What is 503 Service Unavailable Error & How to Fix it

When you enter the URL of a web page in your browser, it sends a request to the web server. If the web server sends the response code 503, it is a sign that the server is not ready to handle the particular request. But, this does not indicate that the server is not working properly.  

Like other server errors, the 503 Service Unavailable error is generic. Hence, it becomes challenging to figure out the exact cause of the error. 

Whether it is your laptop, personal computer, smartphone, or tablet, if it is connected to the internet, you will definitely see the 503 error. There are different variations of this error. They are as follows: 

• 503 Service Unavailable
• 503 Service Temporarily Unavailable
• Http/1.1 Service Unavailable
• HTTP Server Error 503
• Service Unavailable – DNS Failure
• 503 Error
• HTTP 503
• HTTP Error 503
• Error 503 Service Unavailable
• Error 503 Backend fetch failed

The primary cause of the 503 error is the high number of requests to the server, which results in the exhaustion of the available resources. Many times, when the traffic on the server comes down, the 503 server disappears. However, if the error persists for a long time, it is a sign of worry as it may be a serious problem with the server. 

Like all other server-side errors, the 503 error also has a negative impact on a website if left unresolved. However, it is also the possibility that this error may occur due to some issues on the client side. 

In this blog post, we shall discuss how to fix the 503 Service Unavailable error on both the client and server sides. 

Also read about 500 Internal Server Error, 504 Gateway Timeout Error and 403 Forbidden Error

How to Fix 503 Service Unavailable Error as an End User? 

Here are a few approaches to fixing the 503 error as an end user or on the client side: 

1. Refresh the Page 

If the error is temporary, refreshing the web page you are trying to access can do wonder. Click on the refresh or reload button or press Ctrl+R on your Windows or Linux systems and Cmd+R on macOS to refresh the web page. Alternatively, try entering the URL once again in the address bar to refresh the page. 

Important Note: If you encounter the same error while you are making a payment for an online purchase, be very careful because multiple attempts may result in multiple orders and, in turn, charges. 

2. Restart Your Network Devices

If there is any issue with your network devices, such as a modem, router, switch, etc., there is a possibility you may encounter the 503 error. So, switch off all your network devices and turn them on in an outside-in order. 

Though the most common cause of the 503 error is the website you visit, there may still be a chance of causing the error due to DNS server configurations on the router or computer. So, restarting network devices may help you get rid of the error. 

3. Check Whether the Page is Down 

The next what you can do is check whether the particular page is down for other people as well. To do this, you can use tools like Is It Down Right Now? or Down For Everyone Or Just Me. 

Simply visit these websites and enter the URL of the web page. The tools will provide you with some statistics about the web page. 

4. Contact the Website

If the above three approaches do not work for you, I recommend you contact the website directly. Many times, website administrators are aware of the 503 error and its cause. Even if they are not aware of it, when you contact them and tell them about it, they will get to know the presence of the error. 

Many websites provide their contact information, such as an email address, mobile number, social media accounts, etc., through which you can contact the website. 

5. Come Back Later

If none of the above methods worked for you, the best way is to wait for some time and come back later. As the 503 error causes due to heavy traffic on the servers, waiting for a while and trying to access the web page later would work if the problem is temporary. 

How to Fix 503 Service Unavailable on Your Own Site?

If you are a website owner, and your website throws a 503 error to your visitors, it becomes essential to diagnose and fix it. Here are some tips that you can consider: 

1. Restart the Server

One of the most common ways to fix the 503 Service Unavailable error is to restart the server. The method to restart the server may vary. Generally, you can do it via the provider’s dashboard or by running the restart command by SSH’ing into the server. 

2. Check the Server Logs

Next, check the server logs. The location of the server logs depends on the service you are running. Generally, you can find the server logs in /var/log/…. Check this directory to find anything by checking the server logs. 

3. Check for an Ongoing Server Maintenance 

Many hosting providers offer a package that includes automated updates and maintenance. Though it is good, updates and maintenance occur during the downtime of a website. These scheduled maintenances are the reason for the 503 error. 

As a result, check with your hosting provider to know whether the 503 error is due to scheduled maintenance. 

4. Check the Server’s Firewall Settings 

Another major reason for the 503 error is the misconfiguration of the firewall, where it becomes difficult for the connections to get out of the client. 

Additionally, your firewall may require unique configurations for CDNs because a large number of connections from a limited number of IP addresses could be mistaken for a DDoS attack. 

The precise procedure for changing your firewall’s settings relies on a variety of variables. Look into your pipeline and your service provider’s dashboards to see where the firewall can be configured.

5. Check the Code

Bugs or errors in the code may be the reason for the 503 error to cause, as it is impossible to catch all errors. If you have tried all the above methods and still encounter the same error, it may be a case that something might have gone wrong with the code. So, make sure to check the server code and, more importantly, anything that has to do with regular expressions. 

Wrapping Up – 503 Service Unavailable Error

This was all about the 503 Service Unavailable error and the ways to fix it. This error indicates that the server is working properly but is not able to handle requests at that moment. This is due to a large number of requests on the server or downtime because of maintenance. 

I hope one of the aforementioned ways will help you diagnose the cause of the 503 error and fix it.