Casually surfing on the internet is one of the few leisures that the current generation enjoy on a daily basis. Having everything you want to know at your fingertips defines convenience. Though, there are a few roadblocks which happen in the world of browsers and web surfing. One such error is the 501 status code.
The 501 error means that your web server does not support the functionality required for access and does not recognize the request method, it is a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) status code which refers to “not implemented”.
The 501 status code is server-side, which means that it cannot be fixed by you, but requires to be notified to the server and website management.
How to Identify the 501 Status Code Error?
The 501 error is displayed differently for each web browser, but the most common error messages displayed for it are:
· HTTP 501
· 501 Not Implemented
· Error 501
If you’re faced with any of these messages, then you are a victim of the 501 error.
Causes of the 501 Status Code
There can be multiple reasons behind the occurrence of this dreaded error. We will outline some of the most famous causes behind it. These include:
Malware or Viruses:
The presence of viruses or malware on your system can cause a negative impact on its functioning in such a way that the browser cannot establish proper communication with the web server. When this situation arises, it is bound to give rise to the 501 error to be displayed as a request return. However, the real cause of the problem is not a server problem, but an infected computer.
Because of this, it is important to run a complete scan of the system to ensure that there are no security threats within the system that could cause the communication failure.
Overloading of the Server:
Another reason for the occurrence of this issue is the overloading of the server. In practice, the increase in traffic makes communications slower and leads to a failure which fulfils the request. Thus, the server might return a 501 Error.
In this case, it is important to understand the cause of the high volume of traffic, which can be due to multiple reasons. It is necessary to consider whether the increase will be constant, as it may be required to employ a more efficient server to host its services.
Expiration of Software Server:
This possibility is quite rare, but there is a chance of its occurrence. To get rid of this, contact the server service providers, as they are the only ones who can fix this issue.
Technical Issue:
The technical glitches can take place at any point of time, and this can be resolved by the experts employed by the service provider. However, it can only be resolved if information is provided.
Simple Ways to Fix the 501 Error
Even though the 501 error is majorly a server side error, there are a few ways by which you can fix this issue, even if it is temporary. Follow these simple steps for instant relief
Try to reload the page on which you received the 501 status code. It fixes the issue sometimes, but even if it doesn’t, it is still worth a shot since it is a simple step.
Another step that can be used to fix the 501 error is by clearing the cache, cookies and recent history of the web browser. This leads to reduction of load of the browser, and might end up fixing the issue.
Run a virus and malware scan in your system. Any virus that might be hindering the connection of the system and server would be removed.
If your browser uses a proxy server, this might cause the failure to access the website. You should check whether this feature is enabled, and then disable it.
To conclude,
the 501 error might be frustrating but you have to bear with it as there is nothing concrete that you can do about it. Try the simple fixes mentioned in this blog, and make sure that you inform the same to the maintenance team of the server.