An HTTP 500 is a server error, and it tells you that your web server is facing some problems, but it cannot specify the particular or its root cause. When you encounter such an issue, your website will serve as a general internal server error webpage to your site’s visitors. Conveniently there are several effective ways to troubleshoot the HTTP 500 internal Server Error.
Some resolutions
Troubleshooting 500 Internal Server Error
If your server runs software like WordPress, then there is more than one reason that can cause HTTP 500 errors, including bad installations, incorrect server permissions, and incompatible versions. Here is how this problem can be prevented:
- If you recently upgraded or installed your WordPress software, then you have to make sure whether it is properly installed or not.
- If you activated new themes or plugins, then they can contradict your current themes and plugins and generate 500 internal server error. Deactivate newly activated themes and plugins one at a time. This can help you find the root cause of the error.
Debugging of server-side scripts
Nowadays, custom scripts are being developed and tested. These custom server-side scripts can also cause HTTP 500 Error. This problem can be avoided using the following steps:
- While debugging, the first thing that you should do is to check for the wrong permissions. It can either be a file or a folder that has a script, like a CGI or PHP script. The wrong permission won’t allow the script to run. You have to make sure that you set permissions correctly on your server.
- Programming errors can also make your script to run in an endless loop and cause an error, and unavailable resources can also generate 500 Internal Server Error.
- Another reason for your encounter with the HTTP 500 error is the misconfiguration in the .htaccess file.
- Errors in URL rewriting can also lead you to the 500 Internal Server Error. But it does not happen very often.
External Resource Timeout
To complete the request from a client web server may need responses from the remote server. This can lead to the situation that these external resources may timeout. This can be a PHP timeout and cause the HTTP 500 error to occur.
Help from a Server Administrator
If debugging scripts or troubleshooting software problems does not help you with the 500 error, you can always ask your service provider to access your error logs and identify the problem.