When using a website, there are different situations when you encounter an error, and one of the most common errors that people encounter is the 504 Gateway Timeout Error. It is very common for people to come across this error when they are using a website, as the error usually happens when the server acting as a gateway did not receive a response from the upstream server.
Basically, the error happens when you are trying to access a webpage and the webpage does not provide you with a response in time. This error can interfere with the experience of the user, as well as harm the performance of the website, which is why here, you will learn more about the error and the troubleshooting methods that you can use to resolve it.
Understanding the Cause Behind the Error 504
Before we start mentioning the fixes for the 504 eraror code, it is essential for you to know what the triggers behind this error are. There are numerous reasons that result in the error; however, the most common causes are:
-
Server overload or downtime
-
Network connectivity issues between servers
-
Incorrect DNS configurations
-
Faulty firewall settings are locking communication
-
Slow or unresponsive upstream servers
Knowing these reasons will assist you in narrowing down the troubleshooting process and also save time.
What are the methods to use to fix the 504 Gateway Timeout Error?
After understanding the reasons behind the error code 504, you should also be familiar with the methods that you can use to resolve this error. Take a look at the different methods that we are mentioning here.
Method I: Refresh and check the Website
There are situations when the issue is temporary, which is why you should start by refreshing the website. Use the shortcut (F5 or Ctrl + R) to refresh the webpage, or you can also try to access the website in a different web browser.
Another thing that you need to verify is the status of the website. Use tools like DownDetector or IsItDownRightNow to see whether the website is under maintenance or not working properly. In this case, the issue will be resolved after a few minutes or hours.
Method II: Restart Network Devices
If you are still experiencing the error, then it is also possible that the issue is happening because of your internet. You can try restarting your router or modem to resolve network issues. Network interruptions or DNS cache can also result in the error. A simple reboot can often re-establish the connection between your server and device.
Method III: Adjust Server Timeout Issues
Increase the server timeout limit momentarily if your API or application requests need more time to process. You may change the ‘proxy_read_timeout’ directive in Nginx, for instance. Be careful—this is a short-term solution while you refine database queries or scripts.
Method IV: Check Your Proxy Settings
Your device and the internet are separated by a proxy server. It is mostly used to improve online privacy by utilizing a VPN to conceal private information from websites and webservers, such as device location.
Incorrect proxy server settings can occasionally be the cause of a 504 error, however this is uncommon. To see if reloading the page would resolve the issue, you can try disabling the proxy server.
If you’re certain that you don’t utilize a proxy server, you can skip this step as the majority of clients don’t use one. But it’s possible that you set it without even realizing it. To rule out this cause, I would advise you to check the proxy settings on your device and browser.
Method V: Check for DNS Issues
DNS problems at the server-side, client-side, or both can also result in a 504 Gateway Timeout error.
The most likely cause of a server-side DNS problem is either the DNS server not responding or the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) not resolving the right IP address. This usually happens when you’ve just moved your website to a new host or server. Waiting for the domain’s DNS records to fully propagate—which could take up to 24 hours—is therefore crucial.
To check if your DNS has spread globally, you can use free programs like DNSMap or whatsmydns.net DNS Checker. You might try clearing your local DNS cache to resolve client-side DNS problems. Clearing the DNS cache from the operating system is similar to clearing the cache in your browser.
These are the methods that can be used by people when they wish to resolve the 504 Gateway Timeout Error on their device. You can also refer to the website Datarecovee to learn other methods that you can use to fix it.
