How to fix “503 Resource Limit Reached” Print

Overview

The 503 “Resource Limit Reached” error happens when your hosting account hits CloudLinux limits such as CPU, RAM, or I/O. This guide helps you identify the cause and fix the issue.

Step 1 — Check resource usage

1. Log in to DirectAdmin
2. Open Resource Usage
3. Check which limit was reached:
   • CPU — slow plugins, bots, traffic spikes
   • Memory (RAM) — heavy WordPress themes/plugins
   • I/O — backups, imports, file operations
   • Entry Processes — too many simultaneous visits

Step 2 — Fix high CPU usage

• Enable LiteSpeed Cache
• Disable heavy plugins (Elementor addons, sliders, statistics)
• Block bots using Cloudflare Firewall
• Update your CMS and plugins

Step 3 — Fix high memory usage

• Remove plugins with memory leaks
• Limit WooCommerce addons
• Increase PHP memory_limit in DirectAdmin

Step 4 — Fix I/O overload

• Avoid unzipping large files during peak hours
• Stop automatic backups from running too often
• Use SSH for large imports

Step 5 — When to upgrade

If resource spikes happen daily, upgrading your hosting plan will dramatically improve performance.

Tip

Enable Cloudflare CDN to instantly reduce load by 30–70%.