How to Fix a WordPress 403 Error

If you encounter a WordPress 403 error on your website, it could mean that you are not authorized to view the page, resource, or file you requested. Here are some examples of 403 errors:

• Error 403
• Error 403 – Forbidden
• Forbidden: You do not have permission to access this resource
• 403 Forbidden
• HTTP Error 403 – Forbidden
• HTTP 403

Important: Always back up your website before making any changes.

In this article, we will discuss:

• Quick Fixes
• Common Issues
• Other Triggers
• Review

Quick Fixes

Try these quick fixes to resolve a WordPress 403 error:

1. Simply restart your browser by closing the current window and opening a new one.
2. Another solution is to clear your cache or double-check the URL to ensure you have entered the correct website address.
3. If these quick fixes don't work, you can try using another device or opening your website in another browser. If this works, try clearing the cache of the device you previously used.
4. Another option is to use private browsing mode or incognito, which does not retain cache and cookies and displays a renewed website page version.

In case the error persists, follow the troubleshooting steps in Common Issues.

Common Issues

There are some common underlying issues that might be causing it a 403 Forbidden error. Here are a couple of solutions to try out:

Fixing Incorrect File Permissions

One possible issue could be incorrect file permissions. Permissions control who can view or access the files or folders on your site. To fix this, you'll want to update your file permissions. Check out this article to correct file permissions in WordPress: How Do I Change File Permissions Using an FTP Client? 

Fixing Issues with the .htaccess File

Another issue could be with your .htaccess file. To fix an htaccess 403 error in WordPress, you'll want to connect to your FTP application using your FTP login credentials. Then, follow the steps below:

1. Locate the folder containing your WordPress website
2. Find the existing .htaccess file.
3. Right-click on the .htaccess file and select Rename.
   
    
4. Rename your .htaccess file to break the connection.
5. Go back to your website and refresh it, or check it using private browsing mode.

If none of the troubleshooting steps above work for you, note that there are other triggers that may cause a 403 error. Please follow the troubleshooting steps in the Other Triggers section of this article.

Other Triggers

If you are experiencing a 403 error on your website, there may be other triggers causing this issue other than the common ones.

1. Issue with Index Page. Issues with your index file can cause a WordPress 403 error. To fix the issue, follow the troubleshooting steps below:
   1. Connect to the FTP application of your choice using your login credentials.
   2. Look for the Remote site section and search for the folder that has your WordPress website.
   3. Check your directory to see if your index file is spelled as index.php (all lowercase).
      • If it is misspelled, rename it to index.php.
      • If you have an index.html file, delete it, as this will break your WordPress website. Right-click on the file, then click Delete.
      • If you want to ensure that the WordPress installation is reading your index.php file, you can use the code below and add it on top of your .htaccess file. Right-click on your index.php file, then click View/Edit.
        
        DirectoryIndex index.php
        
        Open your website to see if the 403 error has been resolved.
         
2. Issue with Plugins. A WordPress 403 error may be due to a plugin. WordPress plugins that are not configured correctly or are incompatible with other plugins can cause a 403 Forbidden error. To fix this, please follow these steps:
   1. Connect to your FTP application using your login credentials.
   2. Look for the Remote site section and locate the folder that contains your WordPress website.
   3. Find the wp-content folder, then search for the plugins folder.
      
       
   4. Right-click on the folder of the plugin you want to disable, then click Rename.
      
       
   5. Rename the selected folder to deactivate the plugin.
   6. Go back to your website and refresh it to see if the error is still there. Make sure to check your website in private browsing mode as well.
   7. Repeat the steps above for each plugin. Check your website for each plugin you rename until your website loads correctly. Note that the last plugin you rename is the one causing the error.
   8. Once you have identified the plugin causing the error, rename all your plugin folders to their original names except for the folder causing the error.
       
      Important: Remember not to go to the plugins page within your WordPress dashboard while your plugins are renamed. Doing this will disable all renamed plugins in your database, and you will have to activate them again, even if you rename them back to their original name.

3. Incorrect IP Address. The 403 error could be because your domain points to the wrong IP address. To fix this, double-check if your domain is pointing to the correct IP address.
   • You can visit the article How to Manage DNS and Advanced DNS Records for instructions on how to check or update your IP address or A record.
   • Additionally, you should check out the DNS Lookup tool to confirm the correct IP address for your domain. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any additional questions.
      
4. Malware Infection. A 403 error could be related to a malware infection. Malicious software can inject unwanted code into your .htaccess file. To prevent this, you can use security plugins with WordPress like Wordfence.
   • For instructions on uploading WordPress plugins, please follow the steps in How Do I Manage WordPress Plugins?
   • You can also purchase SiteLock as an add-on security product that can help monitor, detect, and remove malware.
      
5. Cache or Website History. Another reason for 403 errors could be your browser's cache. Clearing your cache can solve the problem, but keep in mind that it might take your website longer to load the next time you visit, as it will need to retrieve all your site's files again. Check out this How Do I Clear My Cache? article for a quick guide on how to clear your cache and cookies.

Review

A WordPress 403 error could mean you are unauthorized to access a requested page, resource, or file. A 403 error can show in different forms. Before addressing this issue, it is important that you back up your website. Quick fixes include:

• Restarting your browser.
• Clearing the cache.
• Checking the URL.
• Using a different device or browser.
• Trying private browsing mode.

If these do not fix the issue, you can update your file permissions or fix problems with the .htaccess file. Other triggers cause this error, which you can troubleshoot using the steps in this guide.