Is anyone free to assist me with 500 error please?

Internal server errors (error 500) are often caused by plugin or theme function conflicts, so if you have access to your admin panel, try deactivating all plugins. If you don’t have access to your admin panel, try manually resetting your plugins (no Dashboard access required). If that resolves the issue, reactivate each one individually until you find the cause.

If that does not resolve the issue, try switching to the Twenty Fifteen theme to rule-out a theme-specific issue. If you don’t have access to your admin panel, access your server via SFTP or FTP, or a file manager in your hosting account’s control panel, navigate to /wp-content/themes/ and rename the directory of your currently active theme. This will force the default theme to activate and hopefully rule-out a theme-specific issue.

If that does not resolve the issue, it’s possible that a .htaccess rule could be the source of the problem. To check for this, access your server via SFTP or FTP, or a file manager in your hosting account’s control panel, and rename the .htaccess file. If you can’t find a .htaccess file, make sure that you have set your SFTP or FTP client to view invisible files.

If you weren’t able to resolve the issue by either resetting your plugins and theme or renaming your .htaccess file, we may be able to help, but we’ll need a more detailed error message. Internal server errors are usually described in more detail in the server error log. If you have access to your server error log, generate the error again, note the date and time, then immediately check your server error log for any errors that occurred during that time period. If you don’t have access to your server error log, ask your hosting provider to look for you.

Hi James,

Many thanks for this very comprehensive response. I’m pretty sure it’s some dodgy PHP I entered. Problem is, I can’t access wp-admin or the FTP client.

I had one other thought, but think it’s a bit longwinded. My web host are installing an SSL certificate. They said this: “What we need to do is move your website content over to a separate SSL hosting server we have for websites with SSL certificates installed on them then order the certificate and install it for you.”

Could this be the problem? Or is that a ridiculous notion?

I’ve asked them to look in to it, but I won’t hear anything until tomorrow.

I think it’s more related to some PHP code you added, but the server move could be why you can’t access FTP, which is entirely separate from WordPress, so you’ll need to contact your hosting provider about restoring FTP access.

okay, perfect.

I know how to sort the code when I can access my ftp. I got really concerned about the lack of access there though.

Thanks for your time and info James. I’m sure I’ll need to reference back to some of the above in the not too distant future.

You’re welcome!