Explain the Major 505 Server Error in the WordPress Site
You might go haywire whenever you see a 505 Server Error on the Word Press site. Panic strikes you if you are having a meeting with the client. If your website is down for a long time, you might lose heavy traffic and potential customers. The error might also affect your SEO ranking badly. So, what is the 505-server error?
It is an application-side internal issue recurring on the server level. The 505 HTTP Version Not Supported is a part of the 5xx status code redirects. When it appears on your screen, it stipulates that the server does not support the HTTP version used in the request. Simply put, the server cannot identify the HTTP protocol version of the request. When you click on a specific link or URL, the server fails to show you the page in case of a 505 error. There are various sub-categories of the 500-level status code, such as 501, 502, 504, and so on. Also, where 200 means everything is alright with the request, 500 indicates something went wrong.
Causes of 505 ServerError in WordPress
There can be several reasons why this internal error occurs on the Word Press site and interrupts its smooth functioning. Here we have some of the most common causes of such errors :
- Plugin or Theme Issues
- Database
- Hosting Issues
- PHP Memory Limit
- Caching Issues
- Corrupted. htaccess file
Ways to Fix the 505 Internal Server Error
If it is quite often that you encounter such server errors, it gets frustrating after a while. You can check out the following steps to deal with these errors and fix them once and for all :
1. Reload the web page
Sometimes, there is a temporary issue with the server. So, it can be very easily sorted out by refreshing the page or reloading it. You can enable this by pressing Ctrl + R or F5 shortcut keys. Clicking on the URL on the address bar will also help reload the page. Reloading should be the first thing you try to fix the error. Chances are that a temporary server error arrives after you update a theme or template. Without going berserk, you must try refreshing the page first.
2. Create a Backup Website
Having a backup always saves you unnecessary trouble. Whether in reality or online, planning for a backup does not harm and comes with many advantages. That is why it is advisable to create a replica of your website. Learn how to stage a WordPress site. Try logging into your WordPress website from a different browser. The problem might be with your WordPress app. Reinstalling WordPress core could help in solving such problems. Check whether the WordPress version you have is the latest one. If the problem persists, it might have some major technical issues from the other end.
3. Look for coding or syntax errors
Syntax errors mostly recur at the time of compiling. Well, you can correct the syntax error either by removing the code or correcting it. The code which you think might contain the error needs to be observed. To access the file containing your code, you can visit the admin dashboard on your WordPress website. And if all of this is overwhelming for you, directly contact your web host and let them address the glitch.
4. Clear your Browser’s Cache and Cookies
The cached version of the page might be the culprit behind the HTTP 505 error. This is not a recurring event, but there is no harm in watching out for faults from your side. So, clear up your cached data to check if it caused the error.
Your browser’s cookies even cause some 505 server errors. You need to try and delete these cookies linked with the website on which the error occurred. So, clear the cache and remove the cookies associated with your WordPress site to avoid the bitter 505 error.
5. Update the .htaccess File
Chances are that the .htaccess file of the WordPress website is corrupted. You need to log into the website, find the .htaccess file, and try renaming it. Refresh your site to check if the error persists. You can access the uncorrupted .htaccess file by going to Permalinks under Settings. Here, you can click on the ‘Plain’ option to change the structure of the .htaccess file according to your needs.
6. Look for Permission Errors
There is a possibility that the fault might be on your end. To maintain security and confidentiality, you might have denied access to the website to unknown links. Check for the permissions you have granted to your web page. Thoroughly scan the files, folders, and directories to ensure that all have been given permission. This can resolve the issue of the internal server error.
7. Increase your PHP Memory Limit
Restriction in the PHP memory can be cited as one reason you face the 505 server error. You can clear up storage by discarding unwanted data. Or else, you can even increase the memory limit. You can either login into your FTP to make such changes or approach your host to increase your memory.
8. Take the problem to your Web Host
Contact the website administrator and enquire about the internal error. There is a possibility that the host is aware of the server issue. If not, you can always discuss such errors to benefit both parties. There are multiple ways in which you can reach out to your administrator. Most sites have a well-equipped social media support system. You can get in touch with your host via these social media accounts, text them, send emails, or connect via a call. You can also try tweeting your query to discover what works.
9. Deactivate Your Plugins and Themes
Checkout for errors occurring due to the present theme. There are chances that the server does not respond to the active theme, so you might want to deactivate it or set the default WordPress theme. To enable this, you can hover over the website’s sidebar and activate that theme which fixes the error.
The error might be because of the plugin. So, you can consider deactivating the plugins and testing the website to check for errors. Make sure to deactivate each plugin and then restart the website.
10. Check for Gateway Timeout
Quite often, the site crashes due to the accumulation of heavy traffic. Or your session might have expired because of gateway timeout. In such cases, you can always return to the Word Press website later, hoping the problem fixes itself gradually.
Conclusion
WordPress is as vulnerable to various server errors as any other website. And the 505 internal server error is a common occurrence in itself. Understanding this error is not a piece of cake, even for most professionals. No immediate solutions are available for this error. And it tends to puzzle people by releasing different versions. So, we can say that the 505 server error issue is yet to be decided.
If you encounter such server errors as a WordPress user, you can follow the above guidelines to prevent much loss. You can try all of these at least once, and if you find that the problem persists, you can contact your host to solve the problem for you. Because most problems, if temporary, can be solved by following these steps. But if the problem persists for longer, it might be an error from the host’s end. You can always devise new ways to tackle older issues, so keep going.