500 Internal Server Errors

Figuring out HTTP 500 internal server errors can be confusing.

You don’t know what happened or why.

But you know, something’s wrong and needs fixing.

In this article we will learn:

• What HTTP 500 internal server errors mean
• The causes
• The solutions

Let’s get started.

What’s a HTTP 500 internal server error?

An HTTP 500 internal server error is your web server having problems but doesn’t know why or the causes.

Your website then shows a general internal server error web page to your visitors.

Fixing 500 Internal Server Errors

A 500 internal server error doesn’t tell you what the problem is or how to fix it.

If you don’t fix this error on your website, it negatively affects your SEO.

So, first we will look at the causes of this error.

Then, we will look at how to fix this problem.

500 Internal Server Error Causes

A 500 internal server error is a website server problem.

Meaning the website’s programming has a problem or temporary issue.

500 internal server error causes include:

• Corrupted or broken .htaccess file
• Permission error
• Faulty third-party plugins or themes
• Exceeded PHP memory limit

To effectively fix these problems, keep reading.

Loading a Page with a 500 Internal Server Error:

Refresh the page

With a temporary loading issue, you might need to refresh the page.

So, before anything else, reload the page and see what happens.

Try again later

The error is server side, so wait a few minutes or up to an hour.

Then reload and see if the issue is fixed by the development team.

Delete browser’s cookies

First clear the browser history and if that doesn’t work, delete your browser’s cookies.

Deleting the cookies can help reload the page, if the cookies are related to the error-prone webpage.

Check you URL in the “Down for Everyone or Just Me” website

Go to downforeveryoneorjustme.com and enter the URL with the internal server error.

This website will tell you if the website is only down for you or for everyone.

This helps you know if it’s a problem with your server or your own computer.

A 500 Internal Server Error on Your Own Website:

Deactivate plugins or themes

Things can could affect your server’s configuration include:

• Newly activated software
• Add-ons
• Third-party scripts

To see what’s causing the issue, deactivate or uninstall your software add-ons one at a time.

This is easy to do with a WordPress website:

• Go to your dashboard
• Click Plugins > Installed Plugins
• Then deactivate the first plugin

If the error is solved, the plugin was the issue.

If not, then:

• Reactivate the first plugin
• then repeat this deactivate-reactivate process one at a time for all plugins

This will help to determine which plugin is causing your error.

Note: Less active plugins helps your website run smoothly.

Also, new software upgrades might not work well with your current plugins or themes.

To conclude:

Deactivating plugins or themes one by one until the error disappears helps find the cause of your problem.

Use WP Debugging plugin to find the issue

For WordPress websites install plugins to help find the server issue.

For example, the debug plugin WP Debugging helps quickly find the problem with your website.

Configure your PHP setup correctly

For issues related to PHP timeout:

• Create timeout rules in your script
• Error handling in your script

Click here for a list of php.ini directives for configuring your PHP setup.

Also, incorrect permissions won’t allow scripts to run, on a file or folder with a script like PHP or CGI.

To conclude:

Check permissions and make sure they are set up right on your server.

Check your website’s .htaccess file codes

Seeing a 500 internal error can be down to the wrong .htaccess file coding or structure.

The .htaccess file states how long to store resources in a browser’s cache.

So, edit this file if you see a 500 internal server error.

To find your .htaccess file:

• Go to your website
• Access files through a file manager like cPanel or via FTP/SFTP

Hint: Mostly located in your public_html directory

Note: By default your server will hide this file from view, so toggle hidden files to see it.

To conclude:

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

Make sure new software is correctly installed

Check your recently installed or upgraded software and see if they failed to install or upgrade.

Refresh software by going to the software website for instructions.

If all else fails: Ask a Server Administrator for Help

If all else fails, read about common causes for this issue in your server’s documentation.

HTTP 500 internal server errors happen on different operating systems for different reasons.

Also ask your service provider to access your error logs and find the cause of your problem.

Conclusion

Internal server errors are confusing and not helpful.

Because they don’t tell you what’s wrong and why it went wrong.

The steps explained above should help your website on its way.

Now it’s down to you.

Tell me what issues you face and how you solved them.

Let me know in the comment section below.