One of the most frustrating aspects of running a website is troubleshooting an error when you don’t know why it’s happening. Some issues, such as the 502 bad gateway error, have many potential causes. You may need to try multiple solutions before landing the right one. In this article, we’ll share a fixing guide & tutorial for the 502 Bad Gateway Error in WordPress websites.
What is a 502 Bad Gateway Error?
A 502 bad gateway error is triggered when your WordPress hosting server gets an invalid response for the requested page. A lousy gateway error is one of the standard WordPress errors you may encounter on your site. It can be for a number of reasons, and depending on your server, the error message may also differ in looks slightly.
When you visit a website, your browser sends a request to the hosting server. The hosting server then finds the page and returns it to your browser with the status code. As a result, you wouldn’t see this status code. However, the status code is displayed with an error message in case of an error. Examples of such errors include 404 not found, 503 services unavailable, 403 forbidden error, and more.
The most common reason for a 502 bad gateway error is when your request takes too long for the server to respond. This delay can be a temporary glitch caused by high traffic. It could also be a glitch by poorly WordPress tools or plugins. Last, it can also happen due to a server misconfiguration.
Fixing The Error
A 502 bad gateway error is typically a problem with the network/server. However, it can also be a client-side issue. So we’ll dive into a little of both. Check out these common causes and ways to fix the 502 bad gateway error and get back up and running. Don’t just manage your website errors. Reduce the risk of them ever happening at all. We’ll share a fixing guide & tutorial for the 502 Bad Gateway Error in WordPress websites, troubleshooting issues with top solutions.
Deactivate Plugins and Themes
- Deactivate All Plugins: Use FTP to access your site’s files and rename the
pluginsfolder. This deactivates all plugins. If this fixes the issue, rename the folder back and deactivate each plugin individually to identify the culprit. - Switch to a Default Theme: Switch to a default WordPress theme to check if the issue is with your theme.
Browser Cache To Fix Bad Gateway Error
It can be good to clear your browser cache whenever you encounter issues like these. Below are instructions on how to do it in various browsers.
Test on Another Device
If none of the above solutions fixed the 502 bad gateway error, test the connection on another computer or a mobile device, preferably connected to a different network. This final step will rule out whether the error is related to your machine or if the problem lies elsewhere. We’ll share a fixing guide & tutorial for the 502 Bad Gateway Error in WordPress websites, troubleshooting issues with top solutions.
Web Host to fix Bad Gateway Error
We typically see a 502 bad gateway error primarily due to an issue with the web host. Sometimes a query, script, or request will take too long and so it is canceled or killed by the server. Many hosts, especially shared hosts, implement a “kill script.”
This will terminate a request after a certain period so that it doesn’t take a site down or impact other users. If you do a Twitter search for “bad gateway,” you can see thousands of tweets daily alerting their hosting company of the problem.
Re-loads To Fix Bad Gateway Error
One of the easiest and first things you should try when encountering a 502 bad gateway error is to wait a minute or so and reload the page (F5 or Ctrl + F5). It could be that the host or server is over, and the site will return. While you’re waiting, you could also quickly try a different browser to rule that out as an issue.
Another thing you can do is to paste the website into downforeveryoneorjustme.com. This website will tell you if the site is down or if it’s a problem on your side. We’ll share a fixing guide & tutorial for the 502 Bad Gateway Error in WordPress websites, troubleshooting issues with top solutions.
DNS Problem
A 502 gateway error could also be caused by a DNS issue, such as the domain not resolving to the correct IP. If you have just migrated your WordPress site to a new host, is it essential to wait for things to fully propagate, which can sometimes take up to 24 hours? This depends upon the TTL value of your DNS records.
Tips & Techniques To Avoid Bad Gateway WordPress Error
Monitoring Server Health
Regularly monitoring your server’s health can prevent the 502 error. Use tools like cPanel or Plesk to keep an eye on server resources. If your website is consistently hitting resource limits, consider upgrading your hosting plan.
Using CDN Services
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) can help mitigate server load by distributing the traffic load. Services like Cloudflare or Akamai can also offer additional security features that protect against DDoS attacks, which could be a cause of the 502 error.
Optimizing Database
A bloated or unoptimized database can slow down your WordPress site, leading to increased server response time. Regularly cleaning and optimizing your database can improve overall performance and potentially prevent server errors.
Implementing Caching Solutions
Implement caching solutions like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache. Caching reduces the load on your server by storing static files and serving them to your visitors, which can prevent overloading issues.
Regularly Update WordPress, Plugins, and Themes
Keep your WordPress core, plugins, and themes updated. Developers frequently release updates that fix bugs and improve performance, which can prevent various errors, including the 502 Bad Gateway Error.
Choosing a Reliable Hosting Provider
The quality of your hosting provider plays a significant role in the health of your WordPress site. Opt for a provider known for its uptime and customer support. Managed WordPress hosting services can be a good choice, as they handle many of the technical aspects for you.
Setting up Error Logging
WordPress has a debug mode which, when enabled, logs any errors into a file. This can be invaluable for diagnosing and fixing problems. To enable it, set WP_DEBUG to true in your wp-config.php file.
