HTTP 500 Internal Server Error — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

A 500 Internal Server Error means something went wrong on the website's server — not on your device. The server ran into an unexpected problem it did not know how to handle. This is the web equivalent of a computer program crashing. You did not do anything wrong, and there is nothing wrong with your internet connection. The website itself has a problem that only its owners can fix.

Affected Models

All web browsers
All websites
Mobile browsers
Web applications

Common Causes

The website's code has a bug that caused it to crash
The server ran out of memory or processing power
A recent update to the website introduced a new problem
The website's database is not responding
A server configuration file has an error or was recently changed incorrectly

How to Fix It

Wait a few minutes and try again. Many 500 errors are caused by temporary overloads that resolve quickly.

Servers can handle brief spikes by temporarily showing errors, then recover on their own.
Reload the page with Ctrl+F5. This forces a completely fresh request and sometimes bypasses the error.

Do not reload more than once or twice — repeated requests can make an overloaded server worse.
Check if the website has a social media account or status page (look for 'status.websitename.com'). Many websites post outage updates there.

You can also check downdetector.com to see if others are reporting the same issue.
Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again.

While this rarely fixes a server error, it ensures your browser is sending a clean request.
Try again in 30–60 minutes. If the error is still there after several hours, contact the website's support team.

A persistent 500 error means the website has a serious problem that needs attention.

When to Call a Professional

This error is entirely on the website's side. As a visitor, you cannot fix it — only the website's owners or developers can. If the site is important to you and it stays down, find contact details and report the issue. For website owners, check your server error logs immediately — they will contain the specific cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 500 error my fault?

No — a 500 error is always a server-side problem. Your browser, internet connection, and device are fine. The website's own systems encountered an unexpected problem.

Will the website fix itself?

Often yes — minor 500 errors caused by traffic spikes or temporary glitches often resolve within minutes. More serious problems require the site's developers to investigate and deploy a fix.

Should I be worried about my data if I get a 500 error?

If you submitted a form or made a payment right before seeing the error, be cautious. Check your email for a confirmation. If you are unsure whether a payment went through, check with your bank before trying again to avoid being charged twice.