REST API Error

Quick Fix

Check your site URL and clear cache. Disable all plugins, switch to a default theme, and test the REST API endpoint again. If it still fails, review .htaccess and SSL settings.

What it Means

The REST API Error appears when WordPress cannot process API requests. It usually shows as a 500 or 403 response when accessing /wp-json/ endpoints. The error indicates that something on the server or in WordPress is blocking or misconfiguring the API.

Possible Causes

• 1
  Plugin conflict or buggy code
• 2
  Theme conflict or custom functions
• 3
  Server misconfiguration (PHP version, memory limits)
• 4
  Incorrect .htaccess rules or mod_rewrite issues
• 5
  Missing or corrupted core files
• 6
  CORS or SSL certificate problems

Step-by-Step Solutions

1. Disable all plugins

   Run a command or go to the Plugins page and deactivate every plugin. Then test the REST API. If it works, reactivate plugins one at a time to find the offender.

   wp plugin deactivate --all
2. Switch to a default theme

   Activate a default theme to rule out theme issues. If the API works, the problem lies in your theme’s code.

   wp theme activate twentytwentyone
3. Check .htaccess rules

   Open the .htaccess file in the root directory and ensure it contains the standard WordPress rewrite rules. Remove any custom rules that might block /wp-json/ endpoints.

4. Verify PHP settings

   Make sure the PHP version is 7.4 or higher and memory_limit is at least 256M. Adjust settings in php.ini or via hosting control panel.

5. Enable debugging

   Add WP_DEBUG=true to wp-config.php to capture detailed error messages. Look for fatal errors or warnings in the logs.

   wp config set WP_DEBUG true --raw
6. Review server logs

   Check Apache/Nginx error logs for 500 or 403 responses related to REST API calls. This can pinpoint server-level blocks or misconfigurations.

Commands You Can Try