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Toronto-based boutique agency specializing in web design and development, identity and print design.
Nov 29
9 Most Common Website Errors and How to Fix Them

9 Most Common Website Errors and How to Fix Them

Owning a website involves more than just making sure your page looks professional and loads quickly. You must see to it that it is devoid of any errors and broken links. It’s unsettling to think of serious errors in your website because even one minute of downtime can result in lost sales and money, which is extremely problematic for business owners. 

Fortunately, most website issues can be quickly fixed. You can easily solve and re-launch your website even if you have no prior programming experience. All you need to do is understand what the problem was in the first place. Here is a list of website errors and how you can fix them.

1. 400 Forbidden

This error means that the website server was unable to recognize or refused to process your request, such as to open a site, because of what it interprets as a client error. 

This occasionally happens as a result of incorrect request message framing, malformed request syntax, or false request routing. A 400 website error code may also be caused by a server issue.

Quick Fix: 

  • Check URL for errors
  • Delete Browser Cookies
  • Clear DNS Cache
  • Compress Uploaded File Size

2. 403 Forbidden

This error occurs when a user attempts to access a website or resource that is completely prohibited for some reason. The 403 error acknowledges that the user may have legitimate login credentials (user ID and password) but is not granted permission to view a particular page.

You will receive a 403 error notice if you try to open something that you are not authorized to. For security purposes, a website administrator might alter the way visitors can browse a certain directory or file on the website.

Quick Fix: 

  • Check URL for errors
  • Log in to the website
  • Request for an updated user account access

3. 404 Not Found

Error 404 is the most common error message users encounter

The 404 website error is one of the most common website errors that people encounter. The error occurs when a user tries to visit a webpage that is either down or no longer exists. 

A 404 error message is frequently displayed when a page’s content has been removed or relocated to another URL. This notice might also display for the following reasons:

  • A typographical error in the website link
  • The website’s server is down or there is a bad connection
  • The provided website address is no longer active

Quick Fix:

  • Reload page
  • Check URL for errors
  • Check the directory levels
  • Delete browser cache and cookies
  • Contact website

4. 408 – Request Time-Out

The 408 error code denotes that the server was unable to complete the user’s request within the allotted amount of time. Simply put, the website connection has “timed out.” Common error messages may include:

  • 408: Request Timeout
  • HTTP Error 408 – Request Timeout

An invalid URL is the most usual cause of the 408 error. Other reasons may be a huge surge of demand on the server or the user’s computer, or a problem with the internet connection, slowing the delivery of messages to the server.

Quick Fix:

  • Refresh the page
  • Check the requested URL
  • Check internet connection
  • Confirm server configuration
  • Uninstall new extensions, modules, or plugins

5. 500 Internal Server Error

This is one of the most typical error messages that people may find online. It is a blanket message used to describe any internal issue a web server is experiencing that could be preventing it from completing a request.

This error indicates a server problem, but the server is unaware of what the issue is. Normally, it results from server congestion. It can also be brought on by a variety of other factors, such as uploading the wrong file, running into a bug in the code, configuring the web server incorrectly, or hitting into a conflict or limitation when processing a request.

Quick Fix:

  • Reload the page
  • Check the URL
  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify the file permissions for PHP and CGI
  • Double-check the .htaccess configuration for errors

6. 502 Not Implemented

To load a webpage, you need to enter the URL before the web server can obtain the page’s contents. The server acknowledges receipt of the request, processes it, and then delivers the appropriate response.

If you receive a 501 Not Implemented error message, it means that the server does not offer the necessary capability to process your request and does not understand the request method. This could be a result of a virus and malware, server overload, outdated server software, or incorrect server configuration.

Quick Fix:

  • Perform a virus scan
  • Reload the page
  • Clear browser cache
  • DNS flush
  • Contact host

7. 502 Bad Gateway

The 502 error indicates that the server, acting as a gateway, got an invalid response from an inbound server. This problem often cannot be resolved by the user since it necessitates a change to the web server or the proxies you are using. 

There are several reasons why a 502 error message might appear. It may be that the server is overcrowded or that there are momentary network difficulties between two servers. It could also result from a coding mistake or a misconfigured firewall.

Examples of this website error message include:

  • 502 Service Temporarily Overloaded
  • HTTP Error 502 – Bad Gateway
  • 502 Server Error: The server encountered a temporary error and could not complete your request
  • 502 Bad Gateway Cloudflare
  • Bad Gateway: The proxy server received an invalid response from an upstream server
  • A blank white screen

Quick Fix:

  • Reload the page
  • Clear browser cache and cookies
  • Check plugins and extensions
  • Use a different browser
  • Change DNS servers

8. 503 Service Unavailable

Error 503 means the server is currently unavailable to process the request

A 503 error code indicates that the server is momentarily unable to process the request. In contrast to the 500 Internet Server error, this problem signifies that the server is still operational and capable of processing the request, it is only temporarily unavailable.

Although it is challenging to establish the precise cause of the 503 error, it frequently happens when the server is busy or unavailable for maintenance.

Quick Fix:

  • Reboot server
  • See if the server is under maintenance
  • Fix firewall configurations
  • Look for bugs in the website codes
  • Contact your host

9. 504 Gateway Timeout Error

This error indicates that a server’s attempt to load a page failed because there is a communication delay between the two web servers that are handling a request.

Unlike the 408 Request Timeout error, which is a direct indication from the active server itself that it is unable to fulfil the request within a certain amount of time, a 504 Gateway Timeout error is delivered when a server, functioning as a gateway or proxy, fails to get a response from an upstream server in time to finish a request.

The error may occur if the other server is offline, overloaded, or not operating properly.

Quick Fix:

  • Reload the page
  • Reboot network devices
  • Check proxy settings
  • Check for DNS issues
  • Contact your host

Websites with errors may spell disaster especially if your business relies on online exposure and transactions. Status codes and errors are provided to assist you in figuring out what could have gone wrong, and understanding each problem may help you improve your website and put you in a better position to succeed in business.

Mouth Media is a trusted web design agency in Toronto, offering web design and development services. We’ll take care of the function, design, and, most importantly, security of your website. Call (416) 531-5443 today!