A few days ago, I was trying to open one of my favorite websites, but instead of the usual homepage, I was hit with a message “502 Bad Gateway”. At first, I thought it was just a temporary glitch, so I refreshed the page, switched browsers, and even restarted my Wi-Fi. Still, the same error stared back at me. I had no idea what a 502 Bad Gateway error meant. All I knew was that the website wasn’t working, and I needed access to it urgently.
It was strange that I was getting the 502 error because everything else on my internet seemed fine. Other sites were loading, and my connection speed was normal. So I researched this issue on why this was happening and how to fix it. The more I read, the more I realized how common this error actually is. It’s not just one specific site; it can happen to any website, anytime. Today, in this guide, I will explain to you everything about the 502 Bad Gateway Error and how to Fix It.
What is a 502 Bad Gateway Error
502 Bad Gateway error usually points to a communication problem between servers. It doesn’t always mean something is broken forever, and oftentimes it is just a temporary hiccup. The way thousands of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers, talk with each other or request data on websites is via multiple server requests.
Sometimes, those requests are not processed completely because the intermediate server is not responding or giving a faulty response, or there could be an error in the process request, which may cause the 502 Bad Gateway error. In simple words, a 502 Bad Gateway means your computer talked to a website’s server, but that server didn’t get the right response from another server it needed to talk to.
Top Ways to Solve the 502 Bad Gateway Problem
While 502 Bad Gateway may seem like a major issue at first, it’s often just a temporary server problem or a simple glitch in the connection between two systems. In most cases, this is not your fault, and it doesn’t mean the website is broken forever. It usually fixes itself after some time. However, there are several steps you can take to make sure the website is running, such as refreshing the page, clearing your browser cache, restarting your router, or even waiting a little while before trying again.
1. Refresh the Webpage
Oftentimes, the issue is just a temporary glitch, and you don’t need to worry about it at all. Just refresh the webpage by clicking the F5 key or the refresh button, and the website will work.
2. Try Different Devices or Networks
If you suspect that the issue could be due to your device or network restrictions, then it’s best to change it if possible. Many users on Reddit forums have shared that on school or work laptops, many websites don’t work as intended because of school or org policies, and therefore, you will see the bad gateway error as well. So, try to change the device or change the network temporarily to see if it helps.
3. Clear Browser Cache
It could be possible that the website owner has optimized their website to load efficiently, but your browser is trying to load the old version due to saved cache and cookie files. Oftentimes, this issue gets resolved automatically as cookies and browser cache updates automatically; however, when it doesn’t, we may get the 502 Bad Gateway error. To fix this, follow the steps below to clear your browsing cache:
- Open your browser and navigate to history, or Press CTRL + H Key.
- Here, click Clear browsing data.
- Select Cached images and files.
- Confirm by clicking Clear.
4. Try Another Browser
Internet Browser helps you visualize the components of a website. Since websites today are getting more complex and crazy with animations and web services, old browsers such as Opera or Internet Explorer may not be able to read the latest webpages. So switching to a different browser (like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) can help check if the issue is browser-specific.
5. Flush DNS Cache
Apart from your browsing cache, there is something called DNS cache, which records and keeps track of IP addresses of various servers and websites. The DNS cache keeps auto-updating, but sometimes it may not, and that can cause a 502 gateway error as well. So, follow the steps below to flush your device’s DNS cache to fix the 502 gateway issue:
- Open Command Prompt
- Type: ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter
- Restart the browser and check again.
6. Wait for 5 minutes
As we discussed above, the issue is purely a server-side issue, and it won’t be fixed until the website developers fix the way their website is talking to other third-party servers. Oftentimes, this is just temporary, and the website will be functioning again in the next 5-10 minutes.
7. Check CDN Settings
If you’re a website owner, there could be multiple reasons why your website is not able to functioning properly. In major cases, the issue could be due to your installed CDN services if they are not configured properly, your website visitors will get the 502 Bad Gateway error. So, troubleshoot the CDN issue with your web development team and configure the CDN properly.
- Open Chrome Settings.
- Click on Security and Privacy.
- Click on the Security option.
- Select a customized DNS. You can add custom DNS or use any listed DNS from the dropdown menu.
Conclusion
After going through this frustrating experience myself, I have realized that the 502 Bad Gateway error is not that big of a deal. While it may seem like a major issue, it’s often just a temporary server problem or a simple glitch in the connection between two systems. And if you are facing a similar issue, then don’t panic. By following the above methods, the 502 Bad Gateway will go away, or sometimes you simply have to wait till the website is online again.
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