How to troubleshoot 500 Internal Server Error?

Last modified: January 17, 2025
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The 500 Internal Server Error is a common HTTP status code that all internet users encounter at some point. HTTP status codes are three-digit integers that a server sends to the client for every request, indicating whether the request was successful or if an issue occurred.

For instance, you may already be familiar with the 404 Not Found error, which indicates that a requested resource couldn’t be found. Similarly, the 500 Internal Server Error indicates that something went wrong on the server side, but the server is unable to specify the exact cause of the problem.

The 500 Internal Server Error

5xx errors are HTTP status codes returned by the server when it encounters an unexpected condition that prevents it from fulfilling a client’s request. These errors indicate server-side issues and can vary in cause and complexity.

The 500 Internal Server Error is a general “catch-all” error code used when the server encounters an exception or cannot fulfill the request due to an undefined issue. It appears when no more specific error message is appropriate, making it a challenge to troubleshoot because it can result from a wide range of problems.

Troubleshooting 500 Internal Server Error

As discussed earlier, troubleshooting a 500 Internal Server Error can be somewhat challenging due to the variety of potential causes. Let’s review the steps required to resolve this error page.

Troubleshooting the 500 Internal Server Error from Client Side

Restart your browser after clearing its cache and deleting cookies to resolve a 504 Gateway Timeout error.

Restart the browser after clearing the cache and deleting the cookies

The 500 Internal Server Error is rarely linked to caching issues, but clearing your browser’s cache and cookies can occasionally resolve it. This solution is simple and doesn’t require advanced technical knowledge.

In Google Chrome you can clear the cache and cookies by following the below steps.

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
  • A window will appear to clear the browsing data. Make sure the appropriate boxes are checked as shown in the screenshot below.
  • Click on the Clear browsing data button.

Take it as a 504 Error

The 504 Gateway Timeout error occurs when a server fails to receive a timely response from another server it is attempting to contact while processing a web page or fulfilling a browser request. This can happen if the other server is down or malfunctioning. In some cases, a server might return a 500 Internal Server Error instead of a 504 Gateway Timeout, though this is less common.

Troubleshooting the 500 Internal Server Error from Server Side

If you are a webmaster or website administrator, you can troubleshoot the error from the server side as well. As previously mentioned, the 500 Internal Server Error can arise from a variety of issues. Below are some common causes that may trigger this error:
  • External Resource Timeout: A delay or timeout in accessing external resources the server depends on.
  • Incorrect File and Directory Permissions: Permissions set incorrectly can block necessary processes or cause access errors.
  • Misconfiguration in the .htaccess File: Errors in the rules or settings in the .htaccess file can disrupt server functionality.

External Resource Timeout

At times, a web server may rely on responses from a remote server to fulfill a client’s request. In certain situations, these external resources might timeout, potentially leading to a PHP timeout. When this happens, the web server could return a 500 Internal Server Error. To address this issue, you can increase the timeout values or configure suitable timeout settings, allowing the remote server ample time to process the request without triggering a timeout error.

Issues triggered by Wrong File and Directory Permissions

This is one of the most common causes of Internal Server Errors. If the permissions for one or more files or directories required to process a client’s request are incorrectly set, the server won’t be able to access them, resulting in an error. For instance, incorrect permissions on a PHP script can trigger this issue. To resolve it, simply reset the file or directory permissions to the correct settings.

Misconfiguration in .htaccess file

Another common cause of the 500 Internal Server Error is a misconfiguration in the .htaccess file. Issues such as errors in URL rewriting can occasionally trigger this error. Identifying and resolving the misconfiguration within the .htaccess file can effectively address the problem.
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