[Resolved] Site broken, error 500

Problem:
The client is experiencing a 500 Internal Server Error on their multilingual e-commerce site when switching to languages other than the default. The issue is causing the site to go down frequently, and sometimes the layout appears broken. The client attempted to resolve the issue by inserting code into the

functions.php

file based on an outdated WPML errata page, but this did not resolve the problem.

Solution:
We recommend the following steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:
1. Verify that the server meets all WPML minimum requirements by checking our documentation: WPML Minimum Requirements.
2. Consult our FAQ for guidance on resolving 500 errors: 500 Error FAQ.
3. Enable WordPress debugging to gather more information about the cause of the 500 errors: Debugging WPML.
4. Test for a compatibility issue with plugins or themes:
- Create a full website backup.
- Disable all plugins except for WPML and its add-ons.
- Check if the issue persists.
- If the issue is resolved, reactivate plugins one by one to identify the culprit.
- If the issue still occurs with non-WPML plugins disabled, switch to a default theme like TwentySeventeen and test again.
Performing these steps in a staging environment is highly recommended.

If these steps do not resolve the issue or if the solution provided here is outdated or not applicable to your case, we highly recommend checking related known issues at WPML Known Issues, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If you still need assistance, please open a new support ticket: WPML Support Forum.