current permalink structure and save it to your site's root directory.

Disable All Plugins Temporarily 

Disabling all plugins is a critical troubleshooting step, as plugin conflicts or faulty plugin code are extremely common causes of the WordPress 500 Errors. Since these represent some of the most common WordPress errors and usually prevent access to the WordPress dashboard, the most reliable method to temporarily disable all plugins is by using an FTP client or your host's File Manager.

Here is the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Connect to Your Website

• Connect to your web hosting account using an FTP client or your hosting provider's built-in File Manager.
• Navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation.

Step 2: Locate the Plugins Folder

• Inside the root directory, open the wp-content folder.
• Inside wp-content, you will find a folder named plugins.

Step 3: Temporarily Rename the Folder

• Right-click on the plugins folder and select Rename.
• Rename the folder to something like plugins_old or plugins_disabled.

Step 4: Test Your Website

• Open your website in a new browser window or tab and refresh the page.
• If the 500 Error is fixed: This confirms that one or more of your plugins was the culprit.
• If the 500 Error persists: The problem is not plugin-related. You should proceed to check the .htaccess file, the theme, or the PHP memory limit.

Step 5: Isolate the Faulty Plugin

• Rename the folder back to its original name: plugins. This allows WordPress to see the plugins again.
• Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins > Installed Plugins. You will see error messages for each plugin stating that the file path is incorrect.
• Reactivate your plugins one by one, checking your website after each activation.
• The moment the 500 error returns after activating a specific plugin, you have found the problematic one.
• You can then delete that plugin, look for an alternative, or contact the developer for a fix. 

Clear Website Cache and CDN Cache

Caching issues are a frequently overlooked reason WordPress 500 Errors appear to persist even after the problem has been fixed. If your website uses caching plugins, server-level caching, or a CDN, cached error responses may still be served to visitors. Knowing how to clear cache in WordPress websites is vital to resolving this. To avoid this:

• Clear your WordPress cache plugin (WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, etc.)
• Clear server-side cache from your hosting dashboard
• If using a CDN like Cloudflare, clear or purge the CDN cache

After clearing all caches, refresh your site in an incognito window to ensure you’re viewing the latest version. In many cases, the 500 error disappears instantly once cached files are removed.

Increase PHP Memory Limit 

If a script exhausts the server's allocated PHP memory, it can trigger the WordPress 500 Errors.

Action: Edit your wp-config.php file, which is located in your site's root directory.

Fix: Add the following line just before the line that says /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */:

define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );

Test: Save the file and reload your site. If the error disappears, the memory limit was the problem.

Check PHP Version Compatibility

A mismatched or unsupported PHP version can trigger WordPress 500 Errors, especially after hosting providers automatically upgrade PHP or after installing new plugins or themes. Even if your site worked previously, an incompatible PHP version can suddenly cause failures.

To test this:

• Log in to your hosting control panel
  
• Locate PHP Version Manager / MultiPHP Manager
  
• Temporarily switch to a different supported PHP version (such as PHP 8.0 or 8.1)
  
• Save changes and reload your site
  

If the error disappears after switching versions, one of your plugins or your theme may not be compatible with the previous PHP version. Always use the latest stable PHP version that your themes and plugins fully support.

Reupload WordPress Core Files 

If the problem isn't due to plugins, themes, or memory, a core file might be corrupted.

• Action: Download a fresh copy of the latest WordPress version from WordPress.org.
• Fix: Use your FTP client to upload and overwrite the /wp-admin/ and /wp-includes/ folders on your server. Do not overwrite the /wp-content/ folder or the wp-config.php file, as these contain your unique data and settings.

Check File Permissions 

Checking and correcting file permissions is a crucial, though less frequent, solution for the WordPress 500 Errors, especially if the problem appeared after a migration or a hosting change. Incorrect permissions can prevent the server from reading or executing scripts, which triggers the error.

You must use an FTP client (like FileZilla) or your hosting provider's File Manager for this process.

Step 1: Connect to Your Server: Connect to your website's root directory.

Step 2: Set Permissions for All Folders (755) : 

• Select the main WordPress folder.
• In your FTP client, right-click the folder and choose "File Permissions…”.
• Enter the numeric value 755 in the numeric value box.
• Crucially, check the box that says "Recurse into subdirectories" or "Apply to directories only".
• Click "OK" to apply this permission to every folder and subfolder within your WordPress installation.

Step 3: Set Permissions for All Files (644) :

• Select the main WordPress folder again.
• Enter the numeric value 644 in the numeric value box.
• Check the box that says "Recurse into subdirectories" or "Apply to files only".
• Click "OK" to apply this permission to every file within your WordPress installation.

