The 500 Error is a warning that appears when you try to load a page using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
Even though all the major WordPress errors are hectic, including 500 Internal Server Error, 504 Gateway Timeout Error, 502 Bad Gateway error, etc. the HTTP Error 500 is especially aggravating as it does not provide any relevant details generally as to the source of the problem.
The appearance of the error varies depending on the browser being used, and some websites have their own specialized error pages. So, while your screen may not look exactly like the one above, the fundamentals remain the same.
This is an annoying error, owing to its ambiguity. It’s considerably difficult if it happens on a MAMP installation because there are more probable causes. In general, plugin incompatibility and a damaged or missing .htaccess file are the most prevalent causes of an HTTP 500 error in WordPress. Because this file is responsible for server setup, errors in it can result in a number of issues.
When your site suffers a PHP fatal error, another probable source of MAMP issues comes into play. This is frequently caused by faulty code or misconfigured files. In these circumstances, looking through your installation’s PHP error logs will usually disclose the file that’s causing the problem, as well as the precise fault with the code.
Ways to fix HTTP Error 500
Fix 1: Turn on the debugging mode of the website.
It is recommended to turn on debugging if WordPress gives you a white screen or a server error. While this might not resolve the error causing the problem, it will surely provide you with more information about what is going on.
You can easily enable the debugging by slightly modifying the wp-config.php file of your site.
Step 1: Look for WP_DEBUG in this file once you’ve accessed it. You should be able to set it to “true” if you discover it. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, you’ll have to make it yourself.
Step 2: In any case, you should have a line that looks like this at the end of the day:
define( “WP_DEBUG”, true );
Step 3: Reload your site after saving to see if anything has changed.
If you’re lucky, the server error will go away and be replaced by a new message that will tell you exactly where the problem is. If this happens to be the case, investigate the error’s all the sources.
Even if enabling debugging does not yield positive results, it is a good idea to keep it on until the problem is remedied. It will provide you and any developers with a better understanding of what’s going on. Remember to switch off debugging once everything is in order and you’ve completed the maintenance!
Fix 2: Checking the .htaccess file.
If one exists, the .htaccess file contains a set of rules that inform the server what to do in specific situations. It’s widely used to rewrite URLs or block malicious users from accessing your site.
Step 1: Check your WordPress root folder using your FTP editor to see if you have a .htaccess file. Before moving on to this, ensure that your FTP editor lets you see all the hidden files.
Step 2: If a .htaccess file exists, make a backup before deleting all of the contents of the entire file. This may eliminate some vital rules, but it will tell you if the error was caused by a file error.
If the error is no longer there, the problem was most likely with the .htaccess file. Attempt to restore the file and then delete sections of it. If the site starts operating again, you’ll know which block the problem is in. Usually, you may condense it to a single line like this. You can then remove that line or seek further advice from your developer or host.
Fix 3: Increasing the memory limit.
Boosting your memory limit can help resolve the error. To do so,
Step 1: look for WP_MEMORY_LIMIT in your wp-config.php file in the WordPress root directory.
Step 2: Change the value to something like “64M” if it exists. If it doesn’t, add the line below to the file:
Define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘64M’);
If this succeeds, you’ve just temporarily addressed the problem. Most likely, you have a malfunctioning piece of code (which could be a third-party plugin) that is using up all of your resources. Take a look at your resource use with various plugins on/off if your host offers monitoring to get a better understanding of what’s wasting those valuable megabytes.
Fix 4: Deactivating the plugins.
If neither of the preceding troubleshooting approaches works, disable all of your site’s plugins as a last resort. If this resolves the issue, you can activate them one at a time until the problem reappears. This will reveal which plugin is to blame, allowing you to search for alternatives or contact the plugin’s developer for help.
If you can access your WordPress dashboard,
Step 1: Go to Plugins and click on Installed Plugins to do so.
Step 2: Choose Deactivate from the Bulk actions dropdown menu at the top of the screen after selecting them all or deactivate them individually and check the website status.
Step 3: Reload the problematic page after they’ve been deactivated.
Step 4: If it works, go back to your plugin list and click on Activate to turn each one back on one at a time.
Refresh your page after reactivating each plugin individually. If it still loads, go to the next one and reactivate it. Repeat this method until the error reappears, and you’ll know which plugin is to blame.
You can deactivate all plugins via the file system if you can’t access your WordPress dashboard due to Error 500.
Step 1: Return to MAMP and open the wp-content folder in your website’s directory. Inside, you’ll see a plugins folder.
Step 2: Rename this folder to something like “plugins-disabled,” and everything inside will be turned off. Your WordPress dashboard should now be accessible.
Step 3: Log in there first, then rename the folder back to “plugins” while the dashboard is still open.
They should display in your dashboard’s Plugins section, where you can disable them all and test them one at a time.
Fix 5: Asking your web host provider
There are a few odd difficulties that can cause WordPress errors, but at this point, it’s probably better to contact your host. They can look into things like file permissions and other sources to see if the problem is a genuine server issue, which they can at least confirm.
Alternatively, you might simply choose to upgrade to a better host with WordPress-optimized servers. It isn’t necessary to spend a lot of money on this. For a low amount per month, you can get an adequate WordPress experience from the best web host providers.
Fix 6: Reinstalling WordPress again.
There are a few exceptions where a WordPress reinstall may help. Along the process, it might even fix file permission issues. It is recommended to follow the manual WordPress backup and setup instructions.
Conclusion
WordPress testing might be brought to a halt by an Error 500 notice. Although this issue is inconvenient, it does not have to slow you down. While the message may be enigmatic, the actual perpetrator is usually easy to track down and deal with. Also, following the above-mentioned steps and fixes will surely help you resolve the error.
