The Server Error (5xx) status in Google Search Console means that Googlebot couldn’t access your page because of a problem on your web server.
These errors can negatively impact your site's crawling and indexing, so fixing them promptly is important.
In This Article
What’s a 5xx Error and Why Do They Happen?
A 5xx error refers to a class of HTTP status codes that indicate a server-side issue preventing the server from fulfilling a request.
5xx errors usually occur for reasons like:
- Server overload: High traffic exceeding your hosting plan’s capacity.
- Coding issues: Faulty scripts, misconfigured plugins, or database errors.
- Server maintenance: When the server is temporarily down for updates.
- Hosting problems: Unreliable hosting or inadequate server resources.
How 5xx Errors Affect SEO
5xx errors can significantly harm your website’s SEO if not addressed promptly. These errors prevent search engines from accessing your pages, which can lead to decreased crawling, de-indexing, and ranking drops.
For example, if Googlebot repeatedly encounters 5xx errors, it may reduce its crawl frequency or stop crawling altogether. Over time, this can harm your site’s visibility in search results and diminish user trust in your brand.
Common Types of 5xx Errors
Here are some of the comment types of 5xx server errors:
- 500 (Internal Server Error): A general error indicating that the server encountered an unexpected condition. Example: A broken WordPress plugin or script causing the site to crash.
- 501 (Not Implemented): The server doesn’t recognize the request method or lacks the ability to fulfill it.
- 502 (Bad Gateway): The server received an invalid response from an upstream server.
- 503 (Service Unavailable): The server is temporarily unavailable. This happens when the server is temporarily unable to handle requests due to high traffic or maintenance.
- 504 (Gateway Timeout): This error occurs when the server takes too long to respond.
- 505 (HTTP Version Not Supported): The server doesn’t support the HTTP version used in the request.
- 507 (Insufficient Storage): The server doesn’t have enough storage space to handle the request.
Each of these errors has a unique cause and can affect your site differently, but they all share one common trait—they hinder proper communication between the web server and browser, disrupting the user experience.
Identifying the Server Error (5xx) Status in Google Search Console
To identify pages with the Server Error (5xx) status in Google Search Console (GSC), follow these steps:
- Log in to your Google Search Console account and select the appropriate property (website) in the Search property drop-down (if you manage multiple websites).
- Click on Pages under Indexing in the left-hand sidebar.
- In the Page indexing report, scroll down to the Improve page appearance section and look for Server Error (5xx). Click on this to see a detailed list of all pages flagged for this reason.
- After you click on Server Error (5xx), scroll down to the Examples section to view the list of affected URLs. This will help you understand whether the redirect is intentional or if there are issues, like broken links or incorrect redirect types.
How to Find the Server Error (5xx) Status using Index Status in All in One SEO’s Search Statistics Feature
IMPORTANT:
Before getting started, make sure to connect Search Statistics to your Google Search Console account. You can find instructions on how to connect to your Google Search Console account here.
NOTE:
The Index Status feature is available to customers with an Elite plan for All in One SEO Pro. Upgrade to All in One SEO Pro today to get Search Statistics and many more features!
The Index Status feature enables you to see Google Search Console errors directly within your WordPress dashboard. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click on Search Statistics in the All in One SEO menu and then click on the SEO Statistics tab.
- In the Content Performance report, you’ll find a column labeled Indexed, which shows the index status of your pages using color-coded icons.
- If any of these icons are orange or red, hover over them to reveal a detailed popup. If the issue is a Server Error (5xx) status, then the popup will provide specific information, such as details about the redirect.
- Alternatively, navigate to the All Posts or All Pages screen in WordPress. The AIOSEO Details column on this page displays the same index status icons as the Content Performance report. Hovering over an icon here will also show details of any errors.
By using these methods in All in One SEO, you can effectively locate and address URLs affected by the Server Error (5xx) status, ensuring a smooth user experience and optimal indexing for your site. You can learn more about Checking the Index Status of Content in our article here.
How to Fix Server Errors (5xx)
To fix these errors, follow these steps:
- Check the server error logs: Start by reviewing your server error logs for details about the issue. The logs will typically reveal what’s causing the server to crash. You may need to contact your hosting provider to do this.
- Monitor server resources: Ensure your hosting plan has enough CPU, RAM, and storage. Upgrade your hosting if traffic spikes cause recurring 503 errors.
- Debug plugins or themes: Temporarily disable plugins or themes to identify conflicts.
- Use a CDN (Content Delivery Network): A CDN can reduce server load by caching your site’s content globally.
- Contact your hosting support: If the issue isn’t clear, ask your hosting provider for help. Your hosting team can diagnose server misconfigurations or hardware issues.
Ask Google to Revalidate Your URLs
After applying the fixes, log in to your Google Search Console and use the URL Inspection Tool to test the affected URL.
Click Request Indexing to notify Google of the changes. This step prompts Google to re-crawl the page and update its status accordingly.
If you’ve resolved all instances of the error, you can ask Google to revalidate your URLs in bulk. On the Page Indexing page in Google Search Console, click the Validate Fix button. This informs Google that the issues have been addressed and the URLs are ready for indexing.
Occasionally, Google might report false positives. In such cases, revalidation ensures these URLs are reviewed again.
NOTE:
If you missed a fix, validation will stop when Google finds a single remaining instance of that issue.
It’s important to remember that you shouldn’t click Validate fix again until validation has succeeded or failed. You check out this article on how Google checks your fixes.
You can monitor the validation progress. Validation typically takes up to about two weeks, but in some cases, it can take much longer, so please be patient. You will receive a notification via your email when validation succeeds or fails.
Best Practices to Avoid 5xx Errors
Here are some best practices you can follow to avoid these errors:
- Upgrade your hosting: Choose reliable hosting that scales with your traffic needs.
- Optimize website code: Fix inefficient scripts and reduce server resource usage.
- Monitor performance: Use tools like Google Search Console or server monitoring software to detect issues early.
- Keep backups: Always have a backup plan to restore your site quickly in case of server failures.
Frequent server errors can waste your crawl budget and give competitors an advantage, as Google prioritizes the indexing of accessible and reliable sites.
Ensuring your server is stable and error-free is essential to maintaining your rankings and user experience.