Error 500 activating new user in wordpress

The infamous "Error 500"!

When you encounter an Error 500 while activating a new user in WordPress, it can be frustrating and challenging to troubleshoot. Here are some potential causes and solutions to help you resolve the issue:

  1. Plugin conflicts: One of your plugins might be causing the issue. Try deactivating all plugins and then reactivate them one by one to identify the problematic plugin.
  2. Theme issues: Your theme might be causing the problem. Try switching to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Nineteen) to see if the issue persists.
  3. WordPress core files: Corrupted WordPress core files can cause errors. Try reinstalling WordPress or updating to the latest version.
  4. Database issues: A corrupted database can cause errors. Try running a database repair tool like WP Database Repair or WP Repair.
  5. User registration settings: Check your WordPress settings to ensure that user registration is enabled and the registration form is set up correctly.
  6. Email issues: If your email settings are not configured correctly, it can cause issues with user activation. Check your email settings and ensure that they are correct.
  7. Server-side issues: Server-side issues, such as a misconfigured server or a resource-intensive plugin, can cause errors. Check your server logs for any errors or warnings.

To troubleshoot the issue, you can try the following steps:

  1. Enable debug mode: Enable WordPress debug mode to get more detailed error messages. You can do this by adding the following code to your wp-config.php file:
    define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);
  2. Check the error log: Check your WordPress error log for any error messages related to the user activation process.
  3. Use a plugin to debug: Plugins like Debug Bar or WP Debug can help you identify the source of the error.
  4. Try activating the user manually: Try activating the user manually by editing the user's profile and clicking the "Activate" button.
  5. Check the user's profile: Check the user's profile to see if there are any errors or warnings.

If none of these steps help, you can try seeking help from your web host or a WordPress developer to further troubleshoot the issue.