How to Fix a 500 Internal Server Error

A "500 Internal Server Error" is a message you might see when browsing the web. It means something went wrong on the website's server, but the server can't pinpoint the exact issue. This error could happen because of server misconfigurations, errors in the website's code, problems with the database connection, or not enough resources, like memory or disk space. When you encounter this error, follow the given steps.

Common Precautions for All Platforms

• Back up your site: Always create a backup of your files and database.
• Check server error logs: Server and application logs are the fastest way to pinpoint the problem.
• Test after each step: Make one change at a time and test your site to avoid compounding issues.

Fixing a 500 Internal Server Error on WordPress

The 500 error on WordPress often comes from corrupted plugins, themes, or misconfigurations.

Step 1: Clear Cache

• Clear both your browser cache and any WordPress caching plugins.

Step 2: Check and Regenerate .htaccess

• Rename the existing .htaccess file via FTP or File Manager (e.g., to .htaccess_old).
• Log in to the WordPress dashboard, go to Settings > Permalinks, and click Save to generate a new file.

Step 3: Increase PHP Memory Limit

• Edit wp-config.php and add or increase:

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

Or update the limit in hosting control panel PHP settings.

Step 4: Deactivate All Plugins

• Via dashboard: Go to Plugins and deactivate all.
• If you cannot access admin, rename the /wp-content/plugins folder via FTP.

Step 5: Switch to a Default Theme

• Activate a default theme (e.g., “Twenty Twenty”).
• If admin is inaccessible, rename your active theme’s folder.

Step 6: Re-upload Core WordPress Files

• Download fresh WordPress files.
• Upload and overwrite the /wp-admin and /wp-includes folders (never overwrite /wp-content).

Step 7: Enable Debugging

• Edit wp-config.php:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);

View the error details that appear and diagnose accordingly.

Step 8: Check Server Logs

• Consult your hosting control panel or contact support for error log access.

Fixing a 500 Internal Server Error on PHP Websites

The error on PHP sites usually results from code mistakes, misconfigurations, or permission issues.

Step 1: Check Server Error Logs

• Review your web server or hosting error logs for the exact error message.

Step 2: Enable PHP Error Reporting

• Add at the top of your primary script:

ini_set('display_errors', 1);

ini_set('display_startup_errors', 1);

error_reporting(E_ALL);

Step 3: Check File Permissions

• Files should typically have permission 644, and folders 755.

Step 4: Check for Fatal Errors

• Review recent code changes for syntax or logic errors, especially in files mentioned in the logs.

Step 5: Increase PHP Memory Limit

• In your php.ini or .htaccess:

memory_limit = 256M

Step 6: Check .htaccess Rules

• Temporarily rename the .htaccess file and test if the error resolves.

Step 7: Disable ModSecurity (if applicable)

• Some web application firewalls cause 500 errors; check with your host.

Step 8: Debug with Checkpoints

• Insert checkpoints to isolate where the error occurs in your script like:

die('Reached here');

Fixing a 500 Internal Server Error on Django

In Django, this error is usually caused by unhandled exceptions, misconfiguration, or environment issues.

Step 1: Temporarily Enable Debug Mode

• In settings.py:

DEBUG = True

Warning: Never leave this enabled in production; only use for debugging.

Step 2: Set ALLOWED_HOSTS Correctly

• For testing:

ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['localhost', '127.0.0.1', 'yourdomain.com']

Avoid using ['*'] in production for security reasons.

Step 3: Check Logs

• Review server logs (Gunicorn, Apache, Nginx) and Django’s error logs for Python exceptions.

Step 4: Check Database Connection

• Ensure credentials and service status are correct.

Step 5: Static and Media Files

• Check STATIC_ROOT, MEDIA_ROOT, and that files are collected with:

python manage.py collectstatic

Note: Make sure your web server is configured to serve these directories.

Step 6: Verify Middleware and Installed Apps

• A misconfigured middleware or incompatible app can cause 500 errors.

Step 7: Check Virtual Environment & Python Version

• Make sure your virtual environment is activated and dependencies installed.

Step 8: Use Management Commands

To spot config and migration issues.

python manage.py check

python manage.py migrate

Step 9: Custom Error Pages

• Add a user-friendly custom 500.html template in your project’s templates folder.

Potential Causes of 500 Internal Server Error

We have mentioned 5 main causes for getting error 500.

1. Problems with Database Servers: A 500 Internal Server Error can occur due to database issues like slow response, downtime, or query errors. Other causes include incorrect login details, misconfigured servers, or too many user requests.
2. Permission Errors: Programs may lack permissions to access files or databases, leading to 500 errors. Ensuring correct permissions is crucial for resolving this issue.
3. Large Files on Websites: Large video files can trigger 500 errors by consuming server resources. Concurrent access by many users can overload the server. Content Delivery Networks or file size reduction can mitigate this issue.
4. Issues with Configuration: Server Error 500 often stems from server settings errors, such as configuration file mistakes or issues with .htaccess files or virtual hosts. Typically, a server administrator can resolve these issues.
5. Temporary Connectivity Problems: Error 500 can occur due to server connectivity issues, especially when relying on external resources like databases. Ensuring reliable servers and monitoring their performance can solve this problem.

Some Other Causes for "500 internal Error"

500 internal errors are majorly caused due to server issues, but that is not only the only case. Here are some other causes that can cause 500 server errors.

1. Conflicts between different software components
2. Problems with the MySQL server
3. Problems with WordPress themes and plugins
4. Exhausted PHP memory limit
5. Incorrect file and folder permissions
6. Bugs in custom code or scripts
7. Incorrect database login credentials

Now that we have gone through some potential causes for HTTP 500 - internal server error, let's now go through some ways on how as an end user one can fix the error.

Impact of Error 500 on Website

As a website owner, if your webpage is getting 500 server error or any other error, it will have a huge negative impact on that website's SEO. Here are some negative impacts of Error 500 on your website:

1. Bad User Experience: If your webpage shows server error 500 to the new users, it ruins their user experience and they will quickly return to the SERP(search engine results page). This will increase your bounce rate and your website will lose trust and engagement.
2. Crawlability: Since the page has a 500 internal error, search engine crawlers might not completely access the content of a file and have a problem indexing it.
3. Deindexing: If your webpage is frequently getting the 500 server error, google can temporarily or permanently deindex your page.

Error 500 is very unpleasing for both users and google, and if you are trying to build the reputation of your website, an HTTP 500 error can ruin everything for you. It's better to resolve everything as fast as possible.

Different Variations of Error 500

Here we have mentioned some variations of the HTTP error 500 message. You can use any of the following messages when you encounter an error 500 page:

1. 500 Internal Server Error
2. HTTP 500 - Internal Server Error
3. Error 500 - Internal Server Error
4. HTTP Error 500
5. 500 - Internal Server Error
6. Server Error 500
7. HTTP 500 Internal Error
8. 500 Error
9. Internal Server Error (500)
10. Website Error: 500 Internal Server Error
11. Error Code 500: Internal Server Error
12. 500: Server Error

Error 500 Code List

Here is the list of some Internal server error 500 codes:

Other Common Error Codes - Error 500

There are many other HTTP status code 5XX Errors you can come across on a webpage: