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Common HTTP Errors and How to Fix Them

When a page fails to load, the server sends a number that explains why. This guide shows the usual numbers and what to do.

Web Hosting2 min read7 steps

What is an HTTP status code?

HTTP is the language browsers and web servers use to talk. Every answer has a three-digit status code. Codes starting with 2 mean success. Codes starting with 4 mean a problem with the request. Codes starting with 5 mean a problem on the server.

Errors starting with 4

CodeMeaningWhat to try
400 Bad RequestThe server did not understand the request.Clear browser cookies and cache. Check the address.
401 UnauthorizedYou must log in.Check your user name and password.
403 ForbiddenYou are not allowed to see this.Check file permissions and the .htaccess file. Folders are usually 755 and files 644.
404 Not FoundThe page does not exist.Check the link and the file name. Restore a deleted page or add a redirect.
408 Request TimeoutThe request took too long.Try again. Check your internet.
429 Too Many RequestsToo many requests in a short time.Wait a bit and try again.

Errors starting with 5

CodeMeaningWhat to try
500 Internal Server ErrorSomething broke on the server.Check error_log. Rename .htaccess to test. Turn off new plugins.
502 Bad GatewayOne server got a bad answer from another.Wait and reload. Check if the app is running.
503 Service UnavailableThe server is busy or in maintenance.Reload later. Check your resource use.
504 Gateway TimeoutAnother server took too long.Reload. Slow scripts may need fixing.

Steps to troubleshoot

  1. Reload the page. Some errors last only a moment.
  2. Open the page in a private window or another browser.
  3. Clear your cache. The cache holds saved copies of pages.
  4. Think about your last change. Undo it.
  5. Log in to your control panel and open Errors or Metrics. Or open the error_log file in File Manager.
  6. Rename your .htaccess file to .htaccess-old and reload. If the site works, the old file had a bad rule.
  7. Check your PHP version in Select PHP Version or MultiPHP Manager.

Warning: Back up your site before you rename or edit files.

Tip: If the error stays, open a support ticket. Send the code number and the page address.

Quick recap

  • 4xx codes mean a problem with the request. 5xx codes mean a server problem.
  • 404 is a missing page. 403 is no permission. 500 is a broken server or script.
  • Reload, clear cache, undo your last change.
  • Check error_log and .htaccess.
  • Contact support with the code number.