Error 500 on a Website: What It Is and How to Fix It

A 500 Internal Server Error is one of the most common and frustrating errors you can encounter when visiting a website. It indicates that something went wrong on the server, but the server is unable to provide more specific details. This error can occur for various reasons, ranging from server misconfigurations to issues with the website’s code.

In this article, we will explain what the 500 Internal Server Error is, the possible causes behind it, and how you can troubleshoot and fix it.

What is a 500 Internal Server Error?

A 500 Internal Server Error is a generic server error message. It means that the web server encountered a condition it didn’t know how to handle and was unable to fulfill the request made by the browser. The server, however, cannot provide more specific information about what went wrong.

Common Error Messages Associated with 500:

• “500 Internal Server Error”
• “HTTP Error 500”
• “500 – Internal Server Error”
• “The website cannot display the page”

Unlike other HTTP errors like 404 (Not Found) or 403 (Forbidden), the 500 error is not client-side (user-side) but rather a server-side issue, meaning the problem exists on the server hosting the website.

Common Causes of a 500 Internal Server Error

Several issues can trigger a 500 error on a website. Some of the most common causes include:

1. Corrupted .htaccess File

The .htaccess file is a configuration file used by servers to manage things like redirects, access control, and more. A misconfiguration or corrupted .htaccess file can lead to a 500 error.

2. PHP Errors

Problems with the website’s PHP code (e.g., syntax errors, misconfigured functions, or server timeouts) can also cause a 500 error. If a PHP script runs into an issue that it can’t handle, the server returns a 500 response.

3. Exceeding Server Resources

Overloading the server with too many requests or scripts can exceed server memory limits or CPU resources, leading to a 500 error. This is common when a website experiences high traffic or when heavy resource-demanding scripts are running.

4. Permissions Issues

Incorrect file permissions for website files or directories can prevent the server from accessing them properly, resulting in a 500 error. If files or directories don’t have the proper read, write, or execute permissions, the server will fail to load the website.

5. Faulty Plugins or Themes

If you’re running a content management system like WordPress, faulty or outdated plugins and themes can sometimes cause a 500 error. A conflict between plugins, or between a plugin and the website’s theme, can lead to issues with the server’s functionality.

6. Exhausted PHP Memory Limit

If the PHP memory limit for a website is too low, and the website requires more resources than allocated, the server may return a 500 error. Increasing the PHP memory limit can resolve this issue.

7. Server Misconfiguration

Errors in the server’s configuration files (such as Apache or Nginx settings) can cause a 500 error if the server is unable to process requests correctly.

How to Fix a 500 Internal Server Error

If you’re the website owner or server administrator, you can troubleshoot and fix a 500 Internal Server Error by following these steps:

1. Check the .htaccess File

The .htaccess file is a common source of 500 errors due to misconfigurations or corrupted rules. You can check and reset the .htaccess file as follows:

• Rename the .htaccess file: Connect to your website via FTP or use your hosting provider’s file manager. Locate the .htaccess file in the root directory and rename it (e.g., .htaccess_old).
• Test the website: Try reloading your website. If the 500 error disappears, the issue was likely with the .htaccess file.
• Create a new .htaccess file: If renaming the file solves the issue, you can create a fresh .htaccess file by logging into your CMS (e.g., WordPress) and resetting the permalinks or by manually creating one with default settings.

2. Increase PHP Memory Limit

Sometimes, the website requires more PHP memory than is currently allocated by the server. To fix this:

• Edit the php.ini file: Locate your server’s php.ini file (the PHP configuration file) and increase the memory limit. For example, change:
  memory_limit = 128M

  to a higher value such as 256M or 512M.

• Edit the wp-config.php file (for WordPress): Add the following line to your wp-config.php file:
  define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);

Reload your website to see if the issue is resolved.

3. Check File Permissions

Ensure that all files and directories have the correct permissions:

• Files should generally have permissions set to 644.
• Directories should have permissions set to 755.

You can change file permissions via your FTP client or file manager by right-clicking on the file or directory and selecting Permissions.

4. Disable Plugins and Themes (for WordPress or Other CMS)

If you suspect that a plugin or theme is causing the error, you can disable them to troubleshoot the issue:

• Disable all plugins: Log into your website via FTP or file manager and navigate to the wp-content/plugins directory. Rename the folder to plugins_disabled to deactivate all plugins. Check if the 500 error is resolved. If it is, reactivate the plugins one by one to identify the problematic one.
• Switch to the default theme: If the issue persists, switch to the default theme (e.g., WordPress’s default theme like Twenty Twenty-One). You can do this by renaming the current theme folder in wp-content/themes.

5. Check Server Logs

Server logs can provide detailed information about what caused the 500 error. You can view these logs in the hosting control panel, or access the logs directly via FTP:

• For Apache servers, check the error_log file in the /var/log/apache2/ directory.
• For Nginx servers, check the logs in /var/log/nginx/.

Look for any error messages or warnings that occurred around the time the 500 error appeared, and address the issues accordingly.

6. Contact Your Hosting Provider

If none of the above methods resolves the issue, the problem may lie with your hosting server. Contact your hosting provider’s support team for assistance. They can access server-level logs and configurations that are not accessible to the website owner and may identify the root cause of the 500 error.

Conclusion

A 500 Internal Server Error is a frustrating issue for both website owners and visitors, but it’s usually fixable with some troubleshooting. By checking your .htaccess file, adjusting memory limits, reviewing file permissions, and disabling faulty plugins or themes, you can often resolve the error on your own. If the issue persists, reaching out to your hosting provider for support may be necessary. Maintaining regular backups of your website and monitoring server health can help prevent future occurrences of the 500 error.