Troubleshooting an internal HTTP 500 server error is like solving a mystery.
You don’t know exactly what happened or why it happened – all you know is that something is wrong and you need to fix it.
To walk you through the tedious troubleshooting process of the dreaded HTTP 500 internal server error, we’ll go over its precise meanings and common causes and solutions.
What is an HTTP 500 internal server error?
An internal HTTP 500 server error means that your web server is having problems, but the specific error or its root cause cannot be precisely determined. In this case, your website is providing a generic webpage to your website visitors with internal server errors.
Possible causes of a 500 internal server failure
A 500 internal server error, as the name suggests, is a common problem with the website’s server. This most likely means that there is a problem or temporary bug with the website programming.
Some possible causes are:
- Corrupted or damaged .htaccess file
- An authorization error
- Faulty third-party plugins or themes
- The PHP memory limit has been exceeded
However, the difficulty with a 500 internal server error is that you are not immediately notified of the problem isor how to fix it. Let’s examine a few possible solutions that you can try to fix the problem.
How to fix a 500 internal server error
Fortunately, there are some effective solutions to fixing most HTTP 500 internal server errors.
When trying to load a page with an internal 500 server error
1. Refresh the page.
This may seem obvious, but if it is a temporary loading problem, refreshing the page can be a success. Before trying anything else on this list, reload the page and see what happens.
2. Come back later.
Since the error is on the server side, I am willing to bet the website owners are working asap to fix the problem. Give it a few minutes or more than an hour or two, then reload the URL to see if the development team fixed the problem.
3rd Delete the cookies from your browser.
If clearing your browsing history doesn’t work, you can try clearing your browser’s cookies. If the cookies are linked to the error-prone website, deleting the cookies can help reload the page.
4th Paste your URL into the Down for Everyone or Just Me website. “
This url should help you copy and paste the url that is showing the internal server error. If there’s a problem with the server, you’ll see a message that says, “It’s not just you! [URL] is not available to everyone. “This should help resolve concerns that this is a problem with your own computer.
If the 500 Internal Server Error is on your own website
1. Deactivate a plugin or theme.
Newly activated plugins or themes may conflict with your current plugins or themes. Disable them one by one to identify the exact plugins or themes that are causing the internal server error.
If you’ve just upgraded your software, your current plugins or themes may not be compatible with the new upgrade. Disabling plugins or themes one at a time until the error goes away is the best way to find the root cause of your problem.
2. Use a plugin like WP Debugging to identify the problem.
If your site is hosted on WordPress, you should install a plugin to help identify the problem. For example, this debugger plugin can help you find out exactly what is wrong with your site, which will result in a faster fix.
To learn how to download the plugin, check out our post: How to Fix “can’t process this request at the moment” in WordPress [HTTP Error 500].
3. Make sure your PHP setup is configured correctly.
If the problem is related to a PHP timeout, you should create timeout rules or error handlers in your script to resolve the problem. Here is a full list of php.ini directives to configure your PHP setup.
In addition, incorrect permissions on a file or folder containing a script, such as a PHP or CGI script, can prevent the script from running. Check your permissions and make sure you’ve set them correctly on your server.
4. Review the code for your site’s .htaccess file.
Incorrect coding or structure of your .htaccess file can be the reason for the internal error 500 to appear. A The .htaccess file will help you manage it How long should resources be stored in a browser’s cache? If you get an internal server error of 500, try editing the file.
Encoding errors of a .htcaccess file and custom scripts can also cause an internal HTTP 500 server error.
5. Make sure your new software is installed correctly.
Check to see if your recently installed or updated software actually failed to install or update. Please visit the provider’s website for instructions on how to update your software.
Ask a server administrator for help
If troubleshooting common software problems or debugging server-side scripts doesn’t fix your internal HTTP 500 server error, see your server’s documentation for the most common causes of this type of problem. An HTTP 500 internal server error can occur in different operating systems for a variety of reasons.
You can also ask your server provider to access your error logs and find evidence of the root cause of your problem.