Sooner or later you may hit a WordPress error. The most common are the 500 internal server error, the 403 forbidden error, and the 404 not found error. Each has typical causes and fixes. This guide helps you resolve them calmly.
The 500 Internal Server Error #
A generic server error, usually caused by a plugin or theme conflict, a corrupt .htaccess file, or a low PHP memory limit. To fix it:
- Deactivate plugins (rename the plugins folder if you are locked out), then re-enable one by one.
- Switch to a default theme to rule out the theme.
- Regenerate the .htaccess file by re-saving permalinks.
- Increase the PHP memory limit.
- Check the error log for the exact cause.
The 403 Forbidden Error #
This means the server is refusing access, often due to file permissions, a security plugin or firewall rule, or a bad .htaccess. To fix it:
- Check file and folder permissions (usually 644 for files, 755 for folders).
- Review any security plugin that may be blocking access.
- Rename .htaccess to test whether it is the cause, then re-save permalinks.
The 404 Not Found Error #
A 404 means the requested page could not be found. If individual posts 404 but the homepage works, it is almost always the permalinks. To fix it:
- Ga naar Settings > Permalinks and click Save to refresh the rules.
- Confirm the page or post actually exists and is published.
- Set up a redirect if the content moved.
Always check the error log #
Your hosting error log often names the exact file or plugin behind an error, which turns guesswork into a quick fix. Check it whenever an error appears.
When in doubt, restore a backup #
If an error started right after a change and you cannot pin it down, restoring a recent backup is the fastest route back to a working site.
Hulp nodig? #
If an error will not budge, our support team can check the logs and help you fix it over live chat.
