What it means
500 is the generic code used when an application or server hits an error it can't describe more precisely. The problem is on the website's side, not the visitor's. The exact cause is only visible in the server logs.
Most common causes
- A bug (unhandled exception) in the application or a plugin.
- Invalid syntax in .htaccess or the server configuration.
- Exceeding the PHP memory_limit or execution time limit.
- Wrong file permissions or a missing dependency after an update.
- An unreachable database that the application doesn't handle properly.
What you can do as a visitor
- Wait a minute and refresh; the error may be temporary.
- Check whether the site works for others by checking the URL's status.
- If the error persists, let the site owner know; you can't fix it yourself.
What the site owner or developer should do
- Read the server or application error log; the exact cause is there.
- WordPress: enable WP_DEBUG_LOG, deactivate recently updated plugins and switch to a default theme.
- Check the most recent change to .htaccess or the configuration and roll it back.
- Show users a friendly error page, but with the correct 500 status.
Impact on SEO and Google
Short-lived 500s do no harm. If Googlebot keeps getting the error for several days, it slows crawling and may drop URLs from the index.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 500 error on my end?
No. The error is on the website's server.
How do I find the cause of a 500 error?
In the server error log or the application log.