What is worse than trying to reach a website only to be haunted by a 502 HTTP status code message? It mostly shows up in the form of a Bad Gateway error, but any messages falling under the 5xx spectrum are called HTTP response status code errors indicating that an invalid response was provided by the destination server.
Any error starting with a 502 is always a server-side error, meaning the issue is with the hosting web server. So, before you start scrambling to call your internet provider, let us discuss the various reasons behind its appearance and simple ways to fix it.
Various Flavors of the 502 Status Code Errors
Due to browser variations, operating systems, and the like, a 502 HTTP status code error message may come in different wordings but they all convey the same meaning.
Whether you are a website developer or a web junkie, becoming familiar with this error message can be valuable in diagnosing and fixing website configuration errors and your browsing experience.
Here is a list of common 502 status code variations that you may stumble across:
- 502 Bad Gateway
- 502 Service Temporarily Overloaded
- Error 502
- Temporary Error (502)
- 502 Proxy Error
- 502 Server Error: The server encountered a temporary error and could not complete your request.
- HTTP 502
- 502. That's an error
- Bad Gateway: The proxy server received an invalid response from an upstream server.
- HTTP Error 502 - Bad Gateway
Did you know that Twitter’s famous "fail whale" image that declares that Twitter is over capacity is in fact a 502 Bad Gateway error?
Reasons Behind the 502 HTTP Status Code Error
Communication issues between online servers or DNS issues such as incorrectly cached IP addresses play a big role in the appearance of this annoying error. However, there are a few other culprits at play as well:
The Server Is Inaccessible
This 502 error code is a by-product of a source or origin server being out of order. A range of connectivity issues, a server that is powered down, or spikes in traffic can all lead to this message.
DNS Issues
DNS issues are a major underlying reason behind this error. If the DNS records are misconfigured at the hosting level, the domain name will not resolve to the IP address causing this error to pop up.
Also, keep in mind that most DNS changes take time to propagate and DNS changes have to abide by the TTL (Time To Live) threshold before being implemented. This delay can also generate the 502 Bad Gateway error message.
Blocks and Firewalls
Are you behind a firewall? Depending on the firewall settings, communication between servers can be disrupted and, in some cases, certain websites with security plugins can also block out your local IP address.
Browser Issues
At times, outdated browser versions and certain browser extensions like AdBlock can be the main reason behind the appearance of a 502 error message.
Server Failure
A failed server will most likely generate a 502 error code. Many reasons including system crashes and servers being taken down for maintenance purposes can render servers temporarily useless. In rare cases, a server failure could also happen if the content hosted on a server is in violation of the terms and services set forth by the provider.
Now that you know the reasons behind this status code error, let us explore the ways to fix it.
Ways to Fix The 502 Status Code Error Message
Whether you are a site owner or just surfing the web, the following tips can help keep the pesky 502 error message at bay:
Reload the Website
The fix can be as simple as waiting for a couple of minutes and reloading the website as network congestion issues can sometimes make the server take longer to respond.
Cleare the Browser Cache
Sometimes the 502 error message can appear if the browser is loading the website from the cache. Simply clearing out your browser’s cache can fix this error in most cases. Caching is a great way for speeding up your browsing experience, but it is worth it to clear it from time to time.
Disable the Firewall
A firewall provides an extra sheath of security between your browser and the destination server, but many firewalls are overly sensitive and can block out all inbound requests. If you face the 502 error message, try disabling the firewall or the CDN if you are behind one.
If the error disappears after disabling it, then that means your firewall was the main culprit.
Update the Themes and Plugins
Website and browser plugins can sometimes cause the 502 status code error as well. Simply disable all the plugins. If this resolves the error message, then activate each plugin one by one until you catch the one that was generating the error.
If you are hosting a website and disabling the plugins does not help, then try updating your website theme. Many websites hosted on platforms like WordPress or Wix need regular theme updates to function properly.
Check With the Provider
If your website is still generating a 502 error code even after trying the previous tips, then it is worth reaching out to your hosting server. Most hosting providers have customer support teams that can triage the issue with you.
The Bottom Line on the 502 HTTP Status Code Error
A 502 error can be quite aggravating as it can be caused by an assortment of issues. Troubleshooting the 502 Bad Gateway error takes a lot of effort, but with a little bit of patience, and the guidelines provided in this article, you should be able to resolve it in no time.
So, what are you waiting for? Put your techie glasses on and start troubleshooting the pesky 502 and other website error messages!