500 Internal Server Error

Understanding the complexities of the 500 Internal Server Error highlights its unpredictable nature in web development. This error often originates from issues on the website’s server, making troubleshooting challenging. In WordPress, it frequently results from faulty script execution within themes or plugins, leading to server crashes. Addressing such technical hurdles requires expert solutions. As a premier WordPress development company in Ernakulam, we specialize in delivering reliable software development services to diagnose, resolve, and prevent such errors effectively.

How to fix the 500 Internal Server Error

In many instances, you can address the 500 Internal Server Error by following six steps:

1. Turn on debugging
2. Deactivate all plugins and switch themes
3. Inspect or regenerate the .htaccess file
4. Increase the PHP Memory Limit of the Website
5. Ask your host
6. Reinstall WordPress
7. Check the Error Logs of the Website
8. Reset File and Folder Permissions
9. Change the PHP version
10. Restore a Backup of the Website

Turn on debugging

In the realm of website management, encountering a 500 Internal Server Error or the notorious white screen of death in WordPress can be perplexing. To navigate these challenges effectively, consider the invaluable step of enabling debugging. While this proactive measure may not yield an instant resolution, it can uncover crucial insights into the nature of the issue.

To initiate debugging, delve into your site’s wp-config.php file. Check for the existence of ‘WP_DEBUG’ within the file. If discovered, set it to ‘true.’ In the absence of this line, take the initiative to insert it manually. Your objective is to have a line resembling this:

define(“WP_DEBUG”, true);
Once you’ve saved the file, refresh your site to observe any changes. With a stroke of luck, the server error may dissipate, making way for a different error message. Now, you might be questioning the stroke of luck in encountering a new error. The silver lining lies in the fact that this fresh error can serve as a signpost directing you toward the actual root cause. Should this happen, delve into the error’s location. If it resides within a plugin folder, consider temporarily disabling that specific plugin, often leading to a resolution. Even if the debugging process doesn’t provide an immediate remedy, it’s prudent to maintain its active status until the issue reaches a comprehensive resolution. This approach not only aids you but also provides developers involved with deeper insights into the problem at hand. Always remember to disable debugging once the status quo is restored, and your maintenance endeavours are complete.

As a Kakkanadu, Ernakulam (Kochi)-based software development company, we understand the significance of seamless website functionality. Our commitment to providing top-notch Software Development Services extends to assisting you in overcoming technical hurdles for an optimal online presence.

Deactivate all plugins and switch themes

If you have access to your dashboard, it’s advisable to deactivate all your plugins and observe the results. If your website loads without the server error, the problem likely lies with one of your plugins. You can then reactivate them one by one to pinpoint the specific plugin responsible for the issues. Additionally, you can switch your theme to a default, unmodified WordPress theme such as Twenty Fifteen or Twenty Sixteen. If the site loads without the internal server error when using the default theme, the issue may be related to your original theme. It’s worth noting that a significant number of these errors are often attributed to plugins, so starting with this approach is typically a good strategy.

Inspect or regenerate the .htaccess file

One frequent source of the ‘Internal Server Error’ is an issue within the .htaccess file. When this file is corrupted, defines an inaccurate root folder, or contains syntax errors, the typical outcome is the display of the ‘HTTP 500 Error’ page.

Fix the syntax error in .htaccess

By way of illustration of a syntax error, let’s consider the previously mentioned error from the error log:

<2022-05-17 14:32:40 UTC [apache][core:alert] [pid 68451] [client 35.214.177.225:57966] /home/user/www/sg-testing.com/public_html/.htaccess: <IfModule> directive requires additional arguments

To review this file, access the Site Tools of your website, then navigate to the Site section and open the File Manager.

Locate the root folder of your website, which is typically named after the site and followed by /public_html. In our example, the site is sg-testing.com, so the folder path is sg-testing.com/public_html.

Within this folder, you’ll find the .htaccess file. Select the file and click the Edit button to open the code editor.

Now, you can examine its code. As indicated by the error log, the problem lies within the <IfModule>. Specifically, the issue is a syntax error stemming from the absence of a forward slash in the closing tag </IfModule>.

