What is Error 502 Bad Gateway? How to Fix it?

The average internet user knows that one of the most annoying things to happen to you while surfing is an error code popping up on your screen. For those who run online businesses, even secure WordPress hosting, for example, would encounter various errors. These errors may be specific to the hosting platform, but all internet users generally see some. An example is the 502 error. 

In this article, we will discover a 502 gateway error, what it causes, and how it can be fixed.

What causes a 502 Bad Gateway error?

There is not a single reason for this error. It can be caused by various factors which are listed below.

• Issues with the domain name: This occurs when a domain name does not resolve to the correct IP. Remember that it could take up to 24 hours for DNS server changes to propagate properly and become active if you recently moved your domain name to another host.
• Complications from the Origin Server: An origin server may get overloaded and crash if it runs out of resources, resulting in an HTTP error 502. Some of the typical causes of server overload include a rapid increase in traffic, a lack of memory, and software timeouts.  
• Browser-side Errors: Sometimes, a browser may display a 502 coding error even if there are no network or server problems. In this instance, browser plugins like ad-blockers, out-of-date browser versions, or corrupted caches may be to blame for the issue.
• Router connection issues: There is a substantial risk that your network hardware may be experiencing an intermittent connection issue if you repeatedly receive HTTP 502 Errors from different websites or browsers. 
• Firewalls: Your website is protected by a firewall from any erroneous traffic. Some firewall systems, though, are overly sensitive and may find false positives. The system may prevent a request from a CDN or a certain ISP.

How to Fix Error 502 Bad Gateway?

To fix the 502 Bad Gateway error, you can try the following solutions:

1. Refresh the Webpage

   Server errors are usually temporary. When you encounter the 502 gateway error, refresh the page. If the error persists, wait a few more minutes and try again. The error may clear off within the waiting time.

2. Check your Hosting platform

   Another reason you might encounter a 502 gateway error from your host is that the server is simply unreachable due to downtime or a lack of connectivity.

   Try checking your host status if you use managed VPS hosting with cpanel. The processing may not be complete, causing the 502 error code.

   Also, try contacting your hosting company. They could be having server problems affecting your website. There is nothing you can do but wait if it is the cause. 

3. Flush the DNS Cache

   They could also be able to pinpoint the cause of the 502 gateway problem and guide you through a fix.

   The DNS cache, which changes domain names into IP addresses, can be stored on your OS. The DNS cache is helpful for a seamless internet browsing experience, just like regular caches. However, a corrupt or out-of-date DNS cache could be the reason for the 502 error code.

   This may be done by selecting Start > Command Prompt, which will launch the CMD on your computer. The DNS cache will be changed on Windows once you enter the command;

   ipconfig /flushdns

   If you’re using a macOS device, try the code on your terminal;

   dscacheutil -flushcache

4. Disable Your CDN Firewall

   Some Content Delivery Network (CDN) or firewalls can be overly sensitive, making it hard to assess many websites. You can disable them to troubleshoot the problem.

   You should be able to edit your CDN or external Firewall from your hosting settings. If you can’t, contact your web hosting customer support for help.

5. Disable Plugins

   Most of the time, incorrect code on your WordPress-hosted site, potentially from a third-party plugin or theme, is the source of scripts and queries being rejected by the server. 

   Numerous instances of improperly set up caching plugins result in 502 errors. Deactivating all of your plugins is one way to solve this problem. 

   If deactivating all your plugins resolves the problem, you’ll need to track down the source of the issue. Try reactivating them one by one and refreshing the page when you do so. You know the plugin is acting up when a 502 gateway error returns.

6. Check Your PHP

   A PHP timeout issue can be a potential cause of the 502 gateway error—the request times out when the PHP process takes longer to complete than the allotted load time.

   You might start by trying to restart PHP. This might assist in resolving any connectivity problems. You can contact your offshore host customer support if this option isn’t available in your hosting dashboard.

   You might also need to modify your server’s max_execution_time or max_input_time settings. These are initially set to 300 seconds. You can ask your web host to raise these settings to your desired time.

Final thoughts