Server 500 Error – Wordfence Unresolved Issue

Hi @khoavo

Thanks for reaching out!

Can you get your hosts to increase your server’s memory limit in the php.ini file?

This may be causing the issue if its too low.

I hope this helps!

Thanks,

Joshua

You mean the WP_memory_limit ? Yeah I showed you the screenshot earlier: https://prnt.sc/OxScxMy_KoCZ – I originally had the memory limit set at 572M, but after reading one of your team’s response to another customer’s similar issue on this, it advised I take it down to 272M so I did that. But neither values help on this matter. Still see the Server 500 error, exceed memory usage etc.

Hi @khoavo

php memory_lmit and wp_memory_limit are two different values.

wp_memory_limit is located in wp-config.php, while php memory limit is located in php.ini

wp_memory_limit relies on php memory_limit. If the wp_memory_limit is higher than your php memory_limit, then you can face issues.

I hope this helps to clear it up!

Thanks,

Joshua

Sorry if I confused you, or I’m confused myself. See screenshot: https://prnt.sc/4NlZisJh4-kL

I have direct access to my Cpanel / MultiPHP INI Editor – Here is where I normally adjust my memory limit value, etc. Isn’t this part of the ph.ini you’re referring to? Or is this not?

Hi @khoavo

This one is on me, I did not notice you had already edited the php memory_limit.

wp_memory_limit is different and is located in wp-config.php

Can you please make the two values the same?

Thanks,

Joshua

I’m looking at the wp-config.php right now but not seeing anywhere to indicate the wp_memory_limit value

See screenshot: https://prnt.sc/ZANcXcHdcIaa

If the line define wp_memory_limit is not there, then what is the default value from WordPress on this? So I need to manually insert this line of code above where it says “That’s all, stop editing! Happy publishing” ?

define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);

Also, if I manually insert the memory limit line, what happens on the future WordPress version updates? Will that be saved or gets removed?

Hi @khoavo

Exactly! You will have to add that line.

256M is perfect.

It will save between WordPress versions.

Let me know how that goes!
Thanks,

Joshua

Negative, I inserted it but still same issue. I’m staring to lose hope, been at this for 7 days now. I don’t think my Hosting Provider can solve this either, they had their Sr. Techs on this yesterday.

Let me show you the demo video of this issue, I showed my hosting provider the same one. As you can see, after clearing browser cache, etc. The first couple clicks on the site the pages navigate fine, no problem.

But then on about the 3rd click, the page or any page I click on within the site will not load. And eventually the Server Error pops up.

At first you will see my clicks, and then it stalls, make sure you forward to the last 5 seconds and you’ll see the Server Error eventually appears.

Note: I test this on Safari, Chrome, and iPhone. My IP address is not blocked as they checked, to make sure the site/domain is not blocking my access, so that’s not the issue. It has to be something else, I just don’t know what it is.

Demo Video: https://xsentrix.com/demo-video2.mp4

Hi @khoavo

I recommend checking for a plugin or theme conflict. To do this, you can disable your other plugins on the site one at a time and test, or alternatively, use the Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin (https://www.ads-software.com/plugins/health-check/). That is a plugin you will need to install from the Plugins > Add New area.

If you use the Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin, you can troubleshoot the site with just Wordfence enabled and the changes are only seen in the back end and not to visitors.

After downloading that, in the plugins section under Health Check & Troubleshooting you’ll see “Troubleshoot”. Click that and you’ll be in Troubleshooting Mode, which you will see a Troubleshooting Mode button in the top admin bar, which lets you know you are actively troubleshooting. (Note about that: Clicking Disable Troubleshooting mode in that area will turn off troubleshooting when you’re done testing for the conflict at the end.)

With Troubleshooting mode active, in the plugins section, you will see Enable while troubleshooting under all your plugins. Click Enable while troubleshooting under Wordfence, and your site on the backend will act as only Wordfence is enabled. Keep in mind, this doesn’t always rule out plugin conflicts, however, it can a good portion of the time.

Once you enable the troubleshooting with Wordfence, go over to the Wordfence plugin and check to see if the issues continue.

If they do continue, then we need to look elsewhere.

If things are working now, then you can go back to the plugins section and start from the top and click Enable while Troubleshooting under the plugins, one at a time. In between enabling multiple plugins, be sure to go back and test Wordfence is still functioning. That will narrow it down.

Also, from the top on the admin bar where we see Troubleshooting Mode. Hover over that with your mouse and check to see if a default theme is selected (if you have one installed). It is also good to rule out the theme. Keep in mind, these changes will not change the way the site looks to visitors.

We always recommend making a site backup prior to installing new plugins, in case there would be an issue.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Joshua

Man I do appreciate your thorough instructions on the trouble shooting. But I don’t think I can keep up with all of those steps. I did switched over to a WordPress default theme to see if my current theme is the cause, and as soon as I activate the default WP Theme, the Server Error message displayed. I also disabled most of the plugins and kept the core ones, but still same issue.

I’m running other wesites with the same web host provider, using the same Wordfence settings (different licenses), etc and on those I’m not experiencing this same issue, so that’s odd, you know? If that’s the case then it means somewhere on the this theme at hand, or a plugin is causing this.

It’ll probably be faster for me to replicate the current site with another fresh new theme and copy the contents over, but that still will take time. Anyhow, Thanks for your time on this buddy.

I may have ID the plugin that’s been using up my PHP memory. It’s not Wordfence. Thanks for your help.