The 200 error code is the one code that is not an error. HTTP 200 OK means the browser asked for something and the server delivered it. Every time a normal page opens, a 200 happened behind the scenes.
So why do people search for it? Sometimes an app shows "error code 200" in a pop up. Sometimes a page loads blank, but the testing tool says 200. And sometimes a different code that only looks similar, like a PC start-up code, is mistaken for it. This page helps you work out which case you are in and what to check next.
Common causes
1The page loaded but its script failed
How to tellBlank or half drawn page, tools show 200 for the main file
What fixes itReload, test in incognito, then inform the site owner
2Old saved copy served from cache
How to tellYou see yesterday's content while others see new
What fixes itHard reload or clear that site's cache
3An app shows the number as its own error
How to tellPop up says error 200 and something did not finish
What fixes itUpdate the app, sign in again, check the connection
4Soft error page returned with 200
How to tellPage says not found or error but the tool says OK
What fixes itSite owner should send a true 404 or 500 code instead
5Login or consent page returned instead of the file
How to tellPublic Wi-Fi or office network shows a sign in page
What fixes itComplete the network sign in, then retry
6A different kind of code, not HTTP
How to tellThe number has a dash, made of two number groups, or appears at computer start-up
What fixes itLook it up as a hardware or device code, not as a web code
How to fix it, step by step
Work out where you saw the number
Did it appear in a web tool, a phone app, or on a computer screen before Windows started? A web tool means HTTP. A start-up screen means a hardware check, a different topic altogether.
Reload with the cache bypassed
Press Ctrl + Shift + R on a computer browser, or close and reopen the tab on a phone. This asks for a fresh copy and settles most stale page problems.
Try a private window
If the page works in a private or incognito window, an extension or saved data in the normal window is the cause. Turn off extensions one by one.
Switch network
Open the page on mobile data. A shared Wi-Fi sometimes swaps the page for its own sign in screen that also arrives with a 200 status.
Update or reinstall the app
For an app that shows its own error 200, update it from the store, restart the phone, and sign in again. If it stays, clear the app's cache in the phone's app settings.
Look at the developer tools
Press F12, open Console and Network. Red lines in Console show a script error. A request with a 200 status but wrong content points to the site's own code.
Report it with details
Send the page address, the time, your device and a screenshot to the site or app support. That helps them find a fault that the status code hid.
200 error code meaning in simple words
The first digit tells the family. Codes starting with 2 mean success. A plain 200 says the request was received, understood and answered. What the answer contains is another matter: a server can send a 200 with a wrong or empty page, which is why a 200 does not prove that everything on screen is right.
A shopping page opens with no price list. The tool shows GET /products 200. The server sent the page, but the part that fills the prices failed after it arrived.
Error code with a dash, and other look-alike numbers
Numbers written with a dash, such as two groups of digits joined by a dash, are not web status codes. They are results from a computer's own start-up or hardware test, shown before the operating system loads. They point to a part such as the drive or memory, so treat them as a device problem. Write down the full code, run the built-in test again, and ask the maker's service centre if it repeats. For general PC trouble see laptop not working and Windows error codes.
What error code 200 means in an app
When an app prints error code 200 in a dialog, the developer is usually showing the raw status of a step that returned something unexpected. Update the app, check your connection and try again. If it still happens, the app's own support must correct it. Wider app checks are collected under apps and websites not working.
How 200 relates to other codes
| Code | Short meaning |
|---|---|
| 200 | OK, data returned |
| 201 | OK, a new item created |
| 204 | OK, nothing to return |
| 304 | Use the copy you already have |
| 404 | Not found |
Read 201 Created, 204 No Content and 404 Not Found. The full set is under HTTP status codes.
Frequently asked questions
What does the 200 error code mean?
It means OK. The server received the request and answered it successfully. It is not a fault in itself.
Why do I see error code 200 when something failed?
The page or app may have arrived fine but a later step failed. A script error, old cache or app bug can do this even with a 200 status.
What does error code 200 mean on a phone app?
The app is showing a raw status in a pop up. Update the app, check your connection and sign in again. Contact its support if it continues.
What is a dashed error code like the ones on a PC start-up screen?
It is usually a hardware style code from a computer's built-in test, not an HTTP code. Note the full number and ask the maker's service team about the part it names.
Does 200 OK mean the website is working fine?
It means the server replied. The page can still look broken if its scripts or files failed to load.