Include the slash and proceed to save the alterations using the Save button. Afterward, refresh the website, and it should now load correctly.

Incorrectly specified website’s root folder in the .htaccess file.

Another prevalent error found in .htaccess files involves an incorrect definition of the website’s root folder. Typically, this issue arises from one of the following scenarios:

• The website was migrated from another hosting provider where it was located in a subfolder.
• The website was initially developed in a subfolder and later moved to the main domain folder within the same hosting environment.
• In the case of a WordPress website, you installed a plugin that altered the RewriteBase in the .htaccess file. Although the plugin may require additional configuration to function correctly with the modified code, currently, the website is inaccessible due to the ‘500 Internal Error.’

To provide a clearer illustration of the issue, let’s consider the following example.

Take note of the ‘/dev’ path in the RewriteBase. This code directs the server to load the website from a folder called ‘public_html/dev.’ However, as this folder does not exist, attempting to load a page from the website will result in the ‘Internal Server Error’ screen.

To resolve the issue, just eliminate the subfolder path from the RewriteBase, resulting in the code appearing like this:

# BEGIN WordPress

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>

RewriteEngine On

RewriteBase /

RewriteRule ^index\.php$ – [L]

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !/(wp-content\/uploads/.*)$

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d

RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

</IfModule>

# END WordPress

This is the default WordPress code that specifies the root folder for the website. After making the change in File Manager, click the ‘Save’ button, and then refresh the website. The error should no longer be present.

Regenerate the .htaccess file

Another common troubleshooting step involves replacing the .htaccess file with a fresh copy. To do this, access File Manager, go to the ‘public_html’ directory, select the ‘.htaccess’ file, and opt for the ‘Rename’ option.

You can choose any name for the file. For example, you can name it htaccess-old and create a new .htaccess file.

If your website is built on WordPress, access the WordPress dashboard, go to the ‘Settings’ section, and select ‘Permalinks.’ Simply click the ‘Save Changes’ button, and your website will automatically generate a new .htaccess file with the default WordPress code.

If your website doesn’t use WordPress, locate the default .htaccess code that corresponds to your particular application. In File Manager, create a new file using the ‘New File’ button and name it ‘.htaccess.’ Then, paste the default code into the ‘.htaccess’ file and save your modifications.

After the new .htaccess file is set, reload the website again to see if the error is gone.

Increase the PHP Memory Limit of the Website

The “HTTP 500 Errors” may also be caused by PHP scripts that exceeded the memory limits of your website. By default, the limits on all SiteGround plans are set to 512M. However, your WordPress websites may be set to lower values. To increase the memory limits, follow the steps from this guide on how to increase WP Memory Limits.

Ask your host

There are several uncommon issues that can lead to internal server errors in WordPress, but at this point, it may be best to ask your hosts. The issues could be genuine server problems, which they can confirm and investigate, including factors like file permissions and other potential sources of the problem. Alternatively, you might want to consider switching to better hosts with servers that are more optimized for running WordPress sites. This doesn’t have to be expensive; there are hosts that offer suitable WordPress plans for as little as $2.75 per month.

Reinstall WordPress

I have to be upfront here and inform you that in most cases, these probably will not solve the 500 internal server errors. However, there are some anomalous situations where reinstalling WordPress could potentially fix the issues. As a side benefit, it might even resolve file permission problems during the process.

Check the Error Logs of the Website

In many cases, misconfigured files or scripts are the sources of the websites’ errors. The error logs can help you identify them more easily.

Typically, you should have such logs in your hosting’s control panel. SiteGround users can find the Error logs in the websites’ Site Tools.

To access them, navigate to the Websites section in your Client Area. Open the Site Tools of the respective sites, select Statistics, and click on Error Logs.

You will find the most recent errors detected by the server on your websites. Each error is documented with several key pieces of information:

1. The date and time when the error occurred.
2. A description of the error.
3. Details about the folder or file that might be responsible for the error.

Below, you can view an error log that highlights an issue with the .htaccess file.

