What are the causes of error 403?
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2025 7:09 am
Even if the HTTP status code sent by the page is correct, the server may prohibit access to a URL because it considers that the information sent is not compatible with maintaining its communication flow.
This "communication failure" can be useful for diagnosing site configuration problems: in short, the server understands your request, but it doesn't work because it doesn't have the right permissions . This is the most common reason for the 403 error.
It's also possible that you've incorrectly configured protection for the directory or the list of files contained in that folder, that a .htaccess file is corrupted, or that a plugin on the site is running with an error.
How to resolve error 403 in WordPress?
Before pointing out some methods to fix error 403, make sure your backup is up to date.
If you haven't set up a backup solution for your WordPress site, do so immediately – this can save you a lot of headaches, especially with website crash errors .
Now, follow the steps below.
1. Check your file permissions
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the 403 error is a consequence of the server rejecting a request due to the lack of proper permissions . To check if the permissions are correct, you need to use an FTP manager, in your host's management panel.
In the WordPress installation folder there is a directory called public_html. Double click it:
In each file there will be a number, as shown in the figure:
This value indicates which interactions are enabled for which user group. For example, all WordPress folders should have a default setting of 755 by default.
If the column with this data does not appear:
Right-click the column title to activate it;
Right click on each file or folder and choose "File permissions".
This numeric value can be manually modified, paraguay mobile database which automatically updates the permission capacity:
The value 755 (or 744) is applied to folders and allows all users to read and execute files in that location. It also limits permission to make changes to the owner.
In order for any user to be able to insert and edit the files, the code must be 777— not indicated for security reasons .
Individual files are classified with code 644 (or 640), which has the same specification as 755.
All folders must contain the value 755. You can set that file permission by checking the "apply to directories only" box, applicable only to directories. When you click OK, the FTP manager will reset the permissions for all subdirectories of that folder.
You need to repeat the process for the files, in this case the file permission will be 644 and the “apply to directories only” box must also be checked. If the error does not disappear, continue with the next solution.
This "communication failure" can be useful for diagnosing site configuration problems: in short, the server understands your request, but it doesn't work because it doesn't have the right permissions . This is the most common reason for the 403 error.
It's also possible that you've incorrectly configured protection for the directory or the list of files contained in that folder, that a .htaccess file is corrupted, or that a plugin on the site is running with an error.
How to resolve error 403 in WordPress?
Before pointing out some methods to fix error 403, make sure your backup is up to date.
If you haven't set up a backup solution for your WordPress site, do so immediately – this can save you a lot of headaches, especially with website crash errors .
Now, follow the steps below.
1. Check your file permissions
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the 403 error is a consequence of the server rejecting a request due to the lack of proper permissions . To check if the permissions are correct, you need to use an FTP manager, in your host's management panel.
In the WordPress installation folder there is a directory called public_html. Double click it:
In each file there will be a number, as shown in the figure:
This value indicates which interactions are enabled for which user group. For example, all WordPress folders should have a default setting of 755 by default.
If the column with this data does not appear:
Right-click the column title to activate it;
Right click on each file or folder and choose "File permissions".
This numeric value can be manually modified, paraguay mobile database which automatically updates the permission capacity:
The value 755 (or 744) is applied to folders and allows all users to read and execute files in that location. It also limits permission to make changes to the owner.
In order for any user to be able to insert and edit the files, the code must be 777— not indicated for security reasons .
Individual files are classified with code 644 (or 640), which has the same specification as 755.
All folders must contain the value 755. You can set that file permission by checking the "apply to directories only" box, applicable only to directories. When you click OK, the FTP manager will reset the permissions for all subdirectories of that folder.
You need to repeat the process for the files, in this case the file permission will be 644 and the “apply to directories only” box must also be checked. If the error does not disappear, continue with the next solution.