The 502 bad gateway error is arguably one of the most commonly encountered HTTP error codes. At least a few times while browsing, you have probably encountered the 502, also known as the ‘502 bad gateway’.
As with other HTTP codes, the 502 is intended to alert the user to a problem related to the connection between the browser and any website they are trying to access. It might be difficult to remember which code represents which type of problem since there are at least 40 different server status codes.
Similar to the 503 HTTP error code, the 502 bad gateway indicates that the server is having trouble handling the browser request. Fortunately, the problem doesn’t lie with the user trying to access the site: it’s rare for the 502 error to be caused by a computer or an unstable Wi-Fi connection, which is why these problems can almost definitely be ruled out.
The 502 ‘lousy gateway error is most often a sign of problems with the server. Many times, the gateway or the proxy server may encounter communication issues with the upstream or original server.
Despite the fact that the user is not to blame, they cannot take any action to remedy the issue or even identify its source. In any case, those experiencing a 502 error might be able to mitigate the issue by trying some of our favorite tricks. Learn how to fix the bad gateway error by reading this article.
What is a 502 Bad Gateway Error?
A 502 Bad Gateway Error means that the web server you’ve connected to acts as a proxy for relaying information from another server. However, it did not receive a satisfactory response from the other server. It’s called a 502 error because that’s the web server’s HTTP status code to describe that kind of error.
The reasons for these inadequate responses could come from several different sources. Possibly the server is overloaded, or there is a network problem between the two servers, and this is just a temporary problem. It’s also possible that there is an improperly configured firewall or a coding error, and that the problem won’t be fixed until those problems are corrected.
Just like with 404 errors, website designers can customize how a 502 error looks. Different websites may have different 502 error pages. They may also use slightly different names for this error.
What causes a 502 Bad Gateway error?
Server overload: Overloaded servers are one of the most common causes of 502 errors. When this happens, the server has reached its memory capacity, often activated by a large number of users trying to access the same website at the same time. This can be a coincidence or driven by a big event, but it can also be a targeted DDoS attack.
Request blocked by a firewall: Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to breach corporate networks, so firewalls are playing a crucial role in stopping them. Several firewalls inadvertently allow legitimate users to be mistaken for a cyber-attack due to massive influxes of users. This can often occur with DDoS protection layers, which block requests from content delivery systems and cause the network to grind to a halt.
Faulty programming: A glitch or coding error in a website’s code can result in requests not being answered correctly, resulting in the 502 Bad Gateway error.
Network errors: There are many potential networking issues that can occur, including DNS problems, routing problems, as well as issues relating to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). For example, an ISP may have decided to block a specific web address.
Server software timeouts: Users may encounter this error if a web server takes longer than expected to return a request, or if a caching tool reaches its timeout. The issue is also caused by slower queries.
How to resolve a 502 Bad Gateway error
In order to attempt to fix the 502 Bad Gateway error, users can take several steps.
Refresh your browser
Simply refreshing the browser a few times might be the quickest route to resolving the issue, if not immediately, then perhaps after a few minutes. This is because the error may have been caused by a temporarily overloaded server, which could have fixed itself.
Clear your browser cache
It’s one of the simplest but most effective ways of overcoming errors such as this and consistently one of the best places to start. In order to delete browsing data, you will have to navigate to the history of the web browser you are using.
Temporarily disable your firewall
While we wouldn’t recommend disabling your firewall, doing so temporarily might be the best way to check whether it’s interfering with your attempts to reach a particular site. Some providers, for example, offer DDoS protection or complete proxy services with extra firewalls. You’ll typically be able to disable your firewall through the admin console of your security provider.
Check with monitoring sites
If this doesn’t work, you could always turn to online services such as Down for everyone or just me? or Down detector. These monitor the web for any outages and allow users to report any problems they may be encountering. If it’s an issue affecting not just you, then the chances are others will have reported it, and the more people are reporting problems, the more likely it’s a prolonged issue.
Use a VPN to access the site
Various online virtual private networks (VPNs) such as Hide My Ass and others can reroute your connection before you access the site. This means you’ll be able to figure out whether any issues may have popped up with your ISP, for example, when ISPs block access to specific sites for any particular reason.
Examine web server logs
It may be necessary to investigate further to find a solution if this error persists. You should examine the web server logs that were generated at the time that the error occurred. If you are the website owner, you can check your FQDN (fully qualified domain name) is correctly resolving. A ping text or traceroute can also be used to check if a server is reachable.
