What is a 500 Error?

A 500 Internal Server Error means something went wrong on the server while processing your request. It's a generic error — the actual cause varies.

Common Causes & Fixes

1. Broken .htaccess File

The most common cause. Check your .htaccess file for syntax errors.
  • Temporarily rename .htaccess to .htaccess.bak
  • If the site loads, the problem is in that file

2. PHP Errors

Your PHP code has a fatal error.
  • Check the error log in DirectAdmin → Error Log Viewer
  • Fix the error in your code

3. File Permissions

Incorrect permissions can cause 500 errors.
  • Files should be 644
  • Directories should be 755
  • PHP files should never be 777

4. PHP Version Mismatch

Your site may require a specific PHP version.
  • In DirectAdmin, check which PHP version is selected for your domain
  • Try switching to a different version

5. Memory Limit

Your script may be running out of memory.
  • Contact us to check if the PHP memory limit needs adjusting

Still Stuck?

Contact us at helpdesk.rogerle.com with your domain name and we'll check the server logs for you.