A 504 gateway timeout error happens when one server doesn't get a timely response from another server it's trying to communicate with. Suppose your website requested information from another computer, but the computer took too long to answer. Your website eventually gave up waiting and showed the 504 error message instead.

For those running websites, this most likely indicates a temporary lag or communication issue between servers. It is not typically a problem for the visitor but is more likely due to your web hosting company, third-party software your site employs, or underlying technical configuration.

What causes a 504 gateway timeout?

So what is behind this lag? Consider the following.

• Slow upstream server. The web server your website is dependent upon may be slow or temporarily offline.
• DNS problems. Issues with translating website names into their server addresses may occasionally break the connection.
• Misconfigured proxy settings or firewall restrictions. Sometimes a firewall can be configured in a way that mistakenly blocks legitimate communication of servers.
• Malfunctioning plugins or code. Sometimes, a badly written line of code or a malfunctioning plugin on your site can introduce delays. It can even prevent the response body from being returned.
• Default timeout limits or hosting issues. If you're on a shared hosting plan or your hosting provider's servers are overloaded, it may result in timeouts.

How 504 errors can affect your site

To endure 504 Gateway Timeouts isn't pleasant for your site visitors. If they can't load your site or portions of it, they will likely go somewhere else and might not return. Persistent timeouts will also adversely affect your site's search engine ranking since search engines like Google favor reliable and accessible websites.

For companies, site downtime means lost business – potential customers, sales, and even trust can be lost if your site is down too often. Having these errors fixed promptly is crucial.

Troubleshooting a 504 gateway timeout

Here are some steps you can take to figure out what's going on.

1. Refresh or check another device

It might just be a temporary hiccup. Reload the web page or see if the issue persists on a different computer or internet connection.

2. Review your hosting provider’s status

See if your web host is reporting any outages or slowdowns. Many providers have status pages or support channels you can check.

3. Deactivate plugins or themes 

If the server side error started after you installed or updated something, try temporarily turning off recent plugins or your theme to see if that's the cause.

4. Check your DNS

If you've recently made changes to your domain name settings, it might take some time for those changes to take effect across the internet. You can use online DNS checker tools to verify.

5. Contact your developer or host

If you can't pinpoint the problem, your web host or a developer can delve into server logs and timeout configurations for more clues.

6. Check your network settings

If you're consistently seeing such errors on one device but not others, it could be worth reviewing your network settings or trying a different internet connection to rule out local configuration issues.

FAQs about 504 gateway timeout

What’s the difference between 504 and 502 errors?

Both are gateway-related errors, but a 502 Bad Gateway indicates that a server received an invalid response from another server. In contrast, a 504 Gateway Timeout means a server didn't receive any response at all within the expected timeframe. Think of it as: 502 = a garbled message, 504 = no message received.

Is a 504 error my fault?

Not usually. It typically points to problems on the server side, not something your visitors or you did. However, if the errors are frequent, your website's setup or the amount of traffic it receives could be contributing factors.

Can a 504 error fix itself?

Sometimes, yes. If it's due to a sudden surge in traffic or a brief issue with your hosting, it might disappear automatically. However, if it's a recurring problem, it's important to investigate the underlying cause.

Build a fast, reliable site with B12

Avoid frustrating server errors and ensure your website runs smoothly with B12. Our AI-powered website builder delivers fast-loading, reliable pages—so you can focus on your business, not error codes. Build your site now!