Common Website Errors & How To Resolve Them: Error 500 Internal Server Error

If there’s anything worse than a problem, it’s a problem without a clear cause, and worse, without a clear solution. 

This is what Error 500, or “Internal Server Error” is. 

By definition, the “Error 500” is a general, unspecified, catch-all error message that could be difficult to pinpoint to a cause. It isn’t the end of the world, however. You have a lot of self-service options available. But for all else, you can definitely reach out to [email protected] and we’ll work with you to correct the Internal Server Error.

Here are the possible reasons why your website has encountered an Error 500 or “Internal Server Error”: 

• Issues on the user’s end: 
  • The browser cache needs to be cleared. 
  • It is an ISP issue. 

• Issues tied to WordPress: 
  • The database login credentials used in your MySQL database for WordPress does not match the details on your WordPress website itself.
  • The database powering your WordPress installation has been corrupted. 
  • Your WordPress installation files may have been corrupted due to changes, malware, or other mishaps, such as a DDoS attack.
  • Some of your WordPress’ core files may have gotten corrupted, due to the same reasons cited above. 
  • Some of your installed plugins or themes may have bugs in them, or were badly coded. 

• Issues on the hosting account that can be solved by the user, accessible via cPanel or the File Manager: 
  • Wrong file and directory permissions that trigger the error. 
  • The .htaccess file has not been configured properly.
  • The PHP memory has maxed out. 
  • CGI and Perl scripts installed with the website may have caused errors. 

• Issues that may require the assistance of the CLDY Support Team: 
  • External Resource Timeout: 
    • This could mean that an external, remote server that your site depends on has not returned a response in a timely manner.
    • The timeout limits on your hosting account have to be raised. 

If you’re just checking your website, you may: 

• Clear your browser’s cache. 
• Clear your browser’s cookies. 
• Hard refresh the page by holding down Shift + F5. 
• Check your website through a different browser. 
• Come back and check the website again after a few hours. 

For the self-help options that can be managed by the more technically advanced users, here are your self-help resources: 

WordPress Issue Self-Help Guides:

• Fixing the Notorious WordPress White Screen of Death
• How to Fix WordPress Database Credential Mismatches
• How to Fix WordPress MySQL Database Errors
• How to Fix Corrupted WordPress Installation & Core Files 

Guides to Fixing Errors That Can Be Corrected Through cPanel and File Manager:

• Changing File and Directory Permissions to Correct Website Errors
• Reconfiguring Your .htaccess File to Correct Website Errors. 
• How to Raise Your PHP Memory Limit from the cPanel
• What are CGI and Perl Scripts and What are Your Solutions If They’re Causing Website Problems? 

Now that we’ve covered the possibilities why an Internal Server Error 500 happened and what your self-help options are, we hope that this clears up the issue. If the Error 500 persists, please don’t hesitate to contact [email protected] for assistance, and we’ll be happy to help!