If you manage a WordPress website, one of the most alarming and disruptive issues you might encounter is the 500 Internal Server Error. In many cases, this error may even appear as a completely blank white screen with no message or explanation — just an empty page that gives you no clue about what’s wrong.
This type of error can prevent you from accessing both the front end of your site and the WordPress admin dashboard. It’s a frustrating situation, but the good news is: there are structured steps you can follow to debug and resolve the issue.
How to Debug a 500 Internal Server Error in WordPress?
1. Start with the Error Logs
If your website is just showing a white screen, the first step is to check the server error log. You can do this by accessing your website’s hosting control panel (like cPanel), or connecting via FTP or your host’s File Manager.
Look for an error log file — typically named error_log — in your root directory or inside the /public_html/ folder. This file will often contain messages that point directly to the source of the issue, such as:
- A missing file or function
- A PHP fatal error
- An uncaught exception
- A problem with memory limits
Reading the last few lines of the error log can give you a clear indication of where the problem lies.
2. Check for .htaccess File Errors
A corrupted or misconfigured .htaccess file is a very common cause of 500 errors.
- Go to your site’s root directory and locate the
.htaccessfile. - Make a backup of the file before editing or deleting it.
- Temporarily rename the
.htaccessfile to something like.htaccess_old. - Then try reloading your site. If the error disappears, your
.htaccesswas the culprit.
You can regenerate a default .htaccess file by logging into the WordPress dashboard (if it’s accessible) and navigating to:
Settings > Permalinks > Save Changes
This action will recreate a fresh .htaccess file with the default WordPress rules.
3. Deactivate Plugins and Themes
Another major source of internal server errors can be faulty or incompatible plugins or themes.
- Connect via FTP or File Manager.
- Navigate to
/wp-content/plugins/and rename the entirepluginsfolder to something likeplugins_disabled. This will deactivate all plugins. - Reload your site. If it works, one of the plugins was causing the issue.
- To identify which one, restore the folder name and disable plugins one-by-one until the culprit is found.
If the error persists, do the same for your theme:
- Go to
/wp-content/themes/and temporarily switch the active theme by renaming its folder. - WordPress will fall back to a default theme like
twentytwentyfour(if available), and you’ll know if the issue is theme-related.
4. Increase PHP Memory Limit
Insufficient memory can also lead to a 500 Internal Server Error.
You can increase the memory limit by editing your wp-config.php file and adding:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
Save the file and refresh your site to see if the error is resolved.
5. Check Server Configuration and PHP Version
If none of the above steps fix the issue, it’s possible that the problem lies with your server itself:
- Make sure your hosting supports the PHP version required by your WordPress installation and plugins.
- Look for recent server changes or updates done by your hosting provider.
- You can also try switching from Apache to NGINX or vice versa if you’re on a VPS or dedicated server.
Final Notes
The 500 Internal Server Error can stem from a single misplaced character in your code or a larger issue with your server setup. By systematically checking logs, resetting your .htaccess, and disabling themes/plugins, you can usually track down and fix the problem without too much hassle.
If you’re still stuck after trying everything, consider reaching out to your hosting provider’s support — they may have server-level insights you can’t access directly.