Fix “Internal Server Error” on Claude.ai (Quick Guide)

Introduction

Seeing “Internal Server Error” when you open Claude.ai usually points to a server-side outage. Here’s how to confirm the issue and what you can do right now to get back in.

Error/Problem Description

The “Internal Server Error” appears when Anthropic’s servers are experiencing an outage or degradation. In most cases, the problem is not on your device or browser and resolves once the service is restored.

• Typical cause: temporary server outage at Anthropic
• Your goal: verify the outage, avoid unnecessary troubleshooting, and retry after it’s resolved

Solution 1: Check Anthropic’s Status Page

Confirm if the error is due to a known outage before changing anything on your setup.

Steps to verify an outage

1. Go to https://status.anthropic.com.
2. On the main page, look for any active incidents or service degradation notices.
3. Scroll to “Past Incidents” to see recent issues impacting Claude.ai.
4. If you see an ongoing or very recent incident affecting the app, the error is caused by the outage.

Notes:

• If the status page shows a current incident, local fixes won’t help until the service is restored.
• Keep the status page open and refresh periodically for updates.

Solution 2: Wait for Service Restoration (Typical: 3–5 Hours)

When the status page confirms an outage, waiting is the most effective action.

What to do during an outage

• Wait 3–5 hours and try again.
• Avoid repeatedly refreshing or switching accounts; it will not speed up recovery.
• When the incident is marked resolved on the status page, reload Claude.ai and sign in again.

Solution 3: Disconnect VPN and Try a Different Network

If no outage is listed (or after the outage is resolved) but you still see the error, network routing can be the cause.

Steps to try another connection

1. Turn off your VPN completely.
2. If you’re on Wi‑Fi, switch to your mobile data connection and retry Claude.ai.
3. If mobile data is not available, try a different Wi‑Fi network without VPN enabled.
4. Reload Claude.ai and sign in again.

Notes:

• Some VPN exit nodes may be blocked or have unstable routes.
• Switching to mobile data helps bypass problematic DNS or ISP caching.

Additional Tips

• Bookmark https://status.anthropic.com for quick checks when issues occur.
• If an outage is confirmed, there’s no need to clear cache, reinstall, or change browsers; those actions won’t fix a server-side issue.
• If you continue to see the error after the status page shows “All Systems Operational,” try the network steps again and then retry after a short wait.

Conclusion

Most “Internal Server Error” messages on Claude.ai are caused by temporary server outages. First, check https://status.anthropic.com. If an incident is active, wait 3–5 hours. If no outage is reported, disable your VPN and try a different network, such as mobile data. This sequence resolves the issue in nearly all cases.