Troubleshooting an HTTP 500 internal server error is similar solving a mystery.

Y'all don't know what exactly happened or why it happened — all you know is that something'southward wrong and you demand to fix information technology.

To guide you through the hassle of troubleshooting the dreaded HTTP 500 internal server fault, let'due south become over what information technology exactly means and its virtually mutual causes and solutions.

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What is an HTTP 500 internal server mistake?

An HTTP 500 internal server fault means your web server is experiencing problems, but it can't pinpoint the specific error or its root causes. When this happens, your website volition serve up a general internal server error web folio to your site's visitors.

Here's what your 500 fault folio might look similar in your browser:

screenshot of an http 500 internal server error message example

How to Set a 500 Internal Server Fault

Unlike other server-side errors like a 502 code or a 503 code, a 500 internal server error is it doesn't immediately tell you what the problem is, nor does it tell y'all how to set it. If the error persists for also long on your site, it could fifty-fifty negatively impact your SEO.

So, allow'southward swoop into a few potential causes of the error. Then, we'll nowadays some solutions so you tin can try to gear up the issue.

Potential Causes of a 500 Internal Server Error

A 500 internal server error is, equally the name implies, a full general problem with the website'southward server. More than than likely, this means there'due south an issue or temporary glitch with the website's programming.

Some potential causes of a 500 internal server error include:

  • Corrupted or cleaved .htaccess file
  • A permissions error
  • Faulty third-party plugins or themes
  • The PHP retentivity limit being exceeded

Fortunately, at that place are a few effective solutions for fixing most of these problems.

If You're Trying to Load a Folio with a 500 Internal Server Fault:

i. Refresh the page.

This might seem obvious, only if it's a temporary loading issue, you might find success if you lot refresh the page. Before trying annihilation else in this listing, reload the page and see what happens.

2. Come back later on.

Since the error is on the server side, I'thou willing to bet the website owners are working as quickly as possible to resolve the outcome. Give it a few minutes or upward to an hour or and then, and then reload the URL and see if the development team has stock-still the issue.

3. Delete your browser'southward cookies.

If clearing the browser history doesn't piece of work, you might try deleting your browser's cookies. If the cookies are associated with the fault-decumbent webpage, deleting the cookies might help reload the page.

iv. Paste your URL into the website "Down for Everyone or Just Me."

Head to downforeveryoneorjustme.com and paste in the URL where you're seeing the internal server error. You'll either be told that the website is only downwardly for you, or that the website is downwards for everyone.

the homepage of downforeveryoneorjustme.com displaying the http 500 internal error status of youtube.comIf it'due south a trouble with your server, this should help assuage any concerns that it's an event with your own computer.

If the 500 Internal Server Error is on Your Own Website:

1. Deactivate a plugin or theme.

Newly activated software, add-ons, or third-political party scripts might be conflicting with your electric current server configuration. To determine this, attempt (carefully) deactivating or uninstalling your software add-ons one at a time to identify what exactly is causing the internal server error.

If yous run a WordPress website, this is easy to do with plugins. From your dashboard, choose Plugins > Installed Plugins, and so deactivate the first plugin. If the error resolves, y'all know this plugin is part of the result. Reactivate the first plugin, then repeat this deactivate-reactivate process one at a time for all plugins to determine which ones are causing your fault.

list of active plugins on a wordpress site and a deactivate button to resolve an http 500 internal server errorYou might find that having fewer active plugins on your site helps things run more than smoothly.

Alternatively, if you just upgraded your software, your electric current plugins or themes might not be compatible with the new upgrade. Deactivating plugins or themes one at a time until the error disappears is the best style to find the root crusade of your problem.

2. Use a plugin like WP Debugging to identify the issue.

If your site is powered past WordPress and you're comfy with WordPress debugging processes, consider installing a plugin to help yous identify the consequence with your server.

The debug plugin WP Debugging, for example, helps yous figure out exactly what'south wrong with your site, which will consequence in a speedier fix.

download page for the wp debugging plugin to help resolve the http 500 internal server error in wordpress

Image Source

iii. Ensure your PHP setup is configured correctly.

If the outcome is related to a PHP timeout, consider creating timeout rules or error handling in your script to resolve the issue. Here's a full listing of php.ini directives to configure your PHP setup.

Additionally, wrong permissions on a file or folder that has a script, like a PHP or CGI script, won't allow the script to run. Check your permissions and make sure you fix them correctly on your server.

4. Cheque the code for your site's .htaccess file.

Incorrect coding or improper structure with your .htaccess file could be the reason yous're seeing the 500 internal mistake. The .htaccess file helps you manage how long resources should be stored in a browser'southward cache. Effort editing the file if y'all're seeing a 500 internal server error.

To locate your .htaccess file, access your website files through a file manager like cPanel or via FTP/SFTP. The file will probably be located in your public_html directory. There's a good chance your server will hide this file from view past default and yous'll need to toggle hidden files on to come across it.

a server file directory highlighting the htaccess file to resolve the http 500 internal server error

Image Source

Coding errors in .htaccess and custom scripts can also cause an HTTP 500 internal server error.

5. Ensure your new software is installed correctly.

Finally, bank check to see if your recently installed or upgraded software actually failed to install or upgrade. To refresh your software, check the vendor'due south website for instructions.

How to fix a 500 internal server error

Last Resort: Enquire a Server Ambassador for Aid

If troubleshooting pop software problems or debugging server-side scripts doesn't fix your HTTP 500 internal server mistake, you lot should read virtually the most mutual causes for this type of issue in your server's documentation — an HTTP 500 internal server fault tin occur in different operating systems for a multitude of reasons.

Y'all can likewise ask your service provider to access your fault logs and find bear witness for the root cause of your problem.

Internal server errors are irritating considering they're unhelpful — information technology'due south basically the spider web server'south way of saying, "Eh, I'm non sure." Hopefully, one of the in a higher place steps will resolve the problem then you can get back to life as usual.

Editor's note: This mail was originally published in Oct 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Originally published Jul 29, 2021 one:00:00 PM, updated July 29 2021