What is an Error 522? And How Can You Fix It?

Have you ever tried accessing a website and received a message saying, “Error 522 Connection timed out”? This error can be frustrating, especially when accessing an important website. 

Error 522 is an HTTP status code when a server cannot connect to the website hosting server. Cloudflare acts as an intermediary between them. It is also a standard error among website owners and frequently appears when your site is using Cloudflare. Upgrading your hosting plan is the most common solution for resolving this error. 

While it may seem like a complex error message, there are simple ways to resolve it. In this article, I will share the possible causes of Error 522 and how to fix it.

What Does Error 522 Mean?

Error 522 is an HTTP status code that appears when the origin web server fails to respond. It typically occurs when a website uses a Content Delivery Network (CDN) service like Cloudflare.

It occurs when Cloudflare tries to connect to your website and doesn’t receive a response within a specific time. As a result, it generates the error 522 message.

When such a timeout occurs, Cloudflare displays the error message “Error 522 Connection timed out”.

To sum up, the browser sends a request, but the server takes too long to respond, and eventually, the request times out. Simply put, Error 522 could occur when Cloudflare cannot connect with the origin server. 

What Is A CDN, Exactly?

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers located worldwide. The system makes copies of a website’s content and stores them on each server. When someone visits your website, the server nearest to their location delivers its content. 

A CDN reduces website latency for users and can help websites deal with traffic surges. One of its key features is that a CDN adds another security layer to your site.

Cloudflare is one such CDN, and it can help website owners manage traffic and improve website performance.

However, when Cloudflare receives a timed-out error message from the origin server, it displays the error message “Error 522 Connection Timed Out.”

What Causes Cloudflare Error 522?

You may encounter Error 522 when visiting a website for many reasons. Here are some of the most common causes:

#1. Server Downtime

If the server hosting the website is down, users cannot access the website, resulting in Error 522.

#2. Insufficient Resources

If your hosting plan’s resources are exhausted or inadequate, the server may struggle to handle requests, and you may experience error 522. It might be time to upgrade your hosting to handle the surge in traffic. 

#3. IP Filtering

If the website’s firewall blocks the user’s IP address, the server will not respond, resulting in Error 522.

#4. DNS Connection Issues

There may be a problem in the DNS connection between the server and the CDN, leading to Error 522.

How To Fix Error 522?

If you’re facing an error 522 message, here are some possible solutions that may help you fix the problem:

#1. Check If Your Server Is Working

The first fix solution to start with is checking if the server is working correctly. 

If your server is down or if your website is experiencing a temporary outage, the server cannot respond to requests. 

First, try accessing your website via a service such as isitdownrightnow.com.

If it says the website is up and running, the server is working, but if it does not, you need to contact your hosting provider.

#2. Upgrade Your Hosting Plan

If the hosting plan you are on is not adequate to fulfill your website’s demand, it can result in low server resources. Try upgrading your hosting plan to get more resources and avoid exhausting your website with limited capacity.

Upgrading your hosting plan is one way to ensure that you have a stable and reliable website server. A higher hosting plan can provide more resources, and insufficient resources are one of the primary causes behind error 522. 

Click here to learn more about upgrading your hosting plans with SirsteveHQ.

#3. Check IP Filtering

If IP filtering is active on your web server, it may prevent the Cloudflare server from connecting to your website. Ensure the IPs of the Cloudflare servers are whitelisted so that they can access your website without any issues.

The error 522 can also occur because of the IP filtering settings on your server or website. You can check your IP filtering settings to ensure that they allow the IP address of the Cloudflare server to access your server.

You can check this by contacting your web hosting provider.

#4. Review Cloudflare DNS settings:

If your DNS settings are misconfigured, Cloudflare won’t be able to connect to your website and will generate an error 522 message. 

Make sure that your Cloudflare DNS settings point to the correct IP address of your website’s server.

If you require extra support, check out Cloudflare’s tutorial on creating and editing DNS records in their dashboard. 

#5. Install a Cache Plugin or Lazy Load Plugin

Excess requests or requests to unoptimized pages can consume server resources. You can reduce server load as well as speed up your website by installing a cache or lazy load plugin to optimize your website’s performance.

I highly recommend WP Rocket as the ultimate caching plugin for your website; it’s renowned as the simplest and most potent option. WP Rocket also offers the LazyLoad plugin that I suggest you install.

A plugin such as LazyLoad delays loading images, videos, and iframes until they are visible to the user. This plugin effectively speeds up your WordPress site and reduces the chances of Error 522. 

#6. Contact Cloudflare Support

If all the solutions above fail, the final option is to contact Cloudflare support for technical help. They can identify the issue from their side and resolve error 522 for you.

Conclusion: To Wrap Up

Errors such as Error 522 can be common for website owners, especially those that use Cloudflare.

By taking preventive measures like upgrading your hosting plan or using a cache plugin, you can minimize error 522. I suggest you contact your hosting provider’s customer support team for more assistance.

Check out this article if you’re looking to resolve Error 521, another Cloudflare error.

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