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

You don't know what exactly happened or why it happened — all you lot know is that something's wrong and you lot need to set it.

To guide you through the hassle of troubleshooting the dreaded HTTP 500 internal server error, let's go over what information technology exactly means and its most common causes and solutions.

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Here's what your 500 error page might await like in your browser:

screenshot of an http 500 internal server error message example

How to Fix a 500 Internal Server Error

Unlike other server-side errors similar a 502 code or a 503 code, a 500 internal server fault is it doesn't immediately tell you what the problem is, nor does information technology tell you lot how to set up information technology. If the error persists for also long on your site, it could even negatively bear upon your SEO.

So, let's swoop into a few potential causes of the mistake. Then, we'll present some solutions so you lot tin can try to set the issue.

Potential Causes of a 500 Internal Server Error

A 500 internal server fault is, as the proper name implies, a full general trouble with the website's server. More than than likely, this means there's an event or temporary glitch with the website's programming.

Some potential causes of a 500 internal server error include:

  • Corrupted or broken .htaccess file
  • A permissions mistake
  • Faulty tertiary-party plugins or themes
  • The PHP memory limit being exceeded

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

If You're Trying to Load a Page with a 500 Internal Server Error:

1. Refresh the folio.

This might seem obvious, but if it'due south a temporary loading issue, you might observe success if yous refresh the folio. Before trying anything else in this list, reload the page and see what happens.

2. Come back after.

Since the error is on the server side, I'm willing to bet the website owners are working as quickly as possible to resolve the issue. Give it a few minutes or upwardly to an 60 minutes or so, and then reload the URL and run into if the evolution squad has fixed the consequence.

three. Delete your browser's cookies.

If clearing the browser history doesn't work, you might effort deleting your browser's cookies. If the cookies are associated with the mistake-prone webpage, deleting the cookies might help reload the page.

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

Caput to downforeveryoneorjustme.com and paste in the URL where y'all're seeing the internal server error. You'll either be told that the website is simply down for you, or that the website is down for everyone.

the homepage of downforeveryoneorjustme.com displaying the http 500 internal error status of youtube.comIf it's a problem with your server, this should help assuage whatsoever concerns that information technology's an outcome 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 together-ons, or third-party scripts might be conflicting with your electric current server configuration. To make up one's mind this, endeavor (carefully) deactivating or uninstalling your software add-ons one at a time to identify what exactly is causing the internal server error.

If you run a WordPress website, this is like shooting fish in a barrel to practice with plugins. From your dashboard, choose Plugins > Installed Plugins, then deactivate the first plugin. If the error resolves, you lot know this plugin is function of the issue. Reactivate the get-go plugin, then repeat this deactivate-reactivate process one at a fourth dimension for all plugins to determine which ones are causing your error.

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

Alternatively, if you lot simply upgraded your software, your electric current plugins or themes might non be compatible with the new upgrade. Deactivating plugins or themes one at a time until the fault disappears is the best way to discover the root cause of your problem.

two. Use a plugin like WP Debugging to place the issue.

If your site is powered by WordPress and you're comfortable with WordPress debugging processes, consider installing a plugin to help you lot identify the issue with your server.

The debug plugin WP Debugging, for instance, helps yous effigy out exactly what's wrong with your site, which will result in a speedier fix.

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

Epitome Source

3. Ensure your PHP setup is configured correctly.

If the issue is related to a PHP timeout, consider creating timeout rules or error handling in your script to resolve the issue. Here's a full list 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 permit the script to run. Check your permissions and make sure you fix them correctly on your server.

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

Wrong coding or improper construction with your .htaccess file could exist the reason you're seeing the 500 internal error. The .htaccess file helps you manage how long resources should be stored in a browser's cache. Try editing the file if you're seeing a 500 internal server error.

To locate your .htaccess file, access your website files through a file director like cPanel or via FTP/SFTP. The file will probably be located in your public_html directory. In that location's a good chance your server volition hide this file from view by default and yous'll need to toggle subconscious files on to see 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 crusade 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's website for instructions.

How to fix a 500 internal server error

Last Resort: Ask a Server Administrator for Aid

If troubleshooting popular software problems or debugging server-side scripts doesn't fix your HTTP 500 internal server fault, yous should read nigh the nigh common causes for this type of issue in your server'southward documentation — an HTTP 500 internal server mistake tin occur in different operating systems for a multitude of reasons.

You can also ask your service provider to access your mistake logs and find evidence for the root cause of your problem.

Internal server errors are irritating because they're unhelpful — it's basically the web server'due south way of proverb, "Eh, I'm not sure." Hopefully, ane of the higher up steps will resolve the problem so you can get dorsum to life as usual.

Editor'southward note: This post was originally published in October 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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