Wordpress: Internal Server Error - you can do that

If your WordPress site is no longer accessible, you will suddenly see the "Internal Server Error" message instead of your homepage. We have put together all the important information so that you can quickly solve the problem.

Wordpress - Internal Server Error: Is the server offline?

The Internal Server Error message says nothing about the problem and can have many causes.

• First check whether you can reach the server at all via your internet connection.
• It happens that computers in the interconnections fail briefly. You will then not be able to reach your site, for example, while the rest of the EU has no problem.
• Visit //downforeveryoneorjustme.com/ and enter your web address here.
• You will then find out whether only you or the whole world has no access.
• If the problem is with you, clear your browser's cache and try again after a few minutes.
• If the page is not accessible to everyone, contact your provider to find out whether the web server is down.

Internal Server Error: WordPress plugins cause the failure

• Have you installed a new plugin or updated an existing one?
• Dial in via FTP on your web server and deactivate the plugin that you have currently installed or updated.
• To do this, open the "wp-content / plugins" folder and navigate to the corresponding subfolder with the plugin, which may be responsible for the failure. Rename the folder.
• Your page is then often available again. If this is the case, you should remove the corresponding plugin.

Wordress error: The .htaccess file is corrupt

• Select yourself via FTP in the main directory of the server and rename the file ".htaccess" to ".htaccess_old".
• Reload your page.
• If this works, log into the backend and navigate to "Settings"> "Permalinks".
• Without changing anything, click the "Apply Changes" button.
• WordPress uses this to create a clean .htaccess file.
• If that didn't help, rename the file on the server to ".htaccess" again and go to the next section.

Reinstall WordPress core files

• From your WordPress installation, you can freshly set up the most important files to solve the problem.
• If you don't have a backup, download the files of your WordPress version.
• After unpacking, copy the complete folders "wp-admin" and "wp-includes" to your web server. Rename the existing folders of the current installation beforehand.
• You do not have to worry. No own data is overwritten here. Your contributions, pictures etc. will be unchanged afterwards.
• If it worked, you can delete the renamed folders.

Wordpress: Helpful information about the Internal Server Error

• Incidentally, the error does not always have to be WordPress. Theoretically, the problem can also be caused by any other file on your server.
• Contact your web host. This can be looked up in the server logs and possibly the trigger.
• Always make a backup of your WordPress site including the database on a regular basis.
• This way you won't break a sweat in case of problems and can quickly restore your website.
• Also ask your host. Some providers create automatic backups.

How to give your website a new look and install a WordPress theme, read in the next post.