Errors on a website can be frustrating for users, as well as for site owners. One of these errors is the 502 Bad Gateway error, and this will prevent your site visitors from visiting your store or even your content. In e-commerce, this is a major issue because conversion, traffic, and trust can all be hindered by these errors.
In this blog, we will define and break down what a 502 error is, what causes these errors, and how you can fix them.
What is a 502 Bad Gateway Error?
A 502 Bad Gateway error occurs when a server that is acting as a gateway or proxy can’t get an appropriate response from an upstream server. In simple terms, when you visit a website, the web server that you are trying to reach isn’t able to get the right response from a different server that it depends upon.
When a user encounters a 502 Bad Gateway error, the error messages include:
- 502 Bad Gateway
- HTTP Error 502
- Temporary Error (502)
Dealing with a 502 Bad Gateway error doesn’t just interrupt the browsing experience; it can also negatively affect the credibility of your site if the error isn’t resolved on time.
Common Causes of 502 Bad Gateway Errors
There can be a few different things that cause a 502 error. They are:
Server Overload
If the server is overloaded with too many requests, it may crash or fail to respond accordingly.
Faulty Code or Plugins
A misconfiguration of extensions, themes, or custom scripts created for Magento or any other CMS can result in server communication failure.
Firewall or Security Blocks
A legitimate request can be blocked by a firewall or security service, which can also trigger a gateway error.
Network Problems
There may be issues with the internet service provider (ISP) or content delivery network (CDN), causing the 502 Bad Gateway issues.
Hosting Issues
Gateway errors can be regularly generated if a server is poorly configured or in a shared hosting environment.
How to Fix a 502 Bad Gateway Error
Here are some practical fixes for your 502 Bad Gateway error:
1. Reload the Page
Sometimes it’s a short-term error, so just try F5 or refresh that page and see if that works.
2. Clear Browser Cache & Cookies
Cached files conflict, so clearing the cache and cookies in your browser may fix that.
3. Inspect Server Error Logs
Using Magento or other CMS? Maybe look in the error log, and see if it flagged some code, where your extensions were broken and created the error, or misconfigurations.
4. Disable Problematic Extensions or Themes
If you recently installed or just updated some extensions, see if you can disable them, and check to see it solved the error.
5. Check if the Hosting Service/Site is Down
Check if your hosting provider is having any issues with the server allotments. If the hosting company is out of server resources, then consider changing to a larger hosting plan.
6. Restart PHP, Database, or Server
Restarting your back-end services could fix a back-end communications issue that may be temporary.
7. Review Firewall/CDN Settings
Make sure your firewall or reverse proxy, or CDN service, such as Cloudflare, is not blocking legitimate traffic.
8. Optimize Website Code
If Magento is slow to respond, it can be poorly optimised code or poorly formed database queries. Ensure your website is optimised to enhance performance.
Final Thoughts
A 502 Bad Gateway error can also be frustrating for users, but it can lead to loss of revenue for businesses if the error is not addressed on time. Even though the error sounds technical or hard to deal with, many of the fixes can be as simple as refreshing the page and checking server logs, or simply turning off a faulty extension.
For Magento store owners, providing a seamless shopping experience is incredibly important, which means that resolving issues such as the 502 Bad Gateway error should take priority. MageComp can help you get rid of 502 bad gateway errors.
FAQ
- Can a 502 error fix itself?
Sometimes a 502 error can be temporary and may resolve voluntarily after refreshing your page. If it remains the same, though, you will have to resolve it by checking server logs, hosting settings, or website code.
- Is a 502 Bad Gateway error the same as a 500 Internal Server Error?
No. A 500 indicates an issue on the server itself. A 502 error means the gateway or proxy server did not receive a valid response from another server somewhere in the chain.
- Can poor hosting cause 502 errors?
Yes, a few of the reasons a 502 Bad Gateway error recurs in site use are because the host does not provide sufficient resources, or if the servers are misconfigured. A reliable upgrading hosting plan can minimize issues.
