Title: Server Error 500 when activating theme Last modified: August 21, 2016 --- # Server Error 500 when activating theme * Resolved [franhaselden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/franhaselden/) * (@franhaselden) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/) * Just trying to install a theme. * Theme is Sight by WP Shower, but I have tried some other well known themes too( Starkers included) and have the same problem. * When I activate the theme, I get a server error 500 and am then locked out of the WP dashboard. I can remove the theme from the server and all is well again. * Have searched through the forums and tried the following suggestions: * 1. Change permissions to 775 2. Change permissions to 777 3. Upload the theme as a zip file through WP rather than direct to server 4. Clear cache after error * None have worked so far, any solutions? Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total) * [Aditya Pandey](https://wordpress.org/support/users/callingmedic911/) * (@callingmedic911) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760886) * Did you tried looking into server’s log? * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760888) * What happens if you try [http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/responsive](http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/responsive) * Thread Starter [franhaselden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/franhaselden/) * (@franhaselden) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760891) * I am not sure where the error log is, I can’t find it anywhere on the server 🙁 I have looked up online where it should be but there is nothing except my public_html folder, wordpress folder, and then all the WordPress files. No log to be found. * Yes that responsive theme still gives an error. * [Aditya Pandey](https://wordpress.org/support/users/callingmedic911/) * (@callingmedic911) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760893) * I recommend you to contact your hosting provider about this issue. * Thread Starter [franhaselden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/franhaselden/) * (@franhaselden) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760894) * I have done, they say they cannot see a problem at their end. * [Aditya Pandey](https://wordpress.org/support/users/callingmedic911/) * (@callingmedic911) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760896) * Ask them to let you see the server log. * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760898) * Actually, what you need to see is the site’s error log. * [Aditya Pandey](https://wordpress.org/support/users/callingmedic911/) * (@callingmedic911) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760900) * Yeah yeah.. 😀 * Thread Starter [franhaselden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/franhaselden/) * (@franhaselden) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760909) * OK, well they have allowed me to access the error logs, since doing so, I am now getting this when activating Sight theme: * `Fatal error: Call to undefined function add_theme_support() in /mnt/vol2/home/ t/h/thecre5/public_html/wordpress/wp-content/themes/sight/functions.php on line 5` * As this is a private theme, and could not be perfect (the creators aren’t really active any more) I tried installing Responsive and got the same error: * `Fatal error: Call to undefined function add_theme_support() in /mnt/vol2/home/ t/h/thecre5/public_html/wordpress/wp-content/themes/responsive/includes/tha-theme- hooks.php on line 39` * This is the link to the live site, if this helps: [http://www.the-creative-collective.co.uk/wordpress/](http://www.the-creative-collective.co.uk/wordpress/) * [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/) * (@esmi) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760912) * That looks to me as if you are not using WordPress 3.5.1 but a significantly older version of WordPress. You need to check what version of WordPress you are actually running. * [Aditya Pandey](https://wordpress.org/support/users/callingmedic911/) * (@callingmedic911) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760913) * Did you edited something in core of WordPress? * Thread Starter [franhaselden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/franhaselden/) * (@franhaselden) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760918) * I haven’t changed the core. WordPress was installed using a script given by PowerPanel who install it for me. On the dashboard it says: * `You are using WordPress 3.5.1.` * I’ll have a go at downloading and installing it myself. * [Aditya Pandey](https://wordpress.org/support/users/callingmedic911/) * (@callingmedic911) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760922) * Re-install and see if it is fixed. * Thread Starter [franhaselden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/franhaselden/) * (@franhaselden) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760930) * Thanks, downloaded it myself and it works. Thanks for your help guys! Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total) The topic ‘Server Error 500 when activating theme’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [activate](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/activate/) * [server](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/server/) * 14 replies * 3 participants * Last reply from: [franhaselden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/franhaselden/) * Last activity: [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/server-error-500-when-activating-theme/#post-3760930) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics