Fixing 500 Internal Server Errors (cPanel)
Troubleshooting steps to resolve common 500 Internal Server Errors.
Causes
- Incorrect file or folder permissions
- Corrupt or invalid
.htaccess - PHP version mismatch
- Faulty scripts or exceeded server limits
Fix File Permissions
- Log into cPanel → File Manager → open your site root.
- Set folder permissions to
755. - Set file permissions to
644. - Set sensitive files (config.php, wp-config.php) to
600or640.
Tip: Wrong permissions are one of the most common causes of 500 errors.
Check .htaccess
- Rename
.htaccessto.htaccess.bak. - Reload your website — if the site works now, the file contained invalid rules.
- Restore rules little by little until the issue returns.
Warning: Invalid redirects or rewrite rules often break entire websites.
Check PHP Version
- Go to cPanel → Select PHP Version or MultiPHP Manager.
- Choose a version compatible with your CMS.
- Reload your site and test again.
Check Error Logs
- Go to cPanel → Metrics → Errors.
- Check the last 300 log lines for details.
- Identify the files, plugins, or scripts throwing errors.
Tip: Logs often reveal the exact PHP file or plugin causing the failure.
Checklist
- [ ] Fix file & folder permissions - [ ] Rename .htaccess and test site - [ ] Verify PHP version compatibility - [ ] Check error logs for details - [ ] Remove or repair bad scripts - [ ] Reload site and confirm it works© 500 Error Troubleshooting Guide
