If you’re getting a 500 Internal Server Error when trying to create, view, or interact with a GitHub pull request, that typically means something went wrong on GitHub’s servers — but there are a few things you can check or try on your end.
🔍 Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
✅ 1. Check GitHub’s Status
Start by verifying if GitHub is experiencing issues:
🔗 Visit: https://www.githubstatus.com
If you see incidents under Pull Requests, API, or Webhooks, that’s likely the cause. In that case, just wait for GitHub to resolve the issue.
🧹 2. Clear Cache / Try Private Browsing
A stale cache or browser extension could cause page rendering issues.
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Try opening the pull request in incognito/private mode.
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Or, clear browser cache and cookies, then refresh.
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Disable extensions like ad blockers or script blockers temporarily.
🔄 3. Retry the Action
Sometimes a 500 error is just a temporary glitch:
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Try reloading the page (
Ctrl + RorCmd + R). -
If you’re submitting a PR, try again with a new browser session.
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For large pull requests (e.g., >10k lines of code), GitHub may time out — consider breaking it up.
Also Read : EOBD/OBDII Error P0420
🔧 4. Use GitHub CLI as a Workaround
If the web interface fails, you can use the GitHub CLI to create or view PRs:
You can install the CLI here: https://cli.github.com
📁 5. Check for Large Files or Diffs
GitHub may throw 500 errors if:
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The PR has too many file changes or very large diffs.
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Binary files or auto-generated files are causing problems.
Consider:
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Adding such files to
.gitignore -
Using
git lfsfor large assets
📫 6. Contact GitHub Support
If the issue persists and you’ve ruled out all local causes, contact support:
Provide:
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Repo name and PR URL
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Exact time and steps to reproduce the error
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Screenshot or copy of the error message (if possible)
🧠 Extra Tip: Check Console & Network Logs
If you’re technical, open the browser DevTools (F12) and look at:
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The Network tab → See which request failed
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The Console tab → Look for JavaScript errors or warnings
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