How do I fix a 500 Internal Server Error?

A 500 Internal Server Error means the server hit a problem running your site, most often a bad rule in .htaccess, a PHP error from a plugin or theme, or wrong file permissions. The error log in cPanel usually tells you which, so start there.

First ask what changed just before it started: a plugin or theme update, a new plugin, a PHP version change or an edit to a file. Most 500 errors follow a change, and undoing it is the quickest fix.

1. Read the error log. In cPanel, open Metrics → Errors, and open the error_log file in your site’s folder. The newest lines usually name the file and line at fault. See Where do I find my website’s error log?
2. Test .htaccess. In File Manager, show hidden files and rename .htaccess in public_html to .htaccess-off. If the site loads, the problem is a rule in that file. On WordPress, go to Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes to create a clean one.
3. Check permissions. Folders should be 755 and files 644. Files or folders open to everyone (777) can be refused by the server.
4. Switch off WordPress plugins. Rename wp-content/plugins to plugins-off. If the site comes back, rename it back and switch plugins off one at a time under Plugins until you find the culprit. Do the same with the active theme’s folder in wp-content/themes.
5. Check the PHP version. If the error started after a PHP change or an update, try the previous version in Software → Select PHP Version. See How do I change my PHP version?
6. Check memory. If the log says Allowed memory size exhausted, raise the PHP memory limit: see How do I raise the PHP memory limit?

Tip: Change one thing at a time and reload the page after each. Write down what you changed so you can undo anything that didn’t help.

Only the WordPress dashboard shows the error.

That nearly always points to a plugin. Start at step 4.

The page says 508 or Resource Limit Is Reached.

That is a different problem: your account has hit its CPU or memory allowance, often because of heavy traffic, bots or a slow plugin. Wait a few minutes and reload. If it keeps happening, tell us, or upgrade your plan.

Every site on my account shows a 500, and I changed nothing.

Open a ticket marked urgent with the domains and the time it started.

Still stuck? Open a support ticket with your domain, the time the error started and the last lines of the error log, or message us on WhatsApp.

Updated 6 November 2026. Something here out of date? Tell us.