A website can look perfectly fine while still having problems behind the scenes. A broken link, slow loading page, missing image, or server error can make it difficult for visitors to use your website properly.
These problems can also affect your business. If a contact form stops working, you could miss potential customers. If important pages return errors, visitors may leave your website. Some technical problems can also affect search engine crawling and SEO.
That is why understanding common website errors is important for website owners, developers, and businesses.
Some errors are easy to identify because the browser displays a clear message. Others are less obvious and may only appear when someone uses a specific feature or visits your website from a particular device.
In this guide, we will cover 10 common website errors, explain what causes them, and discuss practical ways to fix them.
What Are Website Errors?
Website errors are problems that prevent a website, webpage, or specific feature from working as expected.
They can be caused by many different things, including website code, hosting, databases, plugins, themes, incorrect URLs, security settings, or server configuration.
Some errors affect a single page, while others can affect the entire website.
For example, a 404 error usually affects a specific URL, while a server problem can potentially make an entire website unavailable.
10 Common Website Errors
404 Page Not Found Error
The 404 error is one of the most common website errors.
It appears when someone tries to access a URL that does not exist.
This can happen when:
• A page has been deleted
• A URL has been changed
• Someone enters an incorrect URL
• An old link points to a removed page
• A website has been redesigned
For example, if your website previously had a page at /services/ and you changed the URL to /our-services/, visitors who use the old URL may see a 404 error.
How to Fix a 404 Error
If the page has moved to a new URL, create a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one.
If the page has been permanently removed, make sure your 404 page is useful. It should help visitors return to the homepage or find other relevant pages.
You should also regularly check your website for broken URLs.
500 Internal Server Error
A 500 Internal Server Error means something went wrong on the server while processing a request.
Unlike a 404 error, the requested page may actually exist. The problem is usually related to the server or website application.
Common causes include:
• PHP errors
• Plugin conflicts
• Theme problems
• Server configuration issues
• Memory limitations
• Database problems
How to Fix a 500 Error
Start by checking server and application error logs.
If you use WordPress, check whether the problem started after installing or updating a plugin or theme. Temporarily disabling the suspected plugin can help identify the source.
PHP versions, memory limits, corrupted files, and hosting configuration should also be checked.
403 Forbidden Error
A 403 error means the server understands the request but refuses to allow access to the requested resource.
This can happen because of incorrect permissions, security rules, firewall settings, or server configuration.
For example, a security plugin may block a visitor or request that it considers suspicious.
How to Fix a 403 Error
Check your website’s file and directory permissions first.
Then review security plugins, firewall rules, .htaccess settings, and server configuration if applicable.
If the error started after changing security settings, review those changes carefully.
401 Unauthorized Error
A 401 error generally means that authentication is required to access a resource, or the authentication information provided is not accepted.
This type of error is common with protected pages, APIs, private resources, and websites that require users to log in.
How to Fix a 401 Error
Check the login credentials and authentication settings.
If the problem involves an API, review the API key, access token, or authentication configuration.
If the page should be publicly accessible, check whether authentication has been enabled accidentally.
Broken Links
Broken links are links that no longer lead to the intended page or resource.
They are especially common after website redesigns and migrations.
For example, you may delete an old service page but forget to update links pointing to it.
Broken links can frustrate visitors because they interrupt their journey through the website.
How to Fix Broken Links
Regularly scan your website for broken links.
Update links that point to incorrect pages and remove links that are no longer useful. If a page has moved permanently, use a relevant 301 redirect.
Pay particular attention to important pages such as service pages, product pages, contact pages, and landing pages.
Slow Website Loading
A slow website is one of the most important website problems to address.
Even though slow loading is not always an HTTP error, it can seriously affect the user experience.
Common causes include:
• Large and unoptimized images
• Too many plugins
• Poor hosting
• Unoptimized JavaScript
• Excessive CSS
• Too many third party scripts
• Lack of caching
How to Fix Slow Loading
Start by testing the website to identify what is causing the delay.
Optimize images, remove unnecessary plugins, reduce unused code, enable appropriate caching, and review third party scripts.
Your hosting environment also matters. A website with high traffic or resource intensive features may need better hosting resources.
Database Connection Error
A database connection error occurs when a website cannot properly connect to its database.
This can be particularly serious for WordPress websites because the database contains important information such as posts, pages, users, settings, and other website data.
Possible causes include:
• Incorrect database credentials
• Database server problems
• Corrupted database tables
• Hosting issues
• Configuration errors
How to Fix It
Check the database credentials and database server status.
For WordPress, review the database configuration and hosting environment. If database corruption is suspected, create a backup before attempting repairs.
If the problem is related to the hosting server, your hosting provider may need to investigate it.
SSL Certificate Error
SSL certificates help protect the connection between a website and its visitors.
When an SSL certificate is expired, incorrectly configured, or does not match the domain, browsers may display a security warning.
This can make visitors hesitant to continue using the website.
How to Fix an SSL Error
Check whether the SSL certificate is valid and correctly installed.
Make sure your website uses HTTPS consistently and that important resources are also loaded securely.
If you recently changed hosting or domain settings, check the SSL configuration again.
Broken Images
A broken image occurs when a browser cannot load an image file.
Instead of seeing the expected image, visitors may see an empty space or broken image icon.
Common causes include:
• Incorrect image URL
• Deleted image file
• Incorrect file path
• File permission problems
• Server issues
How to Fix Broken Images
Check the image URL and confirm that the file still exists.
If the image has been deleted, upload it again or replace it with an appropriate image.
For WordPress websites, also check the Media Library and confirm that the image URL is correct.
Mobile Responsive Errors
A website can work perfectly on a desktop computer while looking broken on a mobile device.
Text may be too large, buttons may overlap, images may extend outside the screen, or menus may not work properly.
These are important website errors because mobile users may represent a large portion of your website visitors.
How to Fix Mobile Responsive Problems
Test important pages at different screen sizes.
Check:
• Navigation menus
• Typography
• Buttons
• Images
• Forms
• Spacing
• Popups
• Interactive elements
If you use WordPress and Elementor, check the responsive settings for desktop, tablet, and mobile separately. Do not assume that a design that looks good on desktop will automatically look good on smaller screens.
How Website Errors Affect SEO
Not every website error automatically causes an SEO problem.
However, some technical issues can make it harder for search engines to crawl and understand your website.
For example, broken internal links can prevent users and search engines from easily reaching important pages. Incorrect redirects can send visitors to the wrong location. Server errors can prevent search engines from accessing pages.
Website speed can also influence the overall user experience.
The important thing is to identify which errors affect important pages and fix those problems first.
How to Find Website Errors
You do not need to wait for visitors to report problems.
Several tools can help you identify common issues.
Google Search Console
Google Search Console can help you monitor indexing, search performance, and certain technical problems related to your website.
Browser Developer Tools
Browser developer tools can help identify JavaScript errors, failed requests, loading problems, and other technical issues.
SEO Crawling Tools
SEO crawlers can scan websites for broken links, redirect problems, missing metadata, and other technical issues.
Website Monitoring Tools
Monitoring tools can check whether your website is available and notify you when downtime or other problems occur.
Why Regular Website Maintenance Matters
Fixing website errors once is not enough.
Websites change constantly. New plugins are installed, pages are removed, URLs are changed, software is updated, and third party services can stop working.
Regular maintenance helps identify these problems before they become serious.
A basic maintenance routine should include checking:
• Broken links
• Forms
• Website speed
• Security
• Backups
• Plugin and theme updates
• Mobile responsiveness
• Important redirects
• Website uptime
• SEO issues
This is especially important for business websites where technical problems can directly affect leads and sales.
Final Thoughts
Website errors can range from a simple broken link to a serious server problem that makes an entire website unavailable.
The most common issues include 404 errors, 500 errors, 403 errors, broken links, slow loading, database connection problems, SSL errors, broken images, and mobile responsiveness problems.
The key is not simply to fix an error when someone reports it. Regular testing and website maintenance can help you discover problems before they affect a large number of visitors.
For business websites, this is particularly important. A broken form, slow page, or inaccessible service page can mean lost opportunities.
A healthy website should not only look professional. It should load quickly, work across devices, provide a smooth user experience, and remain technically reliable.
Regularly checking for website errors is therefore an important part of maintaining a successful website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common website errors?
The most common website errors include 404 Page Not Found, 500 Internal Server Error, 403 Forbidden, 401 Unauthorized, broken links, slow loading, database connection errors, SSL certificate errors, broken images, and mobile responsive problems.
Can website errors affect SEO?
Yes, some website errors can affect SEO if they prevent search engines from accessing important pages or understanding your website correctly. Broken links, server errors, incorrect redirects, and performance problems may require attention.
How can I find website errors?
You can find website errors using Google Search Console, browser developer tools, SEO crawling tools, server logs, and website monitoring services. Regular testing can help identify problems before they become more serious.
Why does my WordPress website show a 500 error?
A WordPress website can show a 500 error because of plugin conflicts, theme problems, PHP errors, memory limitations, database issues, corrupted files, or server configuration problems. Checking recent changes and error logs can help identify the cause.
How often should I check for website errors?
You should check important website functions regularly, especially forms, links, speed, security, and mobile responsiveness. A more detailed check is also recommended after major updates, redesigns, migrations, or changes to plugins and themes.