This record indicates that the issue originates from the .htaccess file situated in the website’s root folder. It specifically highlights an error related to a missing argument within a <IfModule>, indicating a syntax error.

Armed with this information, you can navigate to the specified folder using File Manager, edit the .htaccess file, and rectify the syntax error.

It’s important to note that the Error log exclusively records errors related to server configuration. Errors stemming from PHP misconfiguration and scripts are not documented since they occur at the application level.

PHP errors are documented in the php_errorlog, which is automatically generated in the folder of the problematic PHP file. SiteGround’s hosting, for instance, has the PHP error log enabled by default. If you’ve previously deactivated it or your hosting provider hasn’t enabled it, consult this guide on how to activate error reporting in a PHP script.

To inspect the PHP error log, you can utilize File Manager or an FTP client. Navigate to the root folder if the error is associated with a script located there. Open the php_errorlog file to review the errors.

The php_errorlog provides a record of general PHP errors. However, you might require a more comprehensive log of the issue. If you have a WordPress website, you can also activate the WordPress debug log, which offers more detailed information. For step-by-step instructions on enabling the WordPress debug log, refer to this guide.

Reset File and Folder Permissions

Another common issue that can lead to the ‘HTTP 500 Error’ is incorrect file and folder permissions on your website. At Dieutek Developments, a leading software development company in Kakkanadu, Ernakulam (Kochi), we understand the significance of seamless online experiences. Our expertise in providing specialized Software Development Services ensures that your website functions optimally, addressing potential concerns like incorrect permissions.

If these permissions hinder visitors from accessing vital files and directories, it could result in encountering the error page. Typically, recommended permissions include 644 for files and 755 for folders. You have the flexibility to modify these permissions using the File Manager in your hosting control panel or through an FTP client. For SiteGround users managing WordPress sites, the Reset Permissions tool for WordPress within Site Tools streamlines this process.

In case your website utilizes a different type of application, we recommend referring to our guide on adjusting permissions for files and folders using the File Manager. If, however, your hosting control panel lacks similar tools, you can efficiently alter permissions through SSH or an FTP client. At Dieutek Developments, we specialize in providing Software Development Services that encompass comprehensive solutions for such technical intricacies, ensuring your website operates seamlessly and error-free.

Change the PHP version

An incorrect PHP version on your website can lead to PHP scripts timing out or generating fatal errors, resulting in the ‘HTTP 500 Error.’ Try switching to an older or newer PHP version to test. If the error vanishes, it suggests that the previous version was incorrect. Maintain the site on the newly selected PHP version.

SiteGround users can effortlessly change the PHP version with just a few clicks within Site Tools. For step-by-step instructions, please refer to this guide on how to switch to an alternative PHP version in Site Tools.

Restore a Backup of the Website

If none of the solutions have been effective in resolving the problem, or if you find them difficult to implement, you might want to contemplate restoring your website from a backup. This action will undo all modifications that initially triggered the error.

SiteGround users can refer to this comprehensive tutorial on using the Website Backup Tool for assistance.

How We Can Support You?

With our roots firmly in Kakkanadu, Ernakulam (Kochi) and over 12 years of experience, we have solidified our position as a leading force in the IT industry, offering advanced and reliable services. As a prominent software development company in Kakkanadu, Ernakulam (Kochi), our focus is on delivering exceptional Software Development Services tailored to meet your specific needs.

Whether you’re embarking on a new project, seeking assistance with existing systems, or in need of expert IT consultation, we are your dedicated collaborators in achieving success. Beyond development, we position ourselves as your partners in progress, ensuring that our solutions align seamlessly with your unique objectives. We work closely with you to transform your vision into reality, leveraging our expertise gained from years of contributing to the IT hub in Kakkanadu, Ernakulam (Kochi) and beyond.

For all your IT-related needs, including Website Development, Software Development, Mobile App Development, and expert consultation, contact us today. Together, we can harness technology’s potential to propel your business to greater heights, establishing a strong digital presence and optimizing your operations with our Kakkanadu, Ernakulam (Kochi), Software Development Services.