403 Forbidden – What is It and How to Fix it

If you are facing a 403 forbidden error, then you can’t open the page that shows this error. Because you have no permission to visit that webpage. Simply, a 403 forbidden error gives you a warning that you have no permission to access the webpage that you are trying to access. Now let us know what is 403 forbidden error and reasons for the cause of the error and also how to fix it in different ways.

Contents

• 1 What is a 403 Forbidden Error?
• 2 Causes of 403 Forbidden Error
• 3 How to Fix 403 Forbidden Error
  • 3.1 Method 1: By checking .htaccess File
  • 3.2 Method 2: By Resetting File and Directory Permissions
  • 3.3 Method 3: By Disabling WordPress Plugins
• 4 Conclusion

What is a 403 Forbidden Error?

The 403 forbidden error occurred while the site that you want to open is rejected your request to access the page. Simply, it is known as a 403 error. Because the HTTP status code of the webserver used to notify this error.

The 403 Forbidden error occurs may be due to invalid permissions that the webserver set up improperly to access. Based on their own customize designs, this error appears in different names. Look at below to know some examples of 403 error names:

• Error 403 – Forbidden
• HTTP Error 403 – Forbidden
• HTTP Error 403.14 – Forbidden
• Forbidden: You don’t any permission to access this server

Sometimes it may be a temporary error but sometimes isn’t it. But you can fix it in a short period.

Causes of 403 Forbidden Error

Before fixing the 403 Forbidden Error, you have to get some information about the reasons that cause the error.

The 403 Forbidden error denotes that your browser files had invalid or bad permissions to access the webpage that you are browsing. If the browser has no correct index page to load. So, simply remember that this occurs due to:

• Invalid .htaccess file settings.
• Invalid folder or file permissions.

How to Fix 403 Forbidden Error

Now we know the various reasons for the cause of the 403 Forbidden Error. So, we have to fix it. We have various methods to fix it. Now the methods that I’m going to tell you mainly for WordPress, you can apply to any other websites. Let us know some methods to fix the error 403 Forbidden in a simple process:

Method 1: By checking .htaccess File

Most WordPress users may not know about the files of .htaccess. There is a reason for it, because these .htaccess files are hidden in the project directory. If you are cPanel on your WordPress site, then you can check the .htaccess files by the control panel. Just follow the given instructions to check the .htaccess files:

Step 1: Navigate to File Manager from the Control Panel of the WordPress.

Step 2: Search the .htaccess file in public_html directory.

Step 3: if you are unable to find the .htaccess file, just click on the settings and enable the option “Show Hidden Files”.

Step 4: After identifying the .htaccess file, you need to download a .htaccess to your system to back up it.

Step 5: After back up, delete it.

Step 6: Now, check your site.

Step 7: If you can access any site, it means that the reason for the cause of 403 Forbidden Error is that the file of .htaccess was corrupted.

Step 8: if you want to save the data of a new back up .htaccess file, login into your WordPress site.

Step 9: Go to the dashboard, and select the settings.

Step 10: In settings, go to Permalinks.

Step 11: Without making any changes to it, click on the option Save Changes at the bottom.

Step 12: It will create a new .htaccess file to your WordPress site.

NOTE: if your website doesn’t have any .htaccess files or deleted them on your WordPress site you need to create a .htaccess file by yourself.

Method 2: By Resetting File and Directory Permissions

Invalid permissions of folders or files may be one of the reasons to cause the 403 Forbidden Error. Generally, the files that are created come with default permissions. A FileZilla FTP client provides you to edit the folder and file permissions. So, you can change the permissions, just follow the given below procedure to make changes in file or folder permissions:

Step 1: Login into your WordPress site through the FTP client.

Step 2: Go to the root directory of your account of the site.

Step 3: Select the main folder, which contains all the files that belongs to your WordPress site.

Step 4: Then right-click on it.

Step 5: Choose the “File Attributes” file.

Step 6: Select the option “Apply to directories only”.

Step 7: Enter permission number 755 in the value box.

Step 8: Click on OK.

Once folder permissions are changed, repeat the above procedure from Step 3. But at Step 6, select the option “Apply to files only”. And then, enter the permission number 644 in the value box and click on OK.

After all, changes are done, access your WordPress site.

Method 3: By Disabling WordPress Plugins

If WordPress contains any faulty plugins, it can lead to a 403 Forbidden Error. The best thing to avoid it is to disable the WordPress site plugins. So, follow the given below steps to disable the plugins of WordPress:

Step 1: Login into your WordPress site through FTP.

Step 2: Search the public_html folder.

Step 3: Navigate the wp-content folder in it.

Step 4: Now select the Plugins folder.

Step 5: Rename the plugins folder to any different name.

Step 6: Disable all plugins.

After disabling all plugins, just browse your WordPress site. If everything is fine while browsing, then your issue with 403 Forbidden Error is solved.

After your website is accessible in good condition, then you can easily find the corrupted plugin. Then you have to update it or delete it and install it again.

NOTE: if you migrated from one host to another browsing host without changing your server name and domain, it can cause the 403 Forbidden Error. So, you have to change the server name and domain after you migrated from one host to another host to avoid the Error.

Conclusion

I hope the above methods can certainly help you while fixing the 403 Forbidden Error. This error may irritate you while fixing, but be patient and follow the Step by Step clearly to solve the error.