How to fix HTTP Error 500 in WordPress (internal server error)

1. Theme Issues
A new theme or update can trigger the 500 error.

• If you can access WordPress admin, switch to a default theme.

• If not, use phpMyAdmin:

  1. Open the wp_options table.

  2. Edit the template and stylesheet values to a default theme like Twenty Twenty.

  3. Save and reload your site.

2. Corrupted .htaccess File

• Rename the .htaccess in your public_html folder to disable it.

• Create a new .htaccess if needed.

3. PHP Memory Limit

• Scripts and plugins need sufficient memory.

• Add to .htaccess to increase limits:

4. Incompatible PHP Version

• Some plugins require specific PHP versions.

• Change it in cPanel or DirectAdmin → Select PHP Version, test, and refresh your site.

5. Enable Error Display

• Turn on displayErrors and log_errors via PHP Options to see the specific issue.

6. WordPress Debugging

• Enable WordPress Debug to generate logs in wp_content or display errors directly on your site.

7. Restore a Backup

• If you have a working backup, remove recent files and restore the backup.

8. Re-upload Core WordPress Files

• Download WordPress from wordpress.org.

• Remove wp-config-sample.php and the wp-content folder to avoid overwriting.

• Upload the remaining files via FTP to replace core files.

9. Contact Your Hosting Provider

• If the issue persists, contact Hostking support. They can check server logs and locate the root cause.