What Does 403 Forbidden Mean and How to Fix It?

If you are also getting the HTTP 403 Forbidden error on your webpage, you can take the help of the solutions offered in this guide to bring your web page or website back to life and normal state just like before.

The 403 error can appear on your web page at any time. This error is quite common and may appear on your page repeatedly unless you do something about it. Before proceeding with the troubleshooting guide, let’s understand the issue for a bit. So, what does 403 Forbidden mean?

The 403 Forbidden error is a standardized HTTP status code that indicates that a web server has comprehended a user’s request but has refused to provide access to the resource that was in question. It is usual for this error to occur when the user does not possess the appropriate authorization or permissions to see the material that has been requested.

By ensuring that only authorized persons are able to access sensitive information and resources on websites, this security feature serves to secure such resources and information.

A typical problem that website proprietors may have is the 403 Forbidden error. When a web server, in response to a request for access to a resource, does not provide access to the resource. This may be the result of a number of factors.

Despite the fact that the 403 Forbidden error might be quite aggravating, it is often not too difficult to resolve. Throughout this tutorial, we will walk you through the 403 problem, its causes, and the several solutions that are available to fix it. Let’s have a look at them.

Solutions to Fix the Forbidden HTTP Error 403

In the coming sections of this tutorial, we will have a look at a couple of easy solutions to fix the 403 Forbidden error. You should follow and execute these solutions as described to get rid of the error with ease. So, without further ado, let’s proceed to the solutions right away.

Fix 1: Disable the Additional Plugins on WordPress

If the preceding techniques are unsuccessful, you should investigate if the 403 Forbidden error is being caused by a WordPress plugin that is either incompatible or troublesome. Customers of Hostinger have the ability to deactivate their WordPress plugins directly from the hPanel.

You may access the Installed Plugins area by going to WordPress → Security and scrolling down to it. If you want to deactivate each plugin separately, you will need to click on the toggle. However, you will be required to utilize a file manager or an FTP client if you would prefer to deactivate the plugins manually than utilize a plugin management. Follow these steps to do this using the hPanel file manager:

  • To access the wp-content folder, go to the public_html directory.
  • Discover the folder that contains plugins, and then change it to disabled-plugins. Because of this, the web server will briefly be unable to recognize the folder, which will result in the deactivation of all plugins simultaneously.

disabled plugins

  • Hostinger File Manager draws attention to the directory containing deactivated plugins.
  • Now, make an attempt to visit your website. The removal of the HTTP error indicates that the problem was most likely caused by a plugin that was troublesome.
  • You may re-enable all of the plugins by changing the name of the folder back to plugins.
  • From your WordPress dashboard, go to the Plugins section and then choose Installed Plugins. Then, deactivate each plugin individually. When you deactivate a plugin, you should check to see whether the problem is fixable. This step will assist in determining which plugin is malfunctioning.

Installed Plugins

  • To resolve the problem, either update the plugin or delete it after it has been found.

This is a simple fix that can work to fix the HTTP Error 403. Follow the next fix if this one fails.

Also know: How to Solve Error Code Thread Stuck in Device Driver


Fix 2: Delete any Malicious Software

Here’s another reason that may lead to the 403 Forbidden error. A malicious piece of software might potentially insert undesirable code into the.htaccess file of your WordPress website if it is infected with malware. A modification in the rules may result in an error.

One of the most important functions of the.htaccess file, which is a web server configuration file, is to modify the Apache web server settings. Your website’s public_html directory, which is located in the root directory of your website, has a collection of rules that dictate how your website should act in certain circumstances. These rules include controlling who may access which resources or pages.

Users of Hostinger have the ability to use our built-in scanner in order to eliminate malware from WordPress. Because the automated solution can check your websites for malware at no cost, you won’t have to deal with the expense of purchasing integrations from third-party companies. Here’s how you can fix the 403 Error Code:

  • Navigate to the Security section of hPanel and choose Malware Scanner.
  • This section will reveal the name of your hosting plan as well as the time that has passed since the previous scan if there is no instance of malware discovered.
  • Otherwise, the malware scanner will provide a summary of the harmful files that have been found during the previous thirty days and the steps that have been taken to remediate them.

This is a bit technical but will allow you to fix the HTTP Error 403. However, if the error still appears, follow the next fix.


Fix 3: Disable the Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Here’s an easy solution to fix the 403 Forbidden error with ease. When a website blocks access from VPN servers owing to security or geographical constraints, a virtual private network (VPN) might cause an error message to appear on the website.

Disconnect your virtual private network (VPN) for a short period of time and then attempt to visit the website again to see if the 403 Error Codes error appears. In the event that this fixes the issue code, you might think about moving to a new VPN server or getting in touch with your VR service provider.


Fix 4: Delete the Cache and Cookies from Your Browser

Here’s the last solution to fix the 403 Forbidden error. On subsequent visits, the cache in the browser will speed up the loading of the page. However, if the URL to the web page is altered, it may result in a discrepancy with the version that has been cached, which will cause the error to be triggered. One of the most frequent causes of the issue is browser cookies, which are little files that remember your preferences and detailed information.

Let’s understand why the cache may cause the HTTP Error 403. Cache is mostly concerned with enhancing the speed at which websites load, while cookies are primarily concerned with customizing your surfing experience. This is the reason why a prohibited page error often happens on a website that regularly receives logged-in users.

Take into consideration that using this strategy will compel the browser to re-request site data, which will need you to sign in once more on the majority of websites. It is possible to erase the cache and cookies on Google Chrome by pressing the combination of the Ctrl+Shift+Delete button. After pressing them, you should select the time and type of data you want to erase and Clear the Data.

Also know: How to Solve the WordPress White Screen of Death (Working Methods)


403 Error Code: Fixed

If you attempt to fix the issue and recover access to the website by following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to do so with ease. In the event that you have attempted all of the methods to fix the 403 Forbidden error outlined above and are still encountering the issue, we recommend that you get in touch with your web hosting provider for help.

The 403 Error Code indicates that your server is operational; nevertheless, for whatever reason, you are no longer authorized to see all or a portion of your website. There can be multiple other reasons why this issue is appearing on the device repeatedly. However, we have targeted the most common ones above.

In addition to that, the HTTP Error 403 might also be caused by problems with certain plugins. It’s also possible that anything is wrong with the configuration of your content delivery network (CDN) or your hotlink protection. In a short amount of time, you should be able to restore functionality to your website if you follow the troubleshooting methods outlined in this informational guide on 403 Forbidden.

Do let us know in the comments section below which one of these solutions worked in your case. Also, follow our social media pages and subscribe to our newsletter for daily updates.

 

Dev Sharma
Being a software engineering graduate, Dev has immense knowledge of technology. Having found a way to channel his interests through writing, he likes to do extensive research and curate a masterpiece that’s useful for the audience and also and likes to take up the works of technology in free time. His major interests include going riding and sipping at the end of a cocktail.

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