The 500 error on WordPress is frustrating because it gives no details. Yet it usually has recurring causes: faulty plugin, corrupted .htaccess, or PHP limit. Here's how to fix it.
Symptoms
- White page or "500 Internal Server Error" message
- WordPress admin inaccessible
- Error after updating a plugin/theme
- Site that worked yesterday, not today
Common Causes
- Faulty plugin: An incompatible or buggy plugin crashes PHP.
- Corrupted .htaccess: Incorrect rules in the .htaccess file.
- PHP limit reached: memory_limit or max_execution_time too low.
Diagnostic Steps
- Enable WP_DEBUG in wp-config.php
- Rename the plugins/ folder to disable them
- Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old
- Check PHP and Apache/Nginx logs
Automate with MoniTao
MoniTao monitors your WordPress 24/7:
- Immediate detection of 500 errors
- Email/SMS alerts before customers see
- SSL monitoring to avoid HTTPS problems
Best Practices
- Backup before every update
- Test updates on staging first
- Use a health monitoring plugin (Health Check)
- Configure WP_DEBUG_LOG for logs without display
FAQ
How to enable WP_DEBUG?
In wp-config.php: define('WP_DEBUG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
What memory_limit for WordPress?
Minimum 256M. WooCommerce or builders often need 512M.
How to identify the faulty plugin?
Disable all plugins, then reactivate them one by one.
Can MoniTao prevent these errors?
MoniTao detects errors immediately. Prevention comes from best practices.
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