502 Bad Gateway: Why It Happens and Fast Ways to Fix It

A 502 Bad Gateway is a fairly common error while browsing the web. If you are a business owner, such mistakes can be frustrating and quite expensive. Even a general user can find such errors impacting their streaming experience.

The error is specific – It signals that one server acting as a gateway received an invalid response from another server upstream. This disrupts the browsing experience.

In this guide, we’ll discuss what a 502 error is, its causes, and some quick and reliable solutions to get rid of it.

What is a 502 Bad Gateway Error?

A 502 bad gateway error indicates server issues. It happens when one server on the internet has received an invalid response from another. It’s not a problem with your browser, but it’s an error caused by the two servers not talking properly. To understand the error in simple terms, think about whether the page you are trying to load is passing information through more than one server. One of them didn’t reply correctly, so the browser couldn’t load the page.

These are a few ways that you might see the error:

• HTTP Error 502 – Bad Gateway
• 502 Proxy Error
• 502 Bad Gateway NGINX
• Temporary Error (502)

Common Causes of a 502 Bad Gateway Error

Error 502 can be caused by multiple issues. The common ones are:

Server Overload

Too many visitors or not enough server resources can lead to the hosting environment being severely affected. 

Issues with CDN or Firewall

CDNs like Cloudflare, Akamai, or others may block or misroute server responses.

Browser Cache Problems

Cached files that are stored may interfere with the latest responses. 

Faulty Website Code

Broken codes can cause errors in Buggy scripts. Even outdated plugins can delay the responses.

DNS Errors

The domain may not be pointed to the correct IP address. It can happen especially after a migration.

Server Maintenance

The upstream server may be off or in reboot ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌mode.

How to Fix a 502 Bad Gateway Error

The fix depends on the issue you are facing. If you are a user or service provider, your error fixes will change based on your situation.

Fixes for Internet Users

Refresh​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ the Page

In some cases, server recoveries are immediate. A simple website refresh can sometimes refresh the browser, streamlining its issues.

Clear Browser Cache

Stale cached data may interfere with the latest server response.

Try Another Browser 

Sometimes the browser can be the one with issues. Changing your browser can solve your issue without major fixes.

Refresh the Internet Connection

Disconnects in the network could be the cause of the error message “Gateway communication failure” that has been waiting for you.

Just Wait for a Little Bit

A server that is going through maintenance or is temporarily overloaded will most likely resolve the issue on its ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌own.

Fixes for Website Owners & Developers

Restart​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Server

Temporary overloads can be solved by a quick restart. If there are any stuck processes, it can also clear the issue.

Check Server Logs

Server logs should tell you the errors regarding your scripts, server limits, or plugin failures.

Disable Faulty Plugins

Deactivate the extensions that you have recently installed or updated. It can help you with WordPress errors.

Check DNS Settings

In case you have moved recently, you should wait for the DNS propagation to be completed, which might take 24–48 hours.

Inspect Firewall/Proxy Settings

If your filtering is over-aggressive, it may result in blocked responses.

Increase PHP Execution Limits

Slow scripts that time out and trigger an error are the reason why sometimes PHP execution limits need to be increased.

Check CDN (Cloudflare/AWS/Google Cloud)

Remove cache or temporarily disable CDN to see if the server is responding ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌directly.

How to Prevent Future 502 Errors

It​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ is always better to prevent a problem than to have to fix it again and again. Good website performance and a robust server will surely reduce the probability of you encountering any type of outages later on.

If you’re looking to stay protected from such errors, here are the measures that you can take:

• Always update your plugins, themes, and CMS platform.
• Spend your money on a hosting that is at least reliable, and second, can be scaled down or up to your ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌needs.
• Use performance monitoring tools for uptime tracking.
• Configure firewalls, CDNs, and server caching correctly.
• Perform regular security and performance checks.

Conclusion