How to Fix 500 Internal Server Error

Introduction

Explanation of “500 Internal Server Error”

HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) 500 Internal Server Error is a server error response code that indicates that the server encountered an unexpected condition that prevented it from fulfilling a request. That error response is the generic “catch-all” response.

Sometimes, server administrators log error responses like a 500 status code with more details about the request to prevent an error from happening again.

The 500 Internal Server Error is a general HTTP status code that means something has gone wrong on the website’s server, but the server could not be more specific on the exact problem.

The Internal Server Error message might be seen in many ways because each website can customize a message.

Since the 500 Internal Server Error is generated by a website you’re visiting, you can see one in any browser in any operating system, even on your smartphone.

The 500 Internal Server Error is usually displayed inside an internet browser window, just as web pages do.

Common reasons

Incorrect file or folder permissions on the server
Corrupted files or missing libraries on the server
Exceeded server resources, such as memory or processing power
Incorrect URLs or broken links on the client side
Issues with the browser or device on the client side
Server-side scripting errors, such as in PHP or other programming languages
Issues with the web server software, such as Apache or Nginx
Problems with the database include a corrupted database or incorrect configuration.

Causes of 500 Internal Server Error

Incorrect file or folder permissions: The server may not have sufficient permissions to access or execute specific files or directories.
Corrupted files or missing libraries: It is a corrupted or missing library can prevent the server from adequately executing the website’s code.
Exceeded server resources – The server may run out of memory or processing power if there is a high volume of traffic or resource-intensive processes.
Server-side scripting errors: This kind of error in programming languages such as PHP can cause a 500 Internal Server Error.
Issues with web server software: Problems with the web server software, such as Apache or Nginx, can cause a 500 Internal Server Error.
Database issues: Issues with the database, such as a corrupted database or incorrect database configuration, can cause a 500 Internal Server Error.

How to fix 500 HTTP Internal Server Error

To solve 500 HTTP Internal Server Error, reload a web page. You can do that by clicking the refresh/reload button, pressing F5 or Ctrl + R, or trying the URL from the address bar again.

The issue might be temporary even if the 500 Internal Server Error is the web server’s problem. Trying the page again will often be successful.

Check .htaccess file

As the website owner, have you changed the .htaccess configuration recently? .htaccess files containing incorrect syntax are a common cause of HTTP Error 500.

If you believe this may cause, then rename the file and try loading the page again. If this resolves the issue, this confirms an issue with the .htaccess file. This should be checked, corrected, and then put back into place.

Coding/scripting errors

If you maintain the website and use the script or coding language (such as PHP) to output content dynamically, then errors in the language’s syntax can cause 500 error.

So, check if the page in question has been modified recently and verify that the syntax is correct.

Delete your browser’s cookies

Some 500 Internal Server Error issues can be corrected by deleting the cookies associated with the website you’re getting the error. After removing the cookie(s), restart the web browser and try again.

Investigate Logs

If you’re the website owner, you should check the web server’s logs when encountering an error 500. For example, in the Apache2 web server, the specific error log location would be in /var/log/apache2.

So the file will be called error.log, but it might be different if the web server is configured with another log file format. For Internet Information Services (IIS), the default location for the log files is in %SystemDrive%\inetpub\logs\Log Files Contact.

Troubleshoot as the 504 Gateway Timeout error instead. It’s not very common, but some servers produce a 500 Internal Server Error when in reality, 504 Gateway Timeout is the more appropriate message based on the cause of the problem.

Contact ISP or Hosting Provider

If you are an owner but do not have access to the web server’s logs and filesystem, then you should contact your ISP/hosting provider for details of the logs to investigate.

Some ISPs/Hosting Providers, such as IONOS, provide access to tools via their “Control Panels” that allows the logs to be interrogated.

It may be that your ISP/Hosting Provider might be the cause of the issue (e.g., upgrading server software, etc.) and may be aware of the problem causing the error 500 issues with your website and therefore resolve it for you or can help you with it.

It is also worth checking out any help pages and articles written by the ISP/Hosting provider, as they may contain specific advice on the problem.

Come back later. Unfortunately, at this point, the 500 Internal Server Error is no doubt a problem outside of your control that will eventually get fixed by someone else.

Contact CMS provider

You can contact them for assistance if you are experiencing a 500 error on your WordPress or other content management system.

They should also have some help pages on their website, which might help – e.g., WordPress has support forums where you might find an answer to a similar problem.

Fixing 500 Server Error Problems on Your Webpage or site

A 500 Internal Server Error on your website requires a different action. As we mentioned above, most 500 errors are server-side errors, meaning it’s likely your problem to fix if it’s your website.

There are lots of reasons why your site might be serving a 500 Error to your users, but these are the most common:

A Permissions Error. In most cases, the 500 Internal Server Error is due to an incorrect permission on one or more files or folders. In most cases, the false permission on the PHP and CGI script is to blame. These should usually be set at 0755 (-rwxr-xr-x).
A PHP Timeout. If your script connects to the external resources and those resources time out, an HTTP 500 error can occur. Timeout rules, or better error handling in your script, should help if this is the cause of the 500 error.

More Ways You Might See an Internal Server Error

If the website reports the 500 error runs Microsoft IIS, you might get a specific error message.

500 Internal Server Error List
Code	Explanation
500.0	Module or ISAPI error occurred.
500.11	The application is shutting down on the web server.
500.12	The application is busy restarting on the web server.
500.13	The web server is too busy.
500.15	Direct requests for Global.asax are not allowed.
500.19	Configuration data is invalid.
500.21	Module not recognized.
500.22	An ASP.NET httpModules configuration does not apply in Managed Pipeline mode.
500.23	An ASP.NET httpHandlers configuration does not apply in Managed Pipeline mode.
500.24	An ASP.NET impersonation configuration does not apply in Managed Pipeline mode.
500.50	A rewrite error occurred during RQ_BEGIN_REQUEST notification handling. Additionally, a configuration or inbound rule execution error occurred.
500.51	A rewrite error occurred during GL_PRE_BEGIN_REQUEST notification handling. Additionally, a global configuration or global rule execution error occurred.
500.52	A rewrite error occurred during RQ_SEND_RESPONSE notification handling. As a result, an outbound rule execution occurred.
500.53	A rewrite error occurred during RQ_RELEASE_REQUEST_STATE notification handling. In addition, an outbound rule execution error occurred. The rule is configured to be executed before the output user cache updates.
500.100	Internal ASP error.

Prevention of 500 Internal Server Error

Regular website maintenance

Regular website maintenance is the ongoing process of keeping a website functioning properly, up-to-date, and securely. It involves various tasks and activities to prevent and fix issues that may arise with a website.

Proper coding practices

Proper coding practices refer to the techniques and methodologies used in writing code that is deemed best or most effective.

These practices can help prevent errors and improve a website’s code’s overall quality and maintainability.

Regular backups of website files and database

Regular backups of website files and databases refer to making copies of the website’s files and data and storing them in a safe and secure location.

Backups are essential to website maintenance and can help protect against data loss and server failure.

Conclusion

500 Internal Server Error is a common issue faced by website owners and can be a frustrating experience for visitors. The error occurs when there is a problem with the server hosting the website, resulting in the inability to access the site.

Common causes of this error include incorrect file or folder permissions, corrupted files, exceeded server resources, server-side scripting errors, issues with web server software, and database problems.

To prevent and fix a 500 Internal Server Error, it is important to practice regular website maintenance, including proper coding practices, regular backups of website files and databases, and regular updates of software and plugins.

Additionally, monitoring the website’s performance and security can help identify potential issues and prevent downtime. By taking these steps, website owners can minimize the occurrence of a 500 Internal Server Error and ensure that their website is always accessible to visitors.