Step 4: Secure wp-config.php : 

• Navigate back to the root directory.
• Locate the wp-config.php file.
• Right-click the file and set the permissions to 440 or 400 for maximum security.

Step 5: Test Your Website : 

After successfully setting these permissions, test your site immediately. If the 500 error disappears, the incorrect permissions were preventing the server from executing or accessing the files correctly.

Enable WordPress Debug Mode to Identify the Exact Error

define('WP_DEBUG', false);

Change it to:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);

define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);

define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', true);

When basic troubleshooting doesn’t immediately resolve WordPress 500 Errors, enabling WordPress Debug Mode can help you uncover the real cause. Debug mode allows WordPress to display detailed PHP error messages instead of the generic “Internal Server Error,” making it easier to pinpoint faulty plugins, themes, or custom code.

To enable debug mode, access your website files using FTP or your hosting File Manager and open the wp-config.php file located in the root directory. Look for the line that says:

Save the file and reload your website. Any PHP errors or warnings causing the 500 error will now be visible on the screen or logged in the wp-content/debug.log file.

Once you have identified the issue, disable debug mode again to prevent errors from being displayed publicly.

Check Server Error Logs for Deeper Diagnosis

If enabling debug mode doesn’t reveal the issue, or your site is completely inaccessible, server error logs provide critical insights into what’s happening behind the scenes. These logs record every server-side error, including PHP crashes, permission problems, and memory failures that cause WordPress 500 Errors.

You can access error logs through your hosting control panel:

• Log in to cPanel or hPanel
  
• Navigate to Metrics > Errors or Logs > Error Logs
  
• Look for recent entries that match the time your website went down
  

Common error log entries may reference:

• Memory exhaustion
  
• Undefined PHP functions
  
• Permission denied errors
  
• Missing or corrupted files
  

If the log messages are unclear, copy them and share them with your hosting support team; they can often resolve the issue quickly using this information.

Contact Hosting Support 

If you’ve tried all the common troubleshooting steps, regenerating the .htaccess file, disabling plugins, switching themes, checking file permissions, and reviewing logs, but the WordPress 500 Errors persist, it’s time to contact your hosting provider.

Many 500 errors originate from the server level, where only your hosting team has access and authority to diagnose deeper problems. Their assistance is often the fastest and most reliable way to resolve complex or hidden issues. 

Tips to Prevent WordPress 500 Errors in the Future

Fixing WordPress 500 Errors is important, but preventing them is even more effective. With regular maintenance and smart website practices, you can minimise server issues and keep your site running smoothly.

1. Keep WordPress, Themes, and Plugins Updated: Outdated files often cause compatibility problems. Always update WordPress core, themes, and plugins to stable versions.

2. Use Reliable and Lightweight Plugins: Avoid poorly coded or resource-heavy plugins. Use trusted plugins only, remove unused ones, and test new plugins on a staging site.

3. Choose a Well-Coded Theme: Select themes that follow WordPress coding standards. Avoid nulled themes and test updates before applying them to your live site.

4. Optimise Your Database Regularly: Clean post revisions, spam comments, and transients. Optimise database tables and take regular backups.

5. Increase PHP Memory Limit: Resource-heavy plugins like WooCommerce or Elementor may require higher memory to avoid server crashes.

6. Use a Quality Hosting Provider: Reliable hosting with good uptime, updated PHP support, strong security, and easy access to logs reduces the risk of WordPress 500 Errors.

7. Monitor Server Logs: Checking logs regularly helps detect errors early before they turn into serious issues.

8. Maintain Proper File Permissions: Set correct permissions (755 for folders, 644 for files) to prevent server access issues.

9. Use a Staging Environment: Test updates, plugins, and code changes safely before pushing them live.

10. Enable Automatic Backups: Regular backups ensure a quick recovery in the event of an issue.

Conclusion 

Facing WordPress 500 Errors can be overwhelming, especially when it suddenly interrupts your site's flow. But the good news is that this common issue is completely fixable with the right approach. By methodically regenerating your .htaccess file, disabling faulty plugins, switching to a default theme, checking file permissions, and reviewing server logs, you can quickly identify and eliminate the root cause. And when things get too technical or server-related, your hosting provider is always your best backup for deeper diagnostics.

Prevention, however, is even more important. Regular site maintenance, timely updates, especially when using a comprehensive WordPress bundle optimised hosting, and routine backups ensure your website stays stable, secure, and far less prone to such errors. With these reliable solutions and preventive tips, you’re fully equipped to keep WordPress 500 errors at bay and maintain a smooth, uninterrupted online presence.