• I have a problem with wp-ghost plugin and not sure if anyone else is having the same problem after the latest update from 22nd Decemger 2025. As soon as it was update all off my website was showing a

    500 – Internal server error. There is a problem with the resource you are looking for, and it cannot be displayed.

    I was not sure why it was happening at first bu luckily for my I have access to all my website on my won windows 2019 server. I link I used is a subdomain for testing plugins and everything else with a fresh install of wordpress so I can see what is going on. I also have access to my database. The server is mine in my living room. I been using wordpress for a long time now since 2016 so got used to it. I am not a code and do not fully understand php.
    After reinstalling the plugin and activating it it was working untill I activated lite mode and then the 500 – Internal server error. My PHP Run Time Limits setting are high to allow my to upload large files. My server is a decant server. Its a Dell Power edge T140 with 16GB memory.
    Here is what I spotted what is happening after looking at the web.config. The code changes with all redirect code lines. Not sure how to describe it. I reset the web.config back to its original state so it looks like this below. Then I looked at wp-ghost setting and quicky spotted the problem.
    Some setting a activated for Pro Verson settings but they will not work because I am using lite mode and are grayed out.
    These are the setting below that are causing the 500 – Internal server error. Note sure if the developer reads the forums but hopefully they will and fix the probem ASAP.
    These are the setting that need to be turn of if using lite mode

    User Security:

    Hide Auther ID URL.
    Does not require Pro version but still causes the 500 – Internal server error.

    WP Core Secutity:
    Hide WordPress Common Paths.
    Hide WordPress Common Files.

    Plugins Security:

    Hide WordPress Old Plugins Path.

    Themes Security:
    Hide WordPress Old Themes Path.

    The Pro Label shows up on the right and the items a grayed out and you cannot used them.
    The developer needs to disable the toggle buttons as well so they cannot be acitvated in lite more and also be disable in lite mode. I tried it on all my websites and the same thing happens untill the above are all switched of.



    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

    <configuration>

      <system.webServer>

        <rewrite>

          <rules>

                <rule name="WordPress: wordpress1.amgsites.co.uk" patternSyntax="Wildcard">

                    <match url="*"/>

                        <conditions>

                            <add input="{REQUEST_FILENAME}" matchType="IsFile" negate="true"/>

                            <add input="{REQUEST_FILENAME}" matchType="IsDirectory" negate="true"/>

                        </conditions>

                    <action type="Rewrite" url="index.php"/>

                </rule></rules>

        </rewrite>

      </system.webServer>

    </configuration>
    • This topic was modified 4 months ago by Adrian McMaster. Reason: Missed a few things and need to add them
    • This topic was modified 4 months ago by Adrian McMaster.

    The page I need help with: [log in to see the link]

Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)
  • Plugin Support Peter

    (@petersquirrly)

    đź‘‹Hi Adrian,

    Thank you for reaching out!

    Please activate WordPress debug mode and send us the error that you’ll get under /wp-content/debug.log

    Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to do that: https://hidemywpghost.com/how-to-activate-wordpress-debugging/amp/

    Also, please delete the paths from the error and leave only for which file and line the error is.

    From where can see exactly what is going on and what can be done next. Thank you!

    Thread Starter Adrian McMaster

    (@mcgistics)

    I followed the instruction for the debug and the only error I see being reported in the debug.log is two lines that look like this below. I removed the file paths and left what you need.

    [29-Jan-2026 10:19:55 UTC] PHP Warning:  Undefined array key “block_ip” in wordpress1.amgsites.co.uk   \hide-my-wp\view\Dashboard.php on line 115

    [29-Jan-2026 10:19:55 UTC] PHP Warning:  Undefined array key “alerts” in wordpress1.amgsites.co.uk     \hide-my-wp\view\Dashboard.php on line 118

    Plugin Support Peter

    (@petersquirrly)

    We are sorry for the late response.

    We tested the plugin on the latest Windows Server version and everything seems to be working properly.

    We also tested using the default web.config configuration. After enabling all settings in WP Ghost, the new rules were added automatically to web.config without any errors, and the site worked correctly.

    The only situation where a 500 error appears on rewrite rules is when URL Rewrite is not installed on the server.
    It would be best to install the latest version from here and then restart IIS:
    https://www.iis.net/downloads/microsoft/url-rewrite

    If you have a premium license, you can also try testing with the latest plugin version.

