523 Origin Is Unreachable
A Cloudflare-specific code: the origin appears unreachable, usually due to DNS or routing problems.
Cloudflare cannot reach the origin server at all.
523 is an unofficial status code used by Cloudflare. It is not part of the HTTP standard or the IANA registry.
What HTTP 523 Origin Is Unreachable Means
Cloudflare cannot reach the origin server at all.
A Cloudflare-specific code: the origin appears unreachable, usually due to DNS or routing problems.
Common Causes
- Incorrect origin IP / A record in DNS
- Origin server offline
- Routing or BGP problem to the origin
- Origin hosting provider outage
How to Fix It (For Visitors)
- Try again later
- Contact the website owner
How to Fix It (For Developers/Admins)
- Verify the origin IP in Cloudflare DNS is correct
- Confirm the origin is online and reachable
- Check the hosting provider status
- Test connectivity from outside your network
How to Troubleshoot Cloudflare Errors
Every Cloudflare error page shows a Ray ID and tells you whether the browser, Cloudflare, or the origin host is failing. To test the origin directly while keeping the correct hostname, bypass Cloudflare with curl:
# Replace 203.0.113.10 with your origin server's IP
curl -svo /dev/null --resolve example.com:443:203.0.113.10 https://example.com/If this request fails or is slow, the problem is on the origin, not at Cloudflare. Also make sure your firewall, security plugins, and rate limiters allow Cloudflare's IP ranges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does HTTP 523 Origin Is Unreachable mean?
A Cloudflare-specific code: the origin appears unreachable, usually due to DNS or routing problems. In short: Cloudflare cannot reach the origin server at all.
Is 523 an official HTTP status code?
No. 523 is not registered in the IANA HTTP Status Code Registry; it is specific to Cloudflare. A client that receives an unrecognized status code treats it like the generic 500 code of its class.
How do I fix a 523 Origin Is Unreachable error?
Verify the origin IP in Cloudflare DNS is correct. Confirm the origin is online and reachable. Check the hosting provider status.
Specification Status
523 Origin Is Unreachable is not an official HTTP status code. It is not registered in the IANA HTTP Status Code Registry and is specific to Cloudflare. Other servers and clients may not recognize it.