Troubleshooting The 504 Gateway Timeout WordPress Error

Experiencing a 504 Gateway Timeout WordPress error on your site can be a real test of patience. One minute, everything’s running smoothly, and the next, your site is down. You might feel stuck, wondering why this is happening.

It’s understandable to feel a bit stressed when your site isn’t working the way it should. You want your content to be visible and appreciated, not blocked by a technical glitch.

But there’s no need to panic. We’ve encountered this issue multiple times and have put together some easy steps you can take to fix this.

TL;DR: A 504 gateway timeout error occurs when your site doesn’t load because one server is waiting too long for a response from another. Before making any changes to your WordPress core files to fix issues, ensure you backup your entire site using a reliable backup plugin. This helps prevent site crashes and keeps your data safe during troubleshooting.

What is the 504 gateway timeout WordPress error

A 504 Gateway Timeout error occurs when one server waits too long for another server’s response, leading to your website not loading. It’s like trying to use an ATM, but the machine can’t connect to the bank’s server, leaving the transaction unfinished.

Similarly, when your website tries to pull information from an external server, and that server is slow, your site can’t load, resulting in an error message. 

Common causes of the 504 gateway timeout error

Here are some common reasons that can trigger this error:

Server overload: When too many users visit your site at once, the server can become overwhelmed, leading to delays and timeouts.

Slow plugins or scripts: Some plugins or scripts on your site might take longer than expected to run, causing the server to timeout as it waits.

DNS changes: Recent changes to DNS settings can temporarily disrupt server communication because it can take time for these new settings to fully update across the internet.

Firewall settings: A Strong WordPress firewall or security configurations can block essential requests between servers, causing connection issues.

Network connectivity issues: Network interruptions can prevent servers from communicating efficiently, leading to a timeout error.

Hosting provider problems: Issues on the hosting provider’s side, such as outages or maintenance, can also cause your site to experience downtime.

How to fix the 504 gateway timeout WordPress error

Here are some simple solutions you can try to fix this error:

Reload the page

Start by simply refreshing your website. This quick fix can resolve temporary server glitches that might be causing the 504 error. A minor hiccup in communication between servers often clears up with a fresh reload.

Check if it’s just you

Use online tools like Is It Down Right Now to determine if the site is down for everyone or just you. If the problem is only on your end, inspect your internet connection for stability issues.

Turn off VPN

Disable your VPN temporarily, as it may add delays by interfering with server connections. If turning off the VPN resolves the issue but you need the VPN, consider switching to a different service that might work better with your site.

Disable firewalls

Temporarily turn off any firewalls or antivirus programs that might be blocking necessary server requests. These security measures can sometimes mistakenly identify normal requests as threats, leading to access issues.

Change DNS servers

Switch your DNS settings to alternative servers like Google DNS or Cloudflare. To change your DNS settings:

1. Access your network settings:

On Windows: In Control Panel, navigate to the Network and Sharing Center. Next, click Change Adapter Settings, then right-click your active network and select Properties.

Select either Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and click the Properties box.

On macOS: Open System Settings. In the search bar, look up DNS servers.

2. Change DNS server addresses:

For either Windows or macOS, find the section for DNS server addresses.

Enter the Google DNS addresses: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4, or the Cloudflare DNS addresses: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1

3. Save and restart:

Click OK or Apply to save your changes. Next, disconnect and reconnect to your network, or restart your device to ensure the new settings take effect.

Turn off CDN

Deactivate your content delivery network (CDN) for a short time to see if it’s causing connectivity issues. Sometimes, communication between the CDN and the server can lead to 504 errors.

Deactivate themes and plugins

Disable all themes and plugins temporarily to check if any are causing excessive load or slow executions. Use the WordPress admin panel to deactivate each plugin and theme, then check if your website loads correctly. 

If you don’t have access to your admin panel you can use WordPress FTP:

1. Connect to your website using an FTP client:

You can find the credentials you need from your web host. Use them to connect the FTP client to your website.

2. Locate the wp-content folder:

Look for your root directory. Often public_html or www.  Within this directory you will find your wp-content folder.

3. Deactivate plugins and themes:

Rename the plugins folder to pluginname_old and the themes folder to themename_old.

