My site shows a 500 "Internal Server Error"

If you're getting a 500 error, this means the server ran into a problem while running your site. Here are the steps to identify and resolve the issue. You'll need your developer's help.

Check the Apache error logs

Apache error logs can be accessed directly from cPanel; here's how:

1. Log In to your cPanel
2. Go to the "Metrics" section
3. Click on "Errors"
4. This page shows the latest entries in the Apache error log

Check your .htaccess file

The .htaccess file is often the cause of 500 errors, especially in the case of invalid commands or syntax errors.

You can temporarily rename the .htaccess file to check whether it's the cause. If the error disappears, it's a .htaccess issue.

Check for PHP errors

A 500 error can be linked to a PHP error. Each site has its own error_log file (PHP error log); here's how to access it:

1. Log In to your cPanel
2. Go to "File Manager".
3. Navigate to the folder of the script causing the problem (e.g.: /public_html/)
4. Open the error_log file if it exists

Updated on: 17/07/2026