403 Forbidden Error: Meaning, Reasons & Solutions

Working with most websites, you’ll often run into a 403 forbidden error. This HTTP status code indicates that access to the requested resource in the root directory is denied, even though the resource itself is available. For a user, it means the page exists but cannot be opened. For administrators and engineers, it typically points to incorrect permissions, a misconfigured web server, or security rules blocking the request.

This article outlines the main variants of HTTP 403, explains common causes, and provides practical remediation steps for both end users and site owners.

403 Forbidden Error Meaning

What the 403 Forbidden error indicates is that the server received and understood the request but refuses to grant entry to the resource. Unlike 404 Not Found, which means the page doesn’t exist, 403 confirms that the site exists and the server is functioning normally, but availability of the content is restricted.

The issue can originate on either the client or server side. The message itself may vary in wording and format.

Below are common 403 variants:

Main Causes of the Error

The table above illustrates the reasons for 403 forbidden errors. Since there are many possible factors, it is practical to divide them into several categories for further analysis.

Server Restrictions

• Incorrect permission settings. Web resource files such as index.php and index.html are stored in the root directory on the hosting server. Each time a browser sends a request, the hosting system retrieves these files and delivers them to the user. If the permissions are set incorrectly, the backend can “see” the file but is unable to read it.
• Improper configuration of the .htaccess file. This file defines rules for handling requests to the site’s content. Errors in its configuration (for example, a complete block for all users or IP-based filtering) can entirely prevent entry to the page.
• Missing index.html. When a user opens a site without specifying a particular page (for example, example.com/), the web host checks the target directory for the standard file. If it’s missing, the system doesn’t know what content to deliver.
• Incorrect DNS settings or domain A-record. A domain name (for example, example.com) must be linked to the hosting provider’s IP address. If the request parameters point to the wrong location, the system receiving the request returns a 403 Forbidden error.
• Server configuration (Apache, Nginx). A system administrator may configure web environment rules that limit reachability of certain resources or their content.
• Firewall settings. Network firewalls or intrusion prevention systems may block unauthorized or suspicious requests, such as attempts to connect to restricted areas.

Issues on the Website Side

• IP or regional blocking. The server analyzes the user’s IP address and may restrict access if it belongs to a blocked range (for example, a specific country, region, or subnet). Such filters can be applied manually by an administrator or automatically through security systems.
• Authorization requirements. Many services protect parts of their content using account-based authentication. If a client is not logged in or their session has expired, the server will return a 403 response code and deny permission to the requested resource. The same result occurs if the user does not have sufficient privileges.
• Request rate limiting. Modern websites monitor the number of requests from a single client (based on IP or account). If the threshold is exceeded, security systems or protection services – such as AWS WAF or Cloudflare – may treat the activity as a potential attack or scripted behavior. In such cases, bypassing Cloudflare may be required.

Browser-Side Errors

• Outdated cache and cookies. Browsers store local copies of pages and session data. If this data is inconsistent with current server settings, the server may reject the request.
• VPNs and proxies. Some systems restrict connections from IP addresses associated with public or private proxy services as part of their security policies.

How to Resolve 403 Forbidden Error?

After analyzing the main factors that cause failures with a 403 status code, the next step is to review methods of resolving it. This section provides practical recommendations for addressing a 403 forbidden error, taking into account the differences between user actions and administrator actions.

Recommendations for Users On How to Fix 403 Forbidden Error

• Clear the browser cache and cookies.
• Verify that the entered URL is correct.
• Open the site in incognito mode. In most browsers, this mode can be launched using the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+N or the “New incognito window” option. If the page loads correctly in this mode, the issue is likely related to cached data, settings, or installed extensions.
• Disable proxies and VPNs if they are in use.
• Temporarily turn off antivirus software.
• Check parental control settings, which may restrict entry to certain platforms.
• Make sure you are logged in to the website if access to specific sections requires authentication.

Fixing Solutions for 403 Forbidden Error for Website Owners

The ways to resolve it for website owners differ from user actions, since they require specific permissions.

Checking Access Permissions

There are three types of permissions:

• write;
• execute;
• read.

Permissions are assigned to three categories of users: owner, group, and others. Each category can be given full, partial, or no access rights.

Recommended values:

• 644 – for files;
• 755 – for directories.

It is necessary to ensure that these values are correctly set for all directories on the hosting server. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Connect to the hosting server via SSH.
2. Run the command: chmod path_to_file_or_directory.
3. Verify or update the specified parameters.

Important: Before executing the command, navigate to the parent directory so that the command applies to the correct target directory.

Examples of changing permissions:

Checking File Ownership

Even if access permissions are configured correctly, errors may occur when files belong to one user while the web service runs under another. In such cases, the system treats the files as belonging to “others,” and the existing access rights may not be sufficient.

To fix 403 forbidden error this way, assign ownership to the user under which the web process is running. The following command is used for this purpose:

chown user:group /path/to/file

For recursive ownership changes of a directory and its contents, use the -R option:

chown -R www-root:www-root /var/www/html

Checking the .htaccess File

The .htaccess file is an Apache configuration file executed on each request to a web resource. It allows setting local rules, such as configuring redirects, adjusting resource limits (for example, maximum upload size), restricting access to site sections by IP or password, and more. The file applies to the directory where it resides and also to all nested subdirectories.

By default, .htaccess is located in the root directory of the site (for example, /public_html or /var/www/html). Since its name begins with a dot, it is treated as a hidden file. File manager settings must be adjusted to display hidden files.

It is important to check the file’s contents for unnecessary or conflicting rules. If needed, temporarily disable, rename, or remove them to confirm whether they are causing the issue.

Configuring the Correct Index Page on the Server

An index file is the main entry point of a webpage, and its name is defined in the web environment’s configuration. If the file is missing or incorrectly specified, the system may attempt to display a directory listing. Since directory listing is typically restricted in hosting settings, this results in a blocked connection.

To resolve this, ensure that the correct index file name is defined in the configuration. For example, if only index.html is listed but the actual file is index.php, the directive must be updated accordingly.

In Apache, the index file name is set using the DirectoryIndex directive. Configuration files are located in:

• Main file: /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf or /etc/apache2/apache.conf
• Additional files: /etc/httpd/conf/, /etc/apache2/conf.d/, /etc/apache2/sites-available/, /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/

In Nginx, the index is specified using the index directive. Configuration files are located in:

• Main file: /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
• Additional files: /etc/nginx/conf.d/, /etc/nginx/sites-available/, /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

Disabling Plugins

A plugin is third-party code added to a site. A 403 forbidden error may occur if one of the previously installed extensions fails or if there is a conflict between multiple plugins.

To check whether plugins are causing the issue, all plugins can be temporarily disabled. This can be done through the control panel or by renaming the plugin directory.

For example, in WordPress, open the wp-content/ folder and rename the plugins directory. If the error disappears, the problem lies in one of the plugins. After restoring the folder, disable the plugins one by one to identify the faulty extension.

Analyzing Server Logs

To identify the exact cause of a 403 Forbidden error, it is necessary to check the web server logs.

In Apache, log files are located at:

• /var/log/apache2/error.log or /var/log/httpd/error_log
• /var/log/apache2/access.log or /var/log/httpd/access_log

In Nginx, log files are located at:

• /var/log/nginx/error.log;
• /var/log/nginx/access.log.

The relevant entries can be found by filtering logs for the 403 response code.

Checking for Malware Scan

Sometimes a 403 forbidden error may be caused by malicious code that modifies entry permissions, configuration files, or adds hidden scripts.

Steps to check the site:

1. Scan hosting contents with a built-in antivirus (e.g., ