Fix htaccess 500 Internal Server Error

If your website suddenly shows a 500 Internal Server Error, a faulty .htaccess file is one of the most common culprits. This guide walks you through diagnosing and fixing the problem step by step, from finding the file to testing a minimal version. You’ll need access to your web hosting file manager, an FTP client, or a code editor—no advanced programming skills required.

What You’ll Need

• Access to your website’s file manager (cPanel, Plesk, or similar) or an FTP client like FileZilla.
• A plain text editor (Notepad, VS Code, Sublime Text) to edit the file.
• Your hosting control panel login credentials.
• Optional: a backup of your current .htaccess file.

Step-by-Step

1. Locate the .htaccess file. In your hosting file manager, navigate to the public_html folder (or the root of your domain). If you don’t see the file, enable “Show Hidden Files” in your file manager settings, or use FTP with “Force showing hidden files” enabled.
2. Download a backup. Right-click the file and choose “Download” or “Copy” to save a copy to your computer. This ensures you can restore it if needed.
3. Check for syntax errors. Open the file in a text editor. Look for missing closing tags, extra spaces, or incorrect directives. A common error is a missing space between the directive and its value (e.g., RewriteEngine On should have a space).
4. Rename the file to disable it. In the file manager, rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old. This immediately disables it. Reload your website—if the 500 error disappears, your .htaccess is definitely the problem.
5. Test a minimal version. Create a new file named .htaccess with just one line: # Minimal .htaccess. Save and reload. If the site works, the issue is in the content you removed.
6. Re-add directives one by one. Start with the most common ones: Options -Indexes, RewriteEngine On, and RewriteBase /. After each addition, reload your site. When the error returns, you’ve found the problematic line.
7. Fix or remove the offending directive. Correct any typos, remove unsupported modules (e.g., if your host doesn’t have mod_rewrite enabled, RewriteEngine On will cause an error), or comment it out with # at the beginning.
8. Restore your backup if needed. If you can’t identify the issue, replace the minimal file with your original backup and try a different approach: check the server error log (in cPanel, under “Errors” or “Error Logs”) for the exact line number that caused the failure.

Common Mistakes

• Editing with a word processor like Microsoft Word that adds invisible formatting characters. Always use a plain text editor.
• Forgetting to upload as ASCII in FTP clients—if you upload in binary mode, line endings can become corrupted.
• Using absolute paths incorrectly in RewriteRule or Redirect directives. Relative paths are safer.
• Copy-pasting code from tutorials without adjusting for your server’s PHP version or installed modules.
• Leaving a trailing space after a directive—some servers are strict about this.

Tips

• Always keep a backup of your working .htaccess file in a safe place outside your website.
• Use the # symbol to comment out lines temporarily instead of deleting them—this makes testing easier.
• If you’re using WordPress, many plugins (like caching or security plugins) modify .htaccess. Disable recent plugins to see if that resolves the issue.
• Check your hosting provider’s documentation for any specific directives they require (e.g., php_value settings).
• If you have shell access, run apachectl -t (or httpd -t) to test the Apache configuration before restarting.

Troubleshooting

If the error persists after following the steps:

• Check file permissions. The .htaccess file should typically be 644 (readable and writable by owner, readable by others). Incorrect permissions (like 777) can trigger a 500 error on some servers.
• Look at the server error log. This is the most direct way to see the exact error message. In cPanel, go to “Metrics” > “Errors”. The log will show something like “/path/.htaccess: Invalid command ‘RewriteEngine’, perhaps misspelled”.
• Verify mod_rewrite is enabled. If your host uses Apache, you can check via phpinfo() or by creating a test PHP file with <?php phpinfo(); ?> and searching for “mod_rewrite”. If it’s not enabled, contact your host.
• Test with a different browser or device. Sometimes a cached version of the page can show an error even after the server is fixed.
• If you’re using a CDN or caching service, purge the cache. The CDN might be serving a cached 500 response.
• If all else fails, remove the file entirely. Rename it to something like .htaccess_broken and leave it disabled. You can then rebuild it from scratch or ask your host for a default template.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a 500 error happen with .htaccess?

The server encounters a syntax error, an unsupported directive, or a permission problem when reading the file, causing it to crash before it can serve the page.

Can I edit .htaccess via FTP?

Yes, but ensure you download it, edit with a plain text editor, and upload it back in ASCII mode (not binary). Some FTP clients have a setting for this.

What is the default .htaccess for WordPress?

A typical WordPress .htaccess contains the RewriteEngine On and RewriteBase directives plus the standard WordPress rewrite rules. You can generate a fresh one by going to Settings > Permalinks in WordPress admin and clicking “Save Changes”.

Will removing .htaccess break my site?

It may break pretty permalinks in WordPress, custom redirects, or security headers, but the site will still load. It’s a temporary diagnostic step.

How do I check if mod_rewrite is enabled?

Create a file named test.php with <?php phpinfo(); ?>, open it in your browser, and search for “mod_rewrite”. If it’s not listed, contact your hosting provider.

Can a .htaccess error be caused by a plugin?

Yes, many plugins (especially caching and security ones) modify .htaccess automatically. If the error started after installing a plugin, deactivate it via FTP by renaming its folder in wp-content/plugins.

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