The HTTP 500 error in WordPress can occur due to various reasons. It’s a generic error message that indicates something went wrong on the server side, but it doesn’t provide specific information about the cause.
Here are some of the most common reasons why you might encounter a 500 error in WordPress:
Plugin or theme conflicts
Try deactivating the recently installed or updated plugins or themes one by one to see which one is causing the issue.
For example, you can rename the plugin folder via FTP by adding “_deactivated” to the end of the folder name.
You can also switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One to see if the issue persists.
Corrupted WordPress files
You can try reinstalling WordPress by overwriting the existing files. First, make a backup of your website, then download a fresh copy of WordPress from WordPress.org. Unzip the files and delete the “wp-content” folder.
Next, upload the remaining files to your website’s root directory via FTP, overwriting the existing files.
Insufficient PHP memory limit
You can increase the PHP memory limit by modifying the php.ini file or by adding a line to your .htaccess file. For example, you can add the following line to your .htaccess file: “php_value memory_limit 256M”.
You can also edit the php.ini file and change the “memory_limit” value to a higher number like “256M”.
Corrupted .htaccess file
Try renaming the file to .htaccess_old and then create a new, empty .htaccess file. For example, you can rename the file via FTP, then create a new file with the same name and no content in it.
Server-related issues
Contact your hosting provider to investigate the issue. They may need to check server logs or perform server configuration changes to resolve the issue.
WordPress core files issue
You can try reinstalling WordPress core files manually, using an FTP client or file manager. First, make a backup of your website, then download a fresh copy of WordPress from WordPress.org.
Unzip the files and delete the “wp-content” folder. Next, upload the remaining files to your website’s root directory via FTP, overwriting the existing files.
PHP or MySQL version incompatibility: Try downgrading PHP or MySQL to a compatible version. You can contact your hosting provider to ask about which version is compatible with WordPress.
For example, if you’re using cPanel, you can use the “Select PHP Version” tool to change the PHP version.
In summary, fixing the HTTP 500 error in WordPress involves troubleshooting and eliminating potential causes one by one until you find the solution that works for you.
If you are looking for a detailed guide so, please check How to Fix the 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress
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Be sure to make a backup of your website before making any changes, and if you’re unsure of how to fix the issue, consider reaching out to a professional developer or your hosting provider for assistance.
