How to Fix a 500 Internal Server Error

Fixing a 500 Internal Server Error

A 500 Internal Server Error means the server encountered an unexpected condition. It is almost always caused by a PHP error, a corrupt .htaccess file, or incorrect file permissions.

Step 1 — Check the Error Log

1. Log into cPanel
2. Go to Metrics → Errors
3. Read the most recent entries — the error message will tell you exactly what went wrong

Alternatively, check public_html/error_log via File Manager.

Step 2 — Test Your .htaccess File

A corrupt .htaccess is the most common cause.

1. In File Manager, navigate to public_html
2. Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_backup
3. Refresh your website

If the error disappears, your .htaccess was the problem. Create a new one with just:

# BEGIN WordPress
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
# END WordPress

Step 3 — Check File Permissions

Incorrect permissions cause 500 errors. Correct values:

• Folders: 755
• Files: 644
• wp-config.php: 600 (WordPress)

To fix in File Manager: select all files → Change Permissions.

Step 4 — Check PHP Version

Your script may require a specific PHP version.

1. In cPanel, go to Software → MultiPHP Manager
2. Try switching to PHP 8.1 or PHP 8.2
3. Refresh your site

Step 5 — Increase PHP Memory Limit

Add this to your .htaccess:

php_value memory_limit 256M
php_value max_execution_time 300

Still Getting the Error?

WhatsApp our support team at +254 733 338 989 with your domain name and we will diagnose it within 15 minutes.