Have you ever tried to access your website, only to see a message saying “Forbidden” or that you’re not authorized to view a specific part? If yes, you’ve come across the 403 Forbidden error.
The 403 Forbidden error appears when you access an empty website directory or a page with permission issues. This is often set up to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files.
If you or your website visitors come across this error, it’s important to address it to avoid losing valuable traffic. Since there can be different reasons for this error, there are various ways to fix it.
In this blog, we’ll explain what the 403 forbidden error means, look into why it might happen, and share nine effective ways to solve the problem.
What Causes the 403 Forbidden Error?
HTTP 403 forbidden errors are typically triggered by a client-side setup issue, so you should be able to fix it independently. One of the most common reasons for a 403 forbidden error is the settings for a specific folder or file. These determine which users can read, write, or execute that folder or file.
In this case, the site owner may have:
- Changed the settings and denied you from accessing the relevant resources.
- Failed to put the proper permissions in place.
Another common cause is the htaccess file settings, which may simply be wrong or (less simply) corrupt. This could occur after a file has been changed. Fortunately, you can fix this problem in an easy way — just create a new server configuration file.
Other possible causes of a 403 forbidden error include:
- Incorrect IP address: A domain name directs to an incorrect or outdated IP address hosting a site that prevents you from gaining access.
- Issues with a WordPress plugin: WordPress plugins that are incompatible with other plugins or set up incorrectly.
- New link to page: A site owner updates a page’s link, which differs from the version that has been cached.
- Malware: Malware infections can lead a .htaccess file to be in a state of ongoing corruption, so you would need to get rid of the infection before completing a file restoration.
- No index page: Your site’s homepage isn’t named ‘index.php’ or ‘index.html’.
Any of these causes may be responsible for your site’s 403 forbidden error.
403 Forbidden Error Impact on SEO
Search Engine Crawling
When search engine bots encounter a 403 error while crawling a site, it disrupts the indexing process. This means that affected pages may not be included in search results.
Indexing
Even if a page is already indexed, ongoing 403 errors can lead to de-indexing. This means the page will no longer appear in search results, even if it was previously ranking well.
Ranking
If important pages on your website consistently return 403 errors, search engines may interpret this as a sign of poor quality or unreliable content. This can negatively impact your site’s overall ranking.
Effect on User Experience
Frustration and Bounce Rates
Encountering a 403 error can be frustrating for users. It disrupts their browsing experience and may lead to higher bounce rates as visitors quickly leave the site in frustration.
Trust and Credibility
Repeated 403 errors can erode trust in your website. Users may begin to question the reliability and security of your site, which can have long-lasting effects on your brand’s credibility.
User Engagement
403 errors can hinder user engagement. If visitors can’t access the content they’re looking for, they’re less likely to spend time on your site or take desired actions, such as making a purchase or filling out a form.
How to Fix 403 Errors
1. Set the correct file permissions.
If you’ve configured your web server, you’ll want to add the server to the www-data group, and set ownership of /var/www to the www-data user and www-data group.
Then, make sure your directories are set to 755, your files are set to 644, and your dynamic content is set to 700. This determines which user types (owner, group, everyone) can read, write, and execute.
2. Make sure you have an index page.
Your website’s home page must be called index.html or index.php – if it’s not, you should rename the homepage to include one of those URL names.
Alternatively, you can upload an index page to your httpdocs directory and then set up a redirect on the index page to your real homepage.
3. Upload your website content to the correct directory on your server.
You might see a 403 forbidden message if you haven’t correctly uploaded your content to the directory on your server.
There are several different FTP clients you might’ve chosen to host your domain — let’s say you chose FileZilla, which is free and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
To publish your content online, you’ll need to put your files into the public/htdocs directory.
Note: If you’re using FileZilla, these instructions will vary if you use a different FTP client. Once you’ve dragged and dropped your files into the directory, you should search your website’s URL to double-check they now appear online.
If you’re in your FTP server and don’t see the httpdocs directory, you can create a file within the directory with this title, which could also solve the issue.
4. Deactivate and reactivate your plugins.
If you suspect one of your plugins is responsible for the 403 forbidden error, temporarily deactivate all of your plugins.
You may have noticed the error shortly after installing a plugin. If so, start with that one and work your way down from the most recent installation to the oldest.
Then, one by one, activate each plugin and refresh the page to determine which plugin is causing the error.
As you can see, 403 errors can typically be resolved in just a few easy steps. It’s just about knowing where to look.
Best Practices for Avoiding 403 Errors
Regular Security Audits
Conduct routine security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities that could lead to 403 errors. This proactive approach can help prevent issues before they arise.
Proper Access Controls
Implement strict access controls to ensure that users only have access to the areas of the site that are relevant to their role or permissions level.
Error Handling
Set up clear and user-friendly error messages for 403 errors. This can help users understand why they’re encountering the error and provide guidance on what to do next.
Conclusion
If you have run into 403 forbidden errors before, you’ll know just how annoying they can be, especially when they prevent you from accessing a website you depend on daily. They’re typically caused by file permission issues, though glitchy plugins and malware infections could be responsible too.
It’s not always easy to identify the reason for 403 errors, but the eight techniques explored in this guide should help you get your site running properly again.
However, there are plenty of HTTP error codes, and the 403 forbidden is just one of them. Website owners may face client- and server-side errors, including 404 and 504 gateway timeouts.
The more you know about these and other errors, the faster you will be able to fix them if they disrupt activity on your site.