What a 500 Internal Server Error Means
A 500 Internal Server Error is the server's way of saying something went wrong on its side, but it cannot be more specific in the message shown to visitors. It is a general fault rather than a single known problem.
Although it looks alarming, 500 errors are usually fixable once we read the server logs, which record the precise cause. Here is what you can check and what we will do behind the scenes.
What Typically Causes It
A 500 error nearly always traces back to one of a few common culprits.
- A recent plugin, theme or code update with a bug.
- A corrupted configuration file such as
.htaccess. - The server running out of memory under load.
- A broken connection to the database.
Safe Checks You Can Make
There are a few low-risk things you can do before contacting us.
- Refresh after a minute, as some 500s are momentary.
- Note exactly when it started and whether it followed an update.
- Avoid making further changes, which can complicate the diagnosis.
- Take a screenshot of the error page.
When to Escalate
If the 500 error affects your whole site or your checkout, raise a priority ticket. We have access to the server logs that reveal the exact line at fault, so the fix is usually quick once we are looking in the right place.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.