← All errors

Joomla 500 Internal Server Error (.htaccess): How to Fix

Symptoms: Browser shows '500 Internal Server Error' · Site breaks after enabling SEF URLs or editing .htaccess · Happens on Apache servers

Mostly verified. Apache-only; not applicable to IIS/non-Apache. Researched 2026-06-01 (joomace.net FAQ, official docs and forum).

✅ Verified on a live Joomla 5.4.6 install: it ships htaccess.txt containing RewriteEngine On, a commented # RewriteBase /, and a note that Options +FollowSymLinks “may cause problems with some server configurations” — exactly the directives discussed below. We reproduced the 500: a single invalid directive in .htaccess took the whole site to HTTP 500, and removing the file restored it immediately — which is exactly why the rename test below works.

A 500 Internal Server Error on a Joomla (Apache) site is most commonly caused by the .htaccess file or mod_rewrite configuration. A single misplaced directive can take the whole site down.

Step 1 — Test whether .htaccess is the culprit

Over FTP or your control panel, rename .htaccess to htaccess.txt (or delete it temporarily). Reload the site:

  • Site works now? The .htaccess file was the problem — continue below.
  • Still 500? The cause is elsewhere (check the PHP error log, file permissions, or a faulty extension).

Joomla ships a clean template called htaccess.txt — you can restore from it.

Step 2 — Common .htaccess fixes

Site installed in a subdirectory

mod_rewrite rules won’t match. Open .htaccess, uncomment and set RewriteBase:

RewriteBase /yourfolder

Note: a wrong RewriteBase more often causes redirect loops or 404s than a true 500 — but it’s worth checking.

Some hosts reject this directive. If it triggers the 500, comment it out:

# Options +FollowSymLinks

mod_rewrite not enabled

SEF URLs need Apache’s mod_rewrite. If your host doesn’t enable it, the rewrite rules fail. Confirm with your host.

joomla 500 internal server error htaccess · joomla 500 internal server error · joomla htaccess 500 · joomla sef urls 500 error

Sources