In this article you will read:
Error 500: Internal Server Error
You can recognize error 500 by the large Internal Server Error message at the top of the page. Below the sign you will find a description of the error and a link to this article.
You can encounter Error 500 Internal Server Error on any website on the Internet. This is a non-specific error that the server returns when it cannot describe its error condition with a more specific 5XX code.
Solution Error 500
Error 500 most often causes:
.htaccess files
If Error 500 is displayed immediately after entering the site address, it is most likely a problem with the .htaccess file. You can find .htaccess files in the www folder, and they may also be in subfolders within it. Any one of them can cause the 500 error.
Check all .htaccess files on the web host (except for functional alias domains and subdomains):
- Unauthorized commands: The .htaccess files installed by content management systems and their plugins may contain unauthorised commands. Separate the lines with these commands by placing the # to the beginning of the line character. For example, unauthorized code
Options -MultiViewsby adjusting to#Options -MultiViews. - Errors in the code: If you're editing existing code, make sure you haven't accidentally overwritten or deleted key parts.
Edit .htaccess files via FTP. Instructions can be found in the Webhosting - File Management article.
If you are using the default .htaccess file in the www folder with your own modifications, you can restore it by following the instructions Webhosting - .htaccess file. When you do this, the system will also create a backup of the .htaccess file in the www folder that you are replacing with the default file.
Duplicate subdomain directories
If you have one subdomain created in both www/domains and www/subdomain, Error 500 may occur. Select one of these folders as the main folder and remove the other folder completely. For more information on subdomains on web hosting, see Web Hosting - Subdomains.
Web hosting limits
If Error 500 appears after a longer load time, your application may have hit one of the ⧉ web hosting limits: max_execution_time, memory_limit, post_max_size, or upload_max_filesize. You can optimize your application for these limits, or switch to another service or variant. For more information on Webhosting and its alternatives, see, for example, Webhosting - Manual.
Frequently Asked Questions
I see Error 500 on the screen but it looks different, what's wrong?
Verify that the site is actually running on Webhosting/WMS, for example by running a domain diagnostic. If so, contact support ⧉. If it is not our Webhosting (also applies to our VPS), solve the problem according to the instructions of the self-server software provider.
Is Error 500 specific to VEDOS servers?
You can encounter error 500 on any web server. When solving this problem, use information about your content management system and the plugins you use - a common source of sudden Error 500 occurrences is automatic updates and overwriting of the .htaccess file.
How to solve Error 500 specifically in PrestaShop?
The solution is described in the community article PrestaShop - Error 500.