Common Error Messages Explained
Understanding and fixing common website errors.
403 Forbidden
Cause: Permission denied to access the resource.
Solutions:
- Check file permissions (644 for files, 755 for folders)
- Verify .htaccess rules
- Check for IP blocking
- Ensure index file exists
404 Not Found
Cause: Requested page doesn't exist.
Solutions:
- Check URL for typos
- Verify file exists on server
- Check permalink settings (WordPress)
- Look for broken links
500 Internal Server Error
Cause: Server-side error, often in code or configuration.
Solutions:
- Check error logs in cPanel
- Review recent code changes
- Check .htaccess for errors
- Verify PHP memory limit
- Disable plugins one by one (WordPress)
502 Bad Gateway
Cause: Server received invalid response from upstream.
Solutions:
- Clear browser cache
- Wait and retry (often temporary)
- Check if PHP is running
- Contact support if persistent
503 Service Unavailable
Cause: Server temporarily unable to handle request.
Solutions:
- Check if maintenance in progress
- Review resource usage
- Check for traffic spikes
- Wait or upgrade hosting
Database Connection Error
Cause: Cannot connect to MySQL database.
Solutions:
- Verify database credentials in config
- Check if database exists
- Ensure user has proper privileges
- Check if MySQL service is running
How to Check Error Logs
- Log into cPanel
- Go to Metrics → Errors
- Review recent error entries
- Search for specific error messages