What does 500 mean?

500 Internal Server Error is a general message that the server hit a problem it did not expect. It is a catch-all, so the cause can be almost anything on the server side: a coding error, a failed update, a broken add-on, a database problem or a wrong setting. The visitor did nothing wrong. Developers find the real cause in the server's error logs.

Why it matters for your business: A 500 error can take down one page or the whole site. If it started right after a change, that change is the first thing to check.

What to do if you see it

• Reload the page after a minute.
• Try again from another device or network to see if it affects everyone.
• If it is your own website, open a request with the page address, the time and anything that changed recently.

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