500 Internal Server Error

Once, twice or thrice or even hundreds of time, you do often feel many times that why the problem comes in front of you while working on the WordPress project.  Moreover, it’s not only you, but even I too gone through such things quite a many times. WordPress is an open source platform and operates without issues most of the time, but when it comes to hassles, you never know even the platform which being used by not thousands, but millions of people around the world every day. In this article, we will discuss about such common issues and the ways by which we can solve them.

1. 500 Internal Server Error

This is one of most common error you do experience one-to-many times. 500 Internal Server Error comes because the time when your website’s .htaccess file gets corrupt. Moreover it may happen due to the conflicting plugin or theme, or even may be because of corrupted WordPress installation.

In order to figure the issue out, you need to check your website’s error log. This you can do by enabling WP_DEBUG followed by checking error logs. Do this by locating define (‘WP_DEBUG’,false); code in your wp-config.php file and change it to define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);.

The other thing you can do is to access FTP of your site and then navigate to the root directory, where you can locate the .htaccess file. All you have to do is to rename the file to some other name, say for example, .htaccess_new file. Reload your website and it will possibly work for you.

You can also try deactivating and then activating your plugins and themes as sometimes a faulty plugin or theme also result in ending up in bringing 500 internal server error for you. You can also try increasing your PHP Memory Limit (this you can do by asking your hosting provider to do the same for you).

2. Memory Consumption

It’s pretty much common that your website attracting lots of visitors, result of which increasing your site’s both memory and bandwidth. If you are on Shared Hosting or on VPS, then probably if you are using a good hosting provider you will get informed on time over the issue asking you to upgrade it to the next level, while if your hosting provider is not good, then you are in REAL problem.

In order to find permanent solution for the problem, you can install WP-Memory-Usage plugin. The plugin lets you find exactly that which of plugin is creating a mess for you. Start by deactivating all your plugins except WP-Memory-Usage plugin and then start by activating all of them one-by-one, and you will be able to know the real issue.

Also, it is strongly advisable to install cache plugin – WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache. Both having their own pros and cons, although for two of our blogs we are using each of these cache plugins as they work directly proportionate with your site working requirement.

Suggested Reading:  WP Super Cache Vs W3 Total Cache – Which One You Choose?

3. Maintenance Mode Error

The time when you update your WordPress to a latest version, it makes a new temporary .maintenance file. The issue comes the time when the .maintenance file is not removed properly after the upgrade.

In order to resolve the issue, you will need to login to your WP root directory through FTP from where you can locate the .maintenance file and delete it. And, with this your problem is resolve.

4. Error Establishing A Database Connection

A common error which you often noticed at the time when you try to access your website. The error means your WordPress site is experiencing problem when it tries to access the database. The error caused mainly because of the issue with the wp-config.php file although on solving the issue, you need to talk with your hosting providers as they are more persistent in solving this error.

While in order to solve it yourself, fid the wp-config.php file which you can locate using FTP. Once you opened it, then check that if database details are correct or not. While, if in case you think that your website has been hacked or compromised, you will have to start the cleaning job. You can use Sucuri SiteCheck to ensure that your website is clean.

Suggested Readings:

5. Error 404

You do often notice that your posts are now returning a 404 error page. Well, don’t shout or panicked as your posts are still there, and you all need to do is update your permalink settings to fix the issue.

The issue is very common and got experienced by not one, but many of WordPress sites owners. Make sure the time you activate a new theme; you do reset your permalink settings. Once done with resetting, go to settings -> Permalinks and click the save button.

In case, if doing above does not work for you, then you need to update your .htaccess file manually.

Suggested Reading: Choosing Your WordPress Permalink Structure

Photo Credit: Flickr/Luca Vanzella