How to Fix a 500 Error on Your Website

A 500 Internal Server Error is a general server failure. It means your server could not complete a request, but it did not provide a specific reason. The fix depends on the source, so the best approach is to work through a short, ordered checklist.

This guide walks through the fastest fixes first, then deeper steps if the issue persists.

Step 1: Confirm the error across devices

Check the page on a different device or network. If the error is consistent, it is a real outage. Monitoring tools can confirm this faster by checking the URL from multiple locations.

Step 2: Review recent changes

Most 500 errors appear after a change. Think through what happened in the last 24 to 48 hours:

• New plugins or themes installed.
• Code deployments or script edits.
• Server or hosting configuration changes.

If the error began after a change, rollback or disable it first.

Step 3: Check your hosting status

Visit your hosting provider status page. If there is an outage, you may need to wait for their fix. If there is no outage, proceed with your own checks.

Step 4: Review server logs

Server logs often show the exact reason for a 500. Look for lines that mention fatal errors, memory limits, or missing files. If you are not technical, send the log snippet to your developer or host.

Step 5: Check permissions and configuration

Incorrect file permissions or a broken .htaccess file can trigger a 500. If you recently edited server rules or uploaded files manually, revert those changes.

Step 6: Test plugin and theme conflicts

On WordPress and similar platforms, plugins often cause server errors. Disable new plugins and switch to a default theme to see if the error disappears.

Step 7: Verify resource limits

Check CPU, memory, and disk usage. If your server is maxed out, scale resources or clear caches. Resource limits can trigger 500 errors during traffic spikes.

Step 8: Ask for support with evidence

If the issue persists, contact your hosting provider. Share the error timestamp, affected URLs, and any monitoring data. This gives support the context they need to act faster.

How to prevent future 500 errors

Use staging environments for changes, keep backups, and monitor your critical pages. When a 500 appears, the faster you know about it, the less revenue you lose.