How to Fix a WordPress Website Showing a 500 Internal Server Error

Introduction

A 500 Internal Server Error is a general server error that indicates something has gone wrong, but the server cannot provide a more specific explanation.

The error may appear as:

  • 500 Internal Server Error
  • HTTP Error 500
  • Internal Server Error
  • This page isn't working

This error can affect:

  • The entire website
  • The WordPress administration area
  • Specific pages only

This guide explains the most common causes and troubleshooting steps.

Common Causes

A 500 Internal Server Error is commonly caused by:

  • Plugin conflicts
  • Theme conflicts
  • Corrupted WordPress files
  • Incorrect website configuration
  • PHP errors
  • Corrupted .htaccess files

Step 1 – Determine Whether the Entire Website Is Affected

Visit:  https://yourdomain.co.za

Then visit:  https://yourdomain.co.za/wp-admin

Determine whether:

  • The public website is affected
  • The administration area is affected
  • Both are affected

This information may help identify the source of the problem.

Step 2 – Consider Recent Changes

Review any recent changes made to the website.

Examples:

  • Plugin installation
  • Plugin update
  • Theme update
  • WordPress update
  • Configuration changes

The error often appears shortly after a modification has been made.

Step 3 – Attempt to Access WordPress Manager

Open your browser and visit:  https://cp.yourdomain.co.za

(Replace yourdomain.co.za with your own domain name.)

Enter your DirectAdmin username and password.

Click: Log In

Click: Extra Features

Then click: WordPress Manager by Softaculous

Locate your WordPress installation.

Step 4 – Disable Recently Updated Plugins

If the issue started after updating or installing a plugin:

Click: Login

From the WordPress Dashboard

Click: Plugins

Then click: Installed Plugins

Deactivate the most recently installed or updated plugin.

Check whether the error has been resolved.

Step 5 – Switch to a Default Theme

If the issue started after a theme update or theme change:

From the WordPress Dashboard

Click: Appearance

Then click: Themes

Activate a default WordPress theme such as:

  • Twenty Twenty-Four
  • Twenty Twenty-Three
  • Twenty Twenty-Two

Test the website again.

Step 6 – Restore a Backup

If the cause cannot be identified, restoring a recent backup may be the quickest solution.

Open WordPress Manager.

Locate your WordPress installation.

Click: Restore

Select a backup created before the issue occurred.

Click: Restore Installation

Allow the restoration process to complete.

Corrupted .htaccess File

A corrupted .htaccess file can sometimes trigger a 500 Internal Server Error.

This may occur after:

  • Plugin installations
  • Security changes
  • Redirect configuration changes

If the error started after modifying website settings, restoring a backup may resolve the problem.

PHP Errors

WordPress relies on PHP to function correctly.

PHP-related problems can occur when:

  • Plugins are incompatible
  • Themes contain errors
  • Updates fail
  • Custom code is incorrect

These issues often require identifying and correcting the problematic component.

Common Problems

Error Appears After a Plugin Update

Deactivate the recently updated plugin and test the website again.

Error Appears After a Theme Update

Switch temporarily to a default WordPress theme.

Error Appears After Editing Website Files

Restore a backup created before the changes were made.

Website Was Working Previously

Review recent changes and updates as these are often the cause of the problem.

Best Practices

To reduce the risk of 500 Internal Server Errors:

  • Create backups before updates.
  • Update plugins regularly.
  • Update themes regularly.
  • Remove unused plugins.
  • Remove unused themes.
  • Test major changes before applying them to a live website.

When to Contact Support

Contact support if:

  • The error persists after restoring a backup.
  • Multiple websites are affected.
  • No recent changes were made.
  • The website remains inaccessible.

Provide details of:

  • Recent updates
  • Recent plugin installations
  • Any error messages displayed

This information can assist with troubleshooting.

Conclusion

A 500 Internal Server Error is usually caused by a plugin, theme, configuration or PHP-related issue.

By reviewing recent changes, testing plugins and themes, and restoring backups where necessary, the issue can often be resolved quickly and safely.

  • website troubleshooting, 500 error, php errors, wordpress troubleshooting
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