Troubleshooting: How To Fix the 500 Internal Service Error

Why Internal Service Errors Matter

Few things interrupt a website’s performance more abruptly than an internal service error, often displayed as a 500 Internal Server Error. It is one of the most common and most frustrating messages you can encounter. It usually appears without detail, leaving users unsure whether the problem lies in the browser, the server, or the application itself.

For businesses, a 500 error can mean more than downtime. It can affect sales, reputation, and SEO rankings. Understanding what this error means and how to fix it quickly is essential to keeping your site online and customers engaged.

This guide explains what causes internal service errors, how to troubleshoot them in platforms such as WordPress and Laravel, and how to prevent them altogether.

Understanding the Internal Service Error (HTTP 500)

What the 500 Internal Service Error Means

An HTTP 500 Internal Server Error is a generic response from a web server when it encounters an unexpected condition that prevents it from completing a request. In simpler terms, something has gone wrong on the server, and it cannot describe the problem.

Unlike client-side errors such as 404 Not Found, a 500 error indicates that the problem is on the server side within your hosting environment, CMS, or application code.

Common symptoms include:

• A blank white screen, also called the “white screen of death”
  
• A message reading “Internal Server Error” or “HTTP 500”
  
• Slow loading followed by an unexpected crash
  

Common Variations You Might See

While “500 Internal Server Error” is the most common version, similar errors can include:

• 502 Bad Gateway: One server received an invalid response from another.
  
• 503 Service Unavailable: The server is overloaded or under maintenance.
  
• 504 Gateway Timeout: The upstream server took too long to respond.
  

Each of these points to communication breakdowns between servers, databases, or scripts, but the troubleshooting process is similar.

Top Causes of Internal Service Errors

An internal service error can come from many sources, including incorrect permissions, faulty code, or resource limits. Based on InMotion Hosting’s support experience, these are the most frequent causes.

What File Permissions Are and Why They Matter

Every file and folder on your server has permission settings that control who can view, modify, or run them. Think of permissions like locks on doors—they determine whether the webserver, your user account, or the public can access specific files.

When permissions are set too loosely (such as 777, which makes files “world-writable”), your server may refuse to execute them as a security precaution. This protection prevents malicious users from modifying your files, but it can also trigger a 500 error if permissions aren’t configured correctly.

Recommended Permission Settings

Files should be 644
This means: You can read and write the file, while everyone else can only read it. The server can execute it safely.

Directories should be 755
This means: You have full control, while others can view and navigate the directory but cannot modify its contents.

Parent directories matter too
If your main directories (like public_html or wp-content) have incorrect permissions, files inside them may inherit those issues.

How to Fix Permission Issues

You can adjust permissions using cPanel’s File Manager or an FTP client like FileZilla:

Via cPanel:

1. Log in to cPanel → File Manager
2. Navigate to the file or folder
3. Right-click and select “Change Permissions”
4. Set files to 644 and folders to 755

Via Command Line (SSH):

bash

find . -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;
find . -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;

2. Coding Errors in the .htaccess File

What the .htaccess File Does

The .htaccess file is a powerful configuration file that sits in your website’s root directory. It controls important functions like:

• URL redirects (sending visitors from old pages to new ones)
• Rewrite rules (making URLs cleaner and more SEO-friendly)
• Security settings (blocking malicious traffic or protecting directories)
• Custom error pages

Because .htaccess directly instructs your webserver how to behave, even a small syntax error (like a missing space, extra character, or incorrect directive) can cause the entire site to fail with a 500 error.

Common .htaccess Problems

• A typo in a redirect rule
• Conflicting rewrite conditions
• Corrupted code from a plugin or manual edit
• Outdated directives incompatible with your server version

How to Test If .htaccess Is the Problem

Step 1: Temporarily Disable the File
Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old. This prevents the server from reading it.

Step 2: Reload Your Site
If your site loads correctly after renaming the file, you’ve confirmed that .htaccess was the cause.

Step 3: Regenerate a Clean Version
For WordPress sites:

1. Go to WordPress Dashboard → Settings → Permalinks
2. Click Save Changes (you don’t need to change anything)
3. WordPress will automatically create a fresh, working .htaccess file

If you’re not using WordPress, you can restore a backup copy or rebuild the file manually using your hosting provider’s documentation.

What If Renaming Doesn’t Fix It?

If the 500 error persists after removing .htaccess, the problem lies elsewhere—likely in file permissions, PHP configuration, or plugin conflicts. Continue through the remaining troubleshooting steps.

3. PHP Version or Configuration Mismatch

Why PHP Version Matters

PHP is the programming language that powers WordPress, Laravel, and most modern content management systems. Like any software, PHP evolves over time—newer versions include performance improvements, security patches, and updated features.

However, older websites or plugins may have been built for older PHP versions. If your hosting account runs an outdated PHP version, your scripts may fail. Conversely, if you upgrade PHP without checking compatibility, older code might break.

How to Know If PHP Is the Problem

InMotion Hosting’s WordPress guide highlights that:

• WordPress 5.0+ requires PHP 5.6.20 or higher
• Modern WordPress versions (6.0+) perform best on PHP 7.4 or PHP 8.0+
• Many plugins and themes now require PHP 8.0 or newer

If your hosting account is still running PHP 5.6 or 7.0, upgrading can resolve compatibility errors and improve performance.

How to Update Your PHP Version

Upgrading PHP is straightforward and can resolve compatibility issues immediately.

Step 1: Log in to cPanel
Access your hosting control panel at yourdomain.com/cpanel or through your hosting provider’s client area.

Step 2: Find the PHP Configuration Tool
Look for one of these options under the Software section:

• MultiPHP Manager (recommended for managing multiple domains)
• Select PHP Version (simpler interface for single-site management)

If you don’t see either option, contact your hosting provider—PHP version control may be managed differently on your account.

Step 3: Choose a Compatible PHP Version
Select PHP 8.0 as a minimum. For better performance and long-term support, consider PHP 8.1 or 8.2. Avoid older versions like PHP 7.4 or earlier unless you have a specific compatibility requirement.

Step 4: Save and Verify
Click Apply to activate the new PHP version. Then open your website in a fresh browser window (or clear your cache) to test whether the 500 error is gone.

If the error persists: The issue may be plugin incompatibility or a configuration problem. Check your error logs or contact support for assistance.

What If the Error Persists After Upgrading PHP?

Clear your browser cache: Your browser might be showing a cached version of the error page.

Recheck file permissions: Sometimes PHP upgrades require permission adjustments.

Review error logs: Check cPanel → Metrics → Errors to see if a specific file or plugin is incompatible with the new PHP version.

Contact support: InMotion’s 24/7 support team can verify your PHP configuration and identify compatibility issues with specific plugins or scripts.

4. Faulty Plugins, Themes, or Scripts

How Plugins and Themes Cause 500 Errors

WordPress, Laravel, and other platforms rely on plugins, themes, and third-party scripts to extend functionality. While these add-ons are powerful, they can also introduce conflicts:

• A newly installed plugin may be incompatible with your current PHP version
• A recent plugin update might conflict with another plugin or your theme
• A poorly coded theme can override core functions and trigger errors
• Outdated plugins may contain deprecated code that modern servers reject

Even one problematic plugin can crash your entire site.

How to Identify the Faulty Plugin

The most reliable method is to systematically disable plugins and test your site after each change.

For WordPress Users:

Option 1: Via WordPress Dashboard (if you can still log in)

1. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
2. Select all plugins and choose Deactivate from the bulk actions menu
3. Refresh your site. If it loads, reactivate plugins one by one to find the culprit.

Option 2: Via cPanel File Manager (if you’re locked out)

1. Log in to cPanel → File Manager
2. Navigate to public_html/wp-content/plugins
3. Rename the plugins folder to plugins_old
4. Refresh your site. If it loads, the issue is plugin-related.
5. Rename the folder back to plugins, then rename individual plugin folders one by one to isolate the problem.

For Laravel Users:

Temporarily Disable Services:

bash

php artisan down

This puts your application in maintenance mode while you investigate.

Review Log Files: Check storage/logs/laravel.log for stack traces that indicate:

• Missing dependencies
• Syntax errors in custom code
• Conflicts between packages

Re-enable Services:

bash

php artisan up

What to Do Once You Find the Problem

• Update the plugin to the latest version (check if an update fixes the conflict)
• Replace it with an alternative plugin that’s actively maintained
• Contact the developer if it’s a premium plugin or theme
• Remove it entirely if it’s not essential to your site’s functionality

5. Server Misconfigurations or Temporary Outages

When the Problem Isn’t in Your Files

Sometimes, 500 errors aren’t caused by your website’s code at all. The issue may stem from the hosting environment itself.

Common Server-Side Causes

High Traffic Spikes
If your site suddenly receives more visitors than your server can handle, resource limits (CPU, memory, or database connections) may be exceeded, triggering a 500 error.

Scheduled Maintenance
Hosting providers occasionally perform server updates or infrastructure maintenance. While rare, these can cause brief interruptions.

Corrupted Server Configurations
Files like php.ini or Apache configuration files can become corrupted due to software updates, security patches, or failed migrations.

Database Connection Issues
If your database server is overloaded, unreachable, or experiencing connectivity problems, your site may return a 500 error instead of a more specific database error message.

How InMotion Hosting Minimizes Server-Side Issues

InMotion Hosting maintains a 99.9% uptime SLA backed by:

• Proactive monitoring: Automated systems detect and resolve server issues before they impact customers
• Redundant infrastructure: Multiple layers of failover protection ensure continuity
• NVMe-powered hardware: Faster data access reduces resource bottlenecks during traffic spikes
• Real-time support: 24/7 U.S.-based experts can diagnose server-level issues immediately

What to Do If You Suspect a Server Issue

Check InMotion’s status page: If there’s a known outage or maintenance window, it will be posted there.

Review your resource usage: Log in to cPanel → Metrics → Resource Usage to see if you’re hitting CPU or memory limits.

Contact support with details: Include:

• Your domain name
• The exact time the error occurred
• Any recent changes you made (plugin updates, file uploads, etc.)
• Screenshots of error messages

InMotion’s support team can access server logs, check for misconfigurations, and resolve backend issues that aren’t visible to you.nd resolve such events quickly.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Step 1: Refresh and Clear Browser Cache

Sometimes the website has already been fixed, but your browser still shows the old cached error. Clear your cache and reload before moving forward.

Step 2: Check the .htaccess File

Rename .htaccess and reload your site. If the site loads correctly, regenerate a new one through your CMS settings.

Step 3: Disable Plugins and Themes

Use cPanel’s File Manager or an FTP client:

• Go to /wp-content/plugins
  
• Rename the folder to plugins_old
  
• Reload the site
  

If the site works, rename the folders back one by one until you find the faulty plugin.

Step 4: Review PHP Error Logs

InMotion Hosting makes this simple:

1. Log in to cPanel → Metrics → Errors.
   
2. Review recent entries to identify the cause.
   

Sample log output:

SoftException in Application.cpp:264: File “/home/user/public_html/index.php” is writable by others

In this example, permissions should be reduced to 644.

Step 5: Verify File and Directory Permissions

If you have SSH access, use these commands:

find . -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;

find . -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

This ensures all directories and files have the proper permissions.

Step 6: Check Server-Level or Application Errors

Advanced users on VPS or Dedicated Hosting can review logs in:

• /var/log/apache2/error.log
  
• /var/log/nginx/error.log
  
• storage/logs/laravel.log (for Laravel applications)
  

Step 7: Contact Support When Needed

If none of these steps fix the issue, reach out to InMotion Hosting’s 24/7 U.S.-based support team. Include your domain, timestamps, and what you have already tried. This information helps technicians resolve issues more efficiently.

WordPress-Specific: Fixing the 500 Internal Server Error

WordPress powers over 43% of websites on the entire internet and more than 61% of all CMS-based websites. With such a large share of the web depending on it, even a small issue like an internal service error can affect millions of websites.

WordPress users encounter 500 errors frequently due to plugin conflicts, PHP mismatches, or incorrect file permissions.

Checklist for troubleshooting:

1. Verify PHP Version: Use PHP 5.4 or higher.
   
2. Check .htaccess: Reset through Permalink Settings.
   
3. Review Plugins and Themes: Disable all, then re-enable one at a time.
   
4. Correct File Permissions: Files 644, folders 755.
   
5. Clear Cache: Both browser and site caches can store old errors.
   

If the error continues, InMotion’s WordPress Hosting team can analyze logs and repair permission mismatches.

Laravel-Specific: Troubleshooting the 500 Error

Developers working with Laravel encounter 500 errors for different reasons, often related to code or configuration.

Common Laravel Causes and Fixes

1. Syntax or Code Exceptions
Check storage/logs/laravel.log for file and line numbers. Even a missing semicolon can stop the entire app.

2. Database Connection Issues
Incorrect .env credentials or inactive databases can trigger a 500 error.

• Verify DB_HOST, DB_DATABASE, DB_USERNAME, and DB_PASSWORD.
  
• Make sure your database service is running.
  

3. File Permissions
Directories like storage and bootstrap/cache need to be writable. Use:

chmod -R 775 storage bootstrap/cache

4. Server or PHP Misconfiguration
Review Apache’s .htaccess or Nginx configuration to confirm routing to Laravel’s public directory. Ensure PHP-FPM or mod_php is set correctly.

5. Dependency or Composer Issues
Run:

composer install

composer update

to restore missing packages and dependencies.

6. Debugging and Testing
Enable APP_DEBUG=true in .env for testing, but switch it to false in production for security.

7. Route and Middleware Problems
Use php artisan route:list to inspect your routes. Misconfigured middleware can also cause server errors.

Preventing Internal Service Errors Before They Happen

Keep Software Updated

Outdated CMS versions, plugins, and PHP packages often conflict. Regularly update your site and verify compatibility before pushing to production.

Use a Staging Environment

Test changes in a staging site before going live. This helps avoid downtime caused by untested updates.

Monitor Server Resources

Check CPU, memory, and disk usage in cPanel or WHM. High usage often signals it is time to optimize caching or upgrade your hosting plan.

Maintain Secure Permissions

Avoid using 777 or world-writable permissions. Always verify correct ownership and access settings when uploading or editing files.

Optimize Hosting Infrastructure

Timeouts and memory overloads can often be prevented with better hardware. 

Hosting technology continues to evolve, and the choice of infrastructure plays a critical role in website reliability. Modern NVMe SSD hosting provides much faster data access and input/output handling than legacy storage. These performance improvements help reduce latency and prevent timeouts that can lead to internal service errors during peak traffic.

Hosting on NVMe SSD-powered infrastructure significantly reduces latency, providing faster response times and fewer resource bottlenecks. InMotion Hosting’s NVMe-powered business hosting is designed for sites that need both speed and reliability.

What Not to Do When Troubleshooting 500 Errors

Ignoring Log Files and Error Messages

Error logs contain the exact information needed to diagnose 500 errors. Skipping this step means troubleshooting blind. Always check your error logs in cPanel or via SSH before making changes.

Deleting .htaccess Without Regenerating It

Removing a corrupted .htaccess file can restore your site temporarily, but failing to regenerate it leaves your site without proper URL rewriting and security rules. Always recreate the file through your CMS settings.

Using chmod 777 on Files or Directories

World-writable permissions (777) create serious security vulnerabilities and can trigger 500 errors on servers with proper security configurations. Stick to 644 for files and 755 for directories.

Relying on Outdated or Unsupported Plugins

Old plugins often conflict with newer PHP versions and security updates. Regularly audit your installed plugins and remove or update any that are no longer maintained.

Leaving Debug Mode Active in Production

Debug mode is essential for development environments, but exposing error details on a live site creates security risks and can impact performance. Always disable debugging before going live.

Making Code Changes Directly on a Live Site

Testing changes in production puts your entire site at risk. Use a staging environment to validate updates before deploying them to your live site.

Enterprise-Level Insights

Large-scale websites and SaaS platforms handle 500 errors differently. Enterprise teams often use observability stacks that combine metrics, traces, and logs to identify root causes.

Best practices include:

• Using distributed tracing tools such as OpenTelemetry to locate failing microservices
  
• Implementing retry logic and circuit breakers for transient 500 errors
  
• Grouping recurring issues through error fingerprinting
  
• Defining clear ownership for incident response
  

Even small teams can adopt simplified versions of these methods. Automated uptime monitors and alerting tools can drastically reduce downtime.

Summary: Recover Faster, Build Stronger

An internal service error can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to create panic. By checking permissions, reviewing logs, and confirming configurations, most 500 errors can be fixed within minutes.

Website owners can reduce risk by keeping WordPress updated and secure. Developers can prevent reoccurrence by maintaining clean logs and using testing environments.

Both groups benefit from high-performance NVMe-powered hosting, which combines speed, reliability, and the infrastructure needed to keep downtime to a minimum.

Need help resolving a persistent 500 error? Our 24/7 support team is ready to assist.

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