403 Forbidden Error - How to Fix

A 403 Forbidden error is an HTTP status code indicating that the server understood your request but is refusing to fulfill it. Unlike a 404 (Not Found) error, the resource exists — you simply don't have permission to access it.

You may see this displayed as:

• 403 Forbidden
• HTTP Error 403 - Forbidden
• Access Denied
• You don't have permission to access this resource

Common Causes:

1. Insufficient file or folder permissions on the server
2. A missing or misconfigured index file (e.g., index.html / index.php)
3. A corrupted or overly restrictive .htaccess file
4. Your IP address has been blocked by the server or firewall
5. Hotlink protection blocking direct resource access
6. Authentication required but credentials were not provided or are invalid
7. A CDN or proxy service (e.g., Cloudflare) blocking the request

How to Fix if you are the Website Owner:

  1. Check file and directory permissions
     Files should typically be set to 644 and directories to 755. Incorrect permissions (e.g., 777 or 000) are a frequent cause.

  2. Inspect your .htaccess file
     A misconfigured rule can block access. Temporarily rename the file (e.g., .htaccess_backup) to test whether it is the source of the error. Restore or correct it once confirmed.

  3. Verify an index file exists
     If directory listing is disabled and no index file is present, the server will return a 403. Ensure index.html or index.php exists in the root or relevant subdirectory.

  4. Review IP block lists and firewall rules
     Check your server firewall, security plugin (e.g., Wordfence, Fail2Ban), or hosting control panel for inadvertently blocked IP ranges.

  5. Check your CDN settings
     If using Cloudflare or a similar CDN, review security rules, WAF settings, and IP access rules that may be blocking legitimate traffic.

  6. Review ownership of files
     Files owned by the wrong user can trigger 403s even with correct permissions.