What is a 500 Internal Server Error and How Do I fix It?

We all know the frustration of trying to visit a website and then seeing some sort of 500 internal server error. These are generic warnings for several computer errors. Basically, the server that hosts the website you are trying to reach cannot complete your request.

The issue causing the 500 error message could be a permissions or security issue with the server, the website reaching its memory limit, bad files on the site or a bad cache on your device, among other issues.

A 500 Internal Server Error is also called a server, HTTP or 500 error.

What 500 Internal Server Error looks like

If you’re browsing the web and hit a 500 Internal Server Error, here’s what it might say:

500 Internal Server Error
500 Error
HTTP 500 – Internal Server Error
HTTP Error 500
500. That’s an error
Temporary Error (500)
Internal Server Error
500
HTTP 500 Internal Error
The website cannot display the page
WU_E_PT_HTTP_STATUS_SERVER_ERROR

What causes 500 Internal Server Error

The 500 Internal Server Error is simply a general indication that something’s wrong on the server side. Several things could cause this, but it’s usually on the website server side and not an issue with your computer or internet connection. Some of the causes could be:

Browser cache
Incorrect database login credentials
Corrupted database
Issues with your database server
Page or site programming

How to fix a 500 Internal Server Error

If you’re not the site owner

Refreshing after clearing cache and browser history: You can do this on most computers with a keyboard shortcut; F5 should work, as well as CTRL + R on Windows and CMD + R on Mac. You can also find the refresh button in your browser and click that. This might solve the issue if the 500 Error is temporary. Remember to delete your browser’s cookies and restart the browser before you try again. Or, open and browse in a new incognito window.
Simply coming back later: Sometimes, the 500 status error will be cleared up in time automatically or by the site’s maintenance. Take a break and just come back later to see if the issue is resolved.
Check the site status page: If you need more immediate assistance, see if the site has a status page. Many SaaS (software-as-a-service) companies have a dedicated webpage that gives users status updates on any technical errors or site outages. Here’s an example of an outage status page from Asana.
Contact site owner: If the contact information isn’t readily available, and live chat isn’t an option, check social media or do an old-school Google search for the company’s contact information.

If you own the site

If the website is yours and you’re dealing with 500 Internal Server Errors, the steps to resolve them are more involved. Because it could be many causes, your first task is to diagnose the issue and find out what’s signaling the error message.

To do this, check your server’s log files to pinpoint the issue. Some common scenarios include:

.htaccess file code error: “A file, containing one or more configuration directives, is placed in a particular document directory, and the directives apply to that directory and all subdirectories thereof,” explains the Apache Tutorial.
Permissions error: These are incorrect permissions on server files and folders.
Missing software installation: An error occurred while new software was installed and may require reinstallation.
Software updates needed: New software may be required or a new version of the current program may need to be updated.
PHP timeouts when connecting to external resources: This can happen when a “PHP request takes longer than five minutes to produce output, terminates, and produces an HTTP 500 error,” according to Acquia.

To find out how to check your server’s log files, check your website builder’s resource library. Here are a few to get you started:

If you can’t diagnose and fix it yourself, you also have the option of hiring a professional consultant or company to address the 500 Internal Server Error for you. Do your due diligence to find a company you can trust; ask for referrals from within your network, check the company’s website and look up customer reviews on Google.

More tips for handling 500 Internal Server Errors

As a website user, you don’t have to worry too much about handling 500 Internal Server Errors on your own. But there are a few handy tips to know:

Don’t refresh transactional pages. If you’re entering your credit card or other payment information and receive a 500 Internal Server Error, skip the advice on refreshing your browser and instead contact the site owner directly. If you did refresh the page, be sure to check your statement that you didn’t get duplicative charges.

Look up older versions of the website. A tool like Wayback Machine will allow you to visit historically cached versions of the website and its pages. Note that the content may be different than what’s currently live on the site, and that the design and layout may also be distorted.

Other common HTTP errors

Learn about other common HTTP status code errors and how to fix them:

FAQs

What is a 500 Internal Server Error?

A 500 Internal Server Error is an HTTP status code that means there’s a problem with the website’s server. Essentially, the server encountered an unexpected issue, but can’t pinpoint the exact problem.

How do I fix a 500 Internal Server Error?

You can try to reload the web page, clear your browser’s cache or delete your browsers cookies to start. If these tips don’t work, try coming back later since this error is out of your control.

What is an HTTP error?

An HTTP error is a message from the web server that something went wrong with your request. Each type has an HTTP code, like a 404 error for a non-existent page or a 500 for an internal server error.

Written by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

Robin Layton is an editor for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. She built her internet industry expertise writing and editing for four years on the site, as well as on Allconnect’s sister site MYMOVE.com. … Read more

Edited by:

Camryn Smith

Read bio