Dealing with HTTP Status Codes can be very stressful. Especially when faced with the task of fixing a rare problem such as 408 Error Code Request Timeout. Luckily, there are various approaches you can apply to get the Request Timeout message to disappear from your website, so your site visitors remain satisfied and search engines keep ranking your pages in high-ranking positions. In the following paragraphs, you will read about what is Error 408 Request Timeout, what causes it, and different methods you can use to fix it.
What is Error 408 Request Timeout
408 Error code indicates that the request sent from the client takes a longer time to be processed than how long the server was prepared to wait. Error 408 is one of the clint-side HTTP Status Codes that is oftentimes displayed due to traffic peaks that overload the requested server or in the event of a slow Internet connection that makes the communication between the server take too long time. Similar error codes include:
- Error 400 Bad Request
- Error 401 Unauthorized
- Error 402 Payment Required
- Error 403 Forbidden
- Error 405 Method Not Allowed
- Error 406 Not Acceptable
- Error 409 Conflict
How to Fix 408 Error Code Request Timeout
Although 4xx error status codes are labeled as client-side issues, the case with 408 Error Code is different – there are both server-side and client-side issues that can prompt the server to display this error.
Client-Side Causes of 408 Error Code
There are 6 client-side causes of Error 408. Try out the suggested methods to fix the issue. If nothing works, it is likely that the problem is rooted somewhere on the server side.
Check URL
Sometimes a typo in the requested URL can prompt a 408 Error code. Double-check the requested URL for missed or added symbols, fix these, and reload the requested resource.
Slow Internet Connection
If the requested online resource takes too much time to load, and the Internet browser displays a 408 Error Code, then the problem might be in your Internet connection. To see whether this is the case, try loading different web pages – if all of them load slowly, then your Internet connection is interrupted. You should contact your Internet provider for further assistance.
Check For Faulty Website Add-Ons/Extensions/Plugins
If your website is based on a CMS such as WordPress and you have noticed that 408 Error Code occurs after a recent installation of various add-ons/extensions/plugins, then it is likely some of them are causing the issue. To see whether this is the cause for Error 408, deactivate all your add-ons/extensions/plugins and try to access the requested online resource. If you can open it without stumbling upon Error 408, then it is likely that some of the recently installed add-ons/extensions/plugins on your website are causing the issue. To locate the problematic extension/add-on/plugin, follow these steps:
- Activate a single extension/add-on/plugin, while keeping the rest deactivated and try to open the requested page.
- If you can access the page without issues, then the problem lies within another extension/add-on/plugin.
- Deactivate the active extension/add-on/plugin, activate another one, and try to load the resource one more time.
- Repeat this process until you activate an extension/add-on/plugin that prompts the Error 408 Error Code.
- Now that you know which extension causes it, you can contact developers for further assistance or simply delete it and try out a different one.
Clear Internet Browser Cache
Sometimes too many cache files can slow down your Internet browser performance which can therefore result in a prompted 408 Error Code. Delete your browser cache files and reload the requested resource one more time. If it still is inaccessible, continue with the next method. How to Delete Browser Cache
Check for Recent Database Changes
Sometimes website database changes can prompt a 408 Error Code. This happens in cases where you have made some manual changes, or, for example, a website extension/add-on/plugin has intervened within the database and altered some settings. Regardless of how the change in database settings has been made, have a look at your database tables manually and check for any records that have been modified in an unwanted manner and fix them.
Roll Back Recent Site Updates
If the 408 Error Code has started appearing after recent core website updates, the problem might be rooted somewhere in the update files. Roll back your website to an older version and check whether you can access the online resource. If Error 408 is still present, then the problem lies elsewhere.
Server-Side Causes of 408 Error Code
There are various causes of server-side prompts of Error 408.
Server Traffic Spikes
Sometimes website traffic spikes can cause the hosting server to work slowly and therefore display various error messages such as 408 Error Code. If this is the case, you can either upgrade to a premium AwardSpace hosting plan or contact tech support for further assistance.
Server Technical Maintenance
The slow loading speed can be caused by some kind of technical maintenance the web server is undergoing at the time you receive error messages. In such periods servers are oftentimes slow and even unavailable. Wait a few minutes and contact tech support for further details.
Contact Tech Support
If nothing else can resolve the issue, contact the tech support of your preferred hosting provider. Once you do, explain what your issue is and what you have done to resolve the issue. The tech support team will take care of your issue and present you with a solution for your case.
Conclusion
408 Error Code indicates that the requested server takes too long time to present the requested online resource and therefore terminates the process. What is specific about this particular error code is that although labeled as a client-side problem, various server-side issues can prompt the display of the error code. In this article, we share various server-side and client-side error fixes that can fix the problem.
