Troubleshooting & Error Codes in Plesk

500 Internal Server Error

This is a general error message when the server can’t process a request.

Common Causes:

• Broken .htaccess file

• Faulty plugin, extension, or script

• PHP memory or execution time limit

• File or folder permissions are wrong

How to Fix:

1. Check File Permissions

   • Go to Files in Plesk

   • Right-click folders: Set permission to 755

   • Files should be 644

2. Rename .htaccess Temporarily

   • Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old

   • Reload your site to test

3. Check PHP Version & Error Logs

   • Go to Websites & Domains > PHP Settings

   • Try switching to a different version (e.g., from PHP 7.4 to 8.0)

   • View logs under Logs > error_log

4. Disable Plugins/Extensions (CMS)

   • For WordPress, rename the /wp-content/plugins folder to disable all plugins at once

404 Not Found

This means the page or file can’t be found.

Common Causes:

• Wrong URL or page deleted

• Broken internal links

• Missing .htaccess rewrite rules (for WordPress or Joomla)

How to Fix:

1. Check the URL – Make sure the address is correct

2. Recreate or Restore the Page

3. Reset Permalinks (WordPress):

   • Log in to WordPress > Settings > Permalinks

   • Click Save Changes to regenerate .htaccess

4. Check Document Root in Plesk

   • Go to Hosting Settings

   • Make sure it’s pointing to the right folder (usually /httpdocs/)

403 Forbidden

You don’t have permission to access the file or folder.

Common Causes:

• File/folder permission issue

• Directory browsing is disabled

• .htaccess is blocking access

How to Fix:

1. Check permissions (folders 755, files 644)

2. Check .htaccess – Look for deny from all or IP blocks

3. Disable directory browsing if not needed

4. Make sure there is an index.html or index.php file

Error Establishing a Database Connection

Your site can’t connect to the MySQL or MariaDB server.

Common Causes:

• Wrong DB credentials (username/password)

• Database server down

• Corrupted CMS config file

How to Fix:

1. Check Database Credentials

   • In Plesk, go to Databases > User Management

   • Make sure the user/password match the ones in your CMS config file (e.g., wp-config.php)

2. Restart MySQL (advanced / VPS only)

   • Use your VPS panel or ask your hosting support

3. Repair Database (optional)

   • From Plesk, click the DB name > Check and Repair

Where to Find Error Logs in Plesk

Logs can help you understand what’s going wrong.

1. Go to Websites & Domains > Logs

2. Select error_log from the dropdown

3. Look for recent errors and copy the message if you need to contact support

📸 [Insert Screenshot: Viewing Logs in Plesk]

Tips to Stay Ahead of Errors

• Keep your CMS and plugins updated

• Back up regularly using Plesk’s Backup Manager

• Check disk space – Full disks can cause errors

• Use Security Advisor to fix weak server settings