How to Fix 504 Gateway Time-out in WordPress

Table of Contents

1. What is a 504 Gateway Time-out Error?
2. Common Causes of the 504 Error
3. How to Fix 504 Gateway Time-out in WordPress
   • 3.1. Refresh the Page
   • 3.2. Deactivate Plugins and Themes
   • 3.3. Check Your Server
   • 3.4. Increase PHP Time Limit
   • 3.5. Disable Your CDN or Firewall
   • 3.6. Check DNS Settings
   • 3.7. Contact Hosting Support
4. How to Prevent Future 504 Errors
5. Final Thoughts
6. FAQs

A 504 Gateway Time-out error in WordPress means your server took too long to respond. This error can scare users, but it’s often easy to fix. This guide shows simple steps to solve the problem.

1. What is a 504 Gateway Time-out Error?

A 504 error appears when your website’s server does not get a quick response from another server. It’s a server-side issue but can be triggered by various reasons in WordPress.

2. Common Causes of the 504 Error

• Slow server response
• Too many plugins or bad code
• CDN or firewall blocking requests
• Server overload
• DNS issues
• Wrong PHP settings

3. How to Fix 504 Gateway Time-out in WordPress

Refresh the Page

• Sometimes the error is temporary.
• Wait a few seconds and refresh the page.
• If the page loads, the issue was momentary.

Deactivate Plugins and Themes

A faulty plugin or theme can cause server delays. Follow these steps:

• Access your site using FTP or File Manager.
• Go to /wp-content/plugins/ and rename the folder to plugins_backup.
• Visit your website to see if it loads.
• If the issue is fixed, rename the folder back and reactivate plugins one by one.
• Do the same process for your active theme in /wp-content/themes/.

Check Your Server

• Use a server monitoring tool to check uptime.
• Or ask your hosting provider if the server is running.
• Shared hosting can sometimes cause time-out due to resource limits.

Increase PHP Time Limit

Low PHP execution time can trigger time-outs.

• Edit your wp-config.php file.
• Add the following line of code:
• Alternatively, ask your host to increase the PHP execution time.

set_time_limit(300);

Disable Your CDN or Firewall

Sometimes a CDN or firewall blocks the server response.

Steps:

• Temporarily pause your CDN (like Cloudflare) from its dashboard.
• Clear your browser cache and refresh your site.
• Check if the site now loads correctly.

Check DNS Settings

• If you recently changed hosting or DNS records, allow 24–48 hours for propagation.
• Check your DNS settings with your domain registrar or hosting provider.

Contact Hosting Support

They can run advanced diagnostics and fix server-level issues for you.

If nothing works, contact your hosting provider.

4. How to Prevent Future 504 Errors

• Use reliable hosting
• Update plugins and themes regularly
• Avoid bulky or poorly coded plugins
• Use caching plugins to reduce server load
• Monitor uptime using tools like Uptime Robot

5. Final Thoughts

The 504 Gateway Time-out error in WordPress is frustrating, but with the right steps, you can fix it fast. If you follow the methods in this guide, your site will be back up in no time.

6. FAQs