Understanding Internal Server Error

The dreaded 500 Internal Server Error is one of the most common, yet puzzling issues WordPress users can encounter. It essentially means the server is unable to determine the specific problem preventing the page from loading.

Steps to Resolve

Check the .htaccess File: Incorrect .htaccess files are a frequent cause. You can fix this by renaming your .htaccess file to something like .htaccess_old, and see if it resolves the error. If it does, regenerate a new .htaccess through the WordPress dashboard by navigating to Settings > Permalinks and hitting ‘Save Changes’.

Increase PHP Memory Limit: Sometimes this error occurs because the script exceeds the memory limit. Increase it by editing the wp-config.php file, adding the line define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '64M');.

Deactivate Plugins and Themes: A faulty plugin or theme might be responsible. Deactivate all plugins and revert to a default theme, then check if the issue persists. If the site works, re-activate items one at a time to identify the culprit.

Useful Plugins

While no specific plugin fixes Internal Server Errors directly, plugins like WP Debugging might help identify underlying issues.

If the problem continues, contacting your hosting provider can often shine light on server-related issues or check the server logs for specifics that might help.