A 500 Internal Server Error means the web server could not complete the request. It is a symptom rather than a single fault and is commonly caused by PHP errors, invalid .htaccess directives, permissions or application failures.
Step by step
- Note exactly which URL fails and whether the whole site or only one path is affected.
- Check the cPanel Errors interface and application/PHP logs for a timestamp matching your test.
- If the error followed an edit, restore the changed file or temporarily revert the change.
- For WordPress, test suspect plugins/themes carefully rather than deleting the whole installation.
- Check that files and directories have sensible permissions and that the selected PHP version is compatible.
Important
Do not repeatedly rename or delete configuration files without recording what you changed. A 500 error can have several causes, and uncontrolled changes make diagnosis harder.
Checks and troubleshooting
If you open a ticket, include the failing URL, approximate time, what changed immediately before the error and any relevant error-log line. Never include passwords.