How to Fix Internal Server Error 500 Step-by-Step?

1. What Does 500 Internal Server Error Mean?

Before diving into solutions, it is better to understand what this error means. Internal server error 500 refers to a general server-side issue where the request cannot be completed. The browser cannot determine the specific reason, so it displays a generic message instead. Before fixing this error, it is better to know what causes it.

Common Causes of Internal Server Error 500

• Server misconfigurations
• Corrupted .htaccess
• Incorrect file permissions
• Plugin or theme conflicts
• Database connection problems
• Exhausted PHP memory
• Temporary server overload

2. How to Fix 500 Internal Server Error?

Now that you know about the error and what causes it, let's discuss the 8 effective solutions to fix it, regardless of the website that is giving the error.

Fix 1: Refresh the Page

Sometimes websites temporarily overload or experience brief glitches, leading to a sudden internal server error 500. A simple refresh forces a new request and often clears temporary server hiccups. This is the easiest first step before attempting deeper troubleshooting.

• Open the page that shows the error in your browser. Press “F5” on Windows or click the refresh icon in the browser window. Alternatively, press “Ctrl + R” or “Cmd + R”.

  

If needed, open the page in an incognito window. A quick refresh can resolve short-lived server issues that trigger a 500 error.

Fix 2: Clear the Browser's Cache and Cookies

Cached website data can conflict with updated server files, causing a 500 internal server error. When a website changes configuration or updates its backend, old, cached files may load incorrectly. Clearing cookies and cache forces your browser to retrieve fresh data.

• Open browser settings and go to “Privacy & Security”. Select “Clear/Delete browsing data”.

  

• Check “Cookies” and “Cached images/files", then click “Clear/Delete”.

If outdated or corrupted cached files triggered the issue, clearing them will immediately resolve it.

Fix 3: Disable All Plugins/Themes

Plugins and themes can break compatibility, leading to an internal server error 500 on WordPress and other CMS systems. A faulty update or an outdated extension is often the culprit. Disabling everything helps isolate the issue.

• Access your hosting panel and go to the "Installed Plugins" section. Here, you can use the graphical user interface to disable all the plugins and test the site after disabling each.

  

• Similarly, go to “Themes” and disable themes one by one to find the problematic one.

• Then, refresh your website and re-enable plugins and themes one by one after you find the faulty one.

Fix 4: Increase PHP Memory Limit

Memory exhaustion is a common cause of internal server error 500 in WordPress and PHP websites. Heavy plugins, large themes, or scripts can exceed default limits. Increasing PHP memory helps your server handle bigger tasks.

• Open “cPanel” and go to “Software", then click "Select PHP Version”.

  

• Under “Options”, select your domain to load its current PHP settings. And find “memory_limit” and increase the value (e.g., from 128M to 256M).

Save changes and refresh the site to check if the error disappears. Increasing memory allows the server to handle larger requests without triggering 500 errors.

Fix 5: Rename .htaccess to Force Regeneration

A corrupted .htaccess file is one of the most frequent sources of internal server error 500. This file controls redirects and server rules, so damage causes instant failures. Renaming it forces WordPress to generate a fresh one.

• Go to your hosting platform and open cPanel, then go to “File Manager” and locate .htaccess in the root directory.

  

• Rename it to .htaccess_old by right-clicking the file and choosing "Rename."

• Visit your website to check if the issue was fixed, and then go to “Settings” and “Permalinks," then click “Save” to generate a new one.

Fix 6: Check & Fix File Permissions

Incorrect file permissions can block server access, resulting in an internal server error 500. Files and folders must have the correct permission levels for your site to run properly. Adjusting them prevents server denial loops.

• Open File Manager inside the cPanel and right-click the "Permissions” folder.

• Select the folders and click “File Permissions” to ensure “Numeric Value = 755”. If not, edit it and click “OK”.

  

• Do the same for files, but this time the Numeric Value will be “644”. Then, apply changes and reload the site.

Correcting permissions restores proper server access and stops 500 errors tied to privilege issues.

Fix 7: Check Database Connection

Database failures often trigger a 500 error. Incorrect login details, corrupted tables, or server outages can interrupt database access. Verifying credentials and repairing tables resolves the issue. If you are wondering, How do I fix a 500 internal error, here are the steps you need to follow:

• Open your hosting file manager or connect via FTP to access your WordPress installation.

• Locate the wp-config.php file in the website’s root folder.

  

• Open the file and verify your database details, especially:

  a. DB_NAME (database name)

  b. DB_USER (database username)

  c. DB_PASSWORD (database password)

  d. DB_HOST (usually localhost unless your host says otherwise)

• Go to your host’s database panel (phpMyAdmin) and check whether:

  a. The database exists

  b. The user has proper permissions

  c. The password matches what’s in wp-config.php

• Run a database repair if needed by adding this temporary line inside wp-config.php: “define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);” then visit “yoursite.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php” and remove this line when you are done testing.

• Reload your website to confirm the database connection is restored.

  

Bonus: The Fastest Way to Fix 500 Errors Caused by Disk Problems

Sometimes the internal server error 500 originates from disk corruption or partition problems on the hosting server. In such cases, repairing partitions is essential. 4DDiG Partition Manager helps recover damaged partitions, fix disk structure issues, and restore server stability.

With this tool, you can clone data from the old partition or disk to the new one without any loss or corruption. Moreover, the Partition Manager makes it effortless to repair your partition, whether it is the boot partition, external drive, or raw partition. Hence, it fixes the issue, and your computer starts working normally.

• Launch 4DDiG Partition Manager, and choose "Partition Recovery" from the left menu and click the disk that you want to select, then click “Quick Scan” to begin the process. You can also use the Deep Scan or Full Scan options if Quick Scan does not work in your case.

  

• Now choose the partition/s that you want to restore. Click "Sure" when the pop-up window appears and click “Start Recovery” to begin partition recovery.

  

• Wait as 4DDiG does everything automatically and safely for you, and once the process is complete, you may click "Finish".

  

More FAQs about Internal Server Error 500

Usually, no. A 500 internal server error typically indicates a problem on the server side, not an issue caused by your device or actions.

No, it’s almost always temporary. Once the server issues, misconfiguration, or plugin/theme conflict is resolved, the website should return to normal.

A 500 error signals that the server encountered an unexpected problem and couldn’t complete the request, often due to coding errors, corrupted files, or server overload.

Conclusion

The internal server error 500 can interrupt browsing, online shopping, gaming, and website administration, but it’s rarely irreversible. Most issues stem from corrupted files, plugin conflicts, database errors, or temporary server overloads. By following the eight fixes in this guide, you can resolve the errors for WordPress, Roblox, Discord, Depop, Mercari, and more.

If the underlying cause is disk or partition corruption, 4DDiG Partition Manager provides a fast and reliable way to repair partitions and restore server stability.

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