After deactivating the themes and plugins, try accessing your site again to see if the issue is resolved. If it is, you can rename the folders back to their original names and reactivate them one by one to identify the culprit.

Clean WordPress database

Tidy up and optimize your WordPress database. Access phpMyAdmin through your hosting control panel, and manually optimize tables. Remove unnecessary data like spam comments, ensuring you back up your database first. A bloated database can slow server responses.

Check .htaccess file

Review your .htaccess file for errors or misconfigurations. If any, you can regenerate it with the default WordPress code:

Note: Ensure you back up any custom additions first, and then add them back one by one to identify any that might be causing the issue.

# BEGIN WordPress

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>

RewriteEngine On

RewriteBase /

RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d

RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

</IfModule>

# END WordPress

Verify DNS status

Make sure your DNS settings are fully updated and correctly updated. Use DNS checking tools to verify that settings are complete and accurate, as incorrect configurations can prevent your site from connecting with the server effectively.

Increase PHP time limit

Increase the PHP execution time limit in your wp-config.php file if scripts are taking too long, causing the timeout.

Contact hosting provider

If troubleshooting doesn’t resolve the issue, reach out to your hosting provider for assistance. They can check for server-side problems, such as outages or maintenance, and help address them.

How does this error impact your website

Loss of traffic: When your website doesn’t load, visitors are likely to leave and possibly not return, causing a drop in your web traffic.

Reduced search engine rankings: Search engines track site performance. Frequent downtime can cause your rankings to drop, making it harder for people to find your site.

Decreased user trust: Seeing an error message instead of your webpage can make users doubt the reliability of your site, discouraging them from visiting again.

Revenue loss: If your site is used for sales, downtime can mean missed opportunities and lost income since customers cannot make purchases.

Best practices to prevent the 504 gateway timeout WordPress error

To keep your WordPress site running smoothly, it’s important to take a few simple steps to prevent those annoying 504 gateway timeout errors. Here’s how you can do it:

Optimize server resources: Make sure your server has enough resources to handle visitors efficiently. Consider selecting a reliable hosting provider offering plans that can accommodate your site’s needs.

Monitor website performance and traffic: Keep an eye on your site’s performance and the number of visitors. This helps you spot potential issues early and make necessary adjustments.

Regularly update DNS: Make sure your DNS settings are current, so your site connects quickly and without delays.

Limit resource-intensive plugins and scripts: Avoid using too many heavy plugins or scripts that can slow down your site. Keeping it lightweight ensures faster loading times.

Use caching: Implement caching to store parts of your website for quick access. This makes your site load faster because it doesn’t need to fetch everything from scratch.

Review firewall and security settings: Check your security settings to ensure legitimate traffic isn’t blocked. This ensures users can access your site without problems.

Parting thoughts

Addressing 504 gateway timeout errors promptly is vital, as your site might be down, driving visitors away and impacting your site’s reliability—and your revenue if sales are involved. Though this issue is not as serious as a site crash, it’s important to take measures to prevent future errors by regularly checking and fine-tuning your site to ensure it remains fast and reliable. 

If the errors persist despite your efforts, it’s time to contact your hosting provider. They can help resolve issues that might be outside your control, ensuring your site runs smoothly once again.

FAQs

How to fix 504 gateway timeout in WordPress?

If your WordPress site shows a 504 gateway timeout error, start by refreshing your page—it might just be a temporary glitch. Next, check your internet connection and make sure you don’t have any firewall or VPN blocking access. If not, your hosting provider can lend a hand in solving bigger server issues.

What is the timed out error in WordPress?

A timed-out error means your website is trying to connect to your server but is waiting too long. This can happen if the server is busy or if a part of your site is slow to load.

How to avoid 504 gateway timeout in PHP?

To avoid these errors when using PHP, ensure your scripts don’t take too long to run. You can optimize your code to work faster, use caching to load things quicker, and keep an eye on your server’s performance to avoid overloads.

What is the 504 error?

The 504 error is like a server traffic jam. It’s what happens when one server waits too long for another server to respond, causing delay and frustration. Your site can’t load properly, leaving visitors stuck.

What is the maximum execution time for WordPress?

The maximum execution time in WordPress is the limit set for how long a script can run before stopping. It’s usually 30 seconds, but you can increase it if needed—just make sure it’s set correctly so your site’s processes don’t stop unexpectedly.