Our website is connected through many servers, like a reverse proxy server, an upstream server, an application server, a database server, and a web server. When the reverse proxy server receives an invalid response from any other server, it shows a 502 Bad Gateway error.
There are a few reasons why a 502 Bad Gateway response occurs.
- Bug in PHP scripts
- Server is overloaded
- Problem with the router
- Browser cache is aggressive
- DNS ( Domain name system ) issue
- Main server down. Either the server is down or has no connectivity.
- Requests blocked by the firewall. The firewall blocks the connectivity between the main server and other servers.
502 Bad Gateway error appears in many variations because of different web servers, web browsers, and operating systems.
- “Error 502“
- “HTTP 502“
- “502 Proxy Error“
- “502 Bad Gateway“
- A blank white screen
- “502 Bad Gateway NGINX“
- “HTTP Error 502 – Bad Gateway“
- “502 Service Temporarily Overloaded“
- “Windows Update fails due to 502 error, displays WU_E_PT_HTTP_STATUS_BAD_GATEWAY“
- “502 Server Error: The server encountered a temporary error and could not complete your request.”
- “ That’s an error. The server encountered a temporary error and could not complete your request. Please try again in 30 seconds. That’s all we know.”
- In Twitter 502 gateway error is shown as “Twitter is over capacity “.
How to Fix a 502 Bad Gateway Error
502 Bad Gateway error is the issue with the server, and it can also be a user-side error. Here are some ways, how to fix a 502 Bad Gateway error.
Try Reload Your Website
The first approach is to wait for a few minutes and refresh your web page. You can perform a hard refresh using Ctrl + F5 to reload your website as it bypasses the cache and check if the problem is fixed or not. You can try a different browser to see if the error disappears or not.
Clear Browser Cache
It is a good idea to clear your browser cache, autofill form data, passwords, download history, and cookies if you see 502 Service Temporarily Overloaded.
You should clear all the browsing data from the beginning of time. After that, just close your browser and restart your computer.
Restart Your Router
The most common troubleshooting method is to restart your internet router. Home networks have gateways through which they connect; issues with the router can show you a 502 Bad Gateway.
All you have to do is just unplug your router and wait for 60 seconds, and then plug it back in. Wait for 2 minutes after turning it on, and then check whether the error is fixed or not.
Disable Your CDN Temporarily
The best example of a CDN (Content Delivery Network ) is Cloudflare, but their free service plan causes the 502 Bad Gateway NGINX. Simply disable the CDN temporarily and check if the site is working properly.
There are two types of 502 gateway errors in CDN, one is caused by the host, and for the other one, you should contact the support if you see the 502 Bad Gateway NGINX error.
Check DNS Problems
DNS ( Domain name system ) resolves around IP addresses. If it does not connect with the correct IP address, you see 502 Bad Gateway.
As you migrate your server to the new host, which involves changing the DNS name, the change takes place anytime within 36 hours, which could show the 502 Bad Gateway error.
You should clear your local DNS cache to solve the bad gateway error. Consider changing the DNS to your router or computer to solve this issue.
Update and Fix Your WordPress Themes & Plugins
WordPress themes and plugins should be updated regularly because outdated themes and plugins may cause problems that distract the server, and you end up seeing the 502 Error.
All you can do is deactivate all the plugins through FTP to fix the error. If the error renames the plugins, change it back. Now, reactivate all the plugins to find the faulty one and remove it.
If the plugin is not the problem, maybe the bug is in the theme. Login to the root directory of the WordPress website via FTP and download a copy of your active theme to your computer. Now, delete the active theme and refresh the website.
If the website shows a white screen, then the problem is the theme. All you can do is change it to the default theme while fixing the active theme.
Check Your Host Server
Check your host server to see whether it is responsive or not. This could occur due to any of the stream servers if they are unreachable.
Check whether your server is online or not by using a ping test or traceroute. If your server shows offline or is not connected properly, you should contact your host service providers.
Struggling with WordPress errors? If you’re stuck with a 502 Bad Gateway error or any other website issue, our expert WordPress support team is here to help! We’ll quickly diagnose and fix your site to get it running smoothly. Contact us today for fast, reliable WordPress fixes!
While DIY fixes can temporarily patch a 502 error, without regular monitoring and upkeep, underlying issues—like outdated plugins/themes, unpatched PHP vulnerabilities, or server misconfigurations—can recur. That’s where expert maintenance comes in:
- Prevent issues before downtime occurs
- Keep core, themes & plugins updated and secure
- Optimize CDN, DNS & server configurations
- 24/7 site monitoring and prioritized fixes
Let us handle the tech—so you don’t have to.
With our comprehensive WordPress Maintenance and Support plan, you’ll get proactive care and instant troubleshooting whenever errors like 502 pop up. Get expert WordPress Maintenance & Support today and keep your site fast, secure, and error-free.