    Let us know how it goes after these checks.

    Thread Starter Adrian McMaster

    (@mcgistics)

    I do have Rewrite installed and is working on my other websites. I noticed when I clicked on Rewrite for my test site that I am testing WP Ghost on it flashed a error screen as seen in the screenshot https://downloads.adrianmcmastergaming.com/Forum%20images/Screenshot%202026-02-11%20123228.png

    Not sure why it is happening. These are all the php extensions I am using. https://downloads.adrianmcmastergaming.com/Forum%20images/Screenshot%202026-02-11%20123832.png

    This is what the web.config looks like after I click the lite version.

    https://downloads.adrianmcmastergaming.com/Forum%20images/Screenshot%202026-02-11%20132920.png

    https://downloads.adrianmcmastergaming.com/Forum%20images/Screenshot%202026-02-11%20132940.png

    https://downloads.adrianmcmastergaming.com/Forum%20images/Screenshot%202026-02-11%20132946.png

    I am using Windows 2019 Standard. I am using IIS 10. I am using MariaDB. My PHP is 8.4.17 is there anything else that needs to be running on my server. There are no other plugin running on the website. I am using no other themes and 500 – Internal server error still happens and sellecting the Lite version. No sure if anyone else is having the same problem as me using a windows server.

    • This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by Adrian McMaster. Reason: Missed a few things
    Thread Starter Adrian McMaster

    (@mcgistics)

    This is a copy of the web.config in a zip file so you can have a look at it so you can see what is happening after I click the Lite version. The file is safe with no viruses or melware. I am not that kind of person. Just trying to get help andhoping you can see what going on and why the 500 error happens. I know duplicate content mean wp ghost is creating extra content and duplicating content and not sure why.
    https://downloads.adrianmcmastergaming.com/Forum_Webconfig/

    Plugin Support Peter

    (@petersquirrly)

    Please try to reinstall the latest version of WP Ghost together with the latest version of URL Rewrite on windows, and reset the IIS.

    Let us know how it goes.

    Thread Starter Adrian McMaster

    (@mcgistics)

    Done all of that and it was still the same. I upgraded to a pro verson https://hidemywpghost.com/hide-my-wp-pricing/ with a discount. So I can use pro on five websites and the pro version works. I noticed it was not duplicating in the rewrite so there must be a but somewhere in the lite version that is triggering action for the pro version that cannot be used in with lite and thats the error. Are folks aware of this website giving away pro versions of plugin when they are no supposed to be doing that. [ Malware site that distributes malware plugins to people foolish enough to use them removed ] Not sure if there is hidden code because I am not a code. The site needs closing down its a bit bogus to me. There are a lot more plugin and themes on there and some contain trojens and some poor bugger might end up having the website hacked. Not sure where or who to report the website to.

    Plugin Support Peter

    (@petersquirrly)

    Thanks for sticking with us while we checked this.

    Firstly, could you please edit your previous message and remove the link to that site distributing our plugin? As it helps promote them. Those are scam/piracy sites and we actively report and take action against them. They often redistribute outdated or modified files and can create confusion or security risks. We regularly identify and shut down accounts involved, and in the end most users end up purchasing safely from our official site anyway.

    Regarding the issue, we’ve just released an update for the Lite version (5.5.02), which fixes the duplicate rewrite rules on IIS that were causing the 500 error. That’s why the Pro version worked for you, the duplicate rewrite problem wasn’t present there, but it has now been corrected in Lite as well.

    Please update the Lite plugin to 5.5.02, reset IIS once after updating, and test again. It should no longer generate duplicate rules or trigger the 500 error.

    Let us know how it goes after the update.

    Thread Starter Adrian McMaster

    (@mcgistics)

    Lite Mode is working perfect now in the Plugin. Thanks for helping me Peter it been realy appreciated. I will leave a good review for you. Best reagards Adrian.

    Moderator Support Moderator

    (@moderator)

    Some setting a activated for Pro Verson settings but they will not work because I am using lite mode and are grayed out.

    The developer cannot and must not support any customers on this site. They risk getting into real trouble if they do.

    You can contact them via https://account.wpghost.com/login

    For pro or customer support, please contact the developer on their site. This includes pre-sales information.

    As the developer is aware, customers may not be supported on this site.

    https://ww.wp.xz.cn/support/guidelines/#do-not-post-about-commercial-products

Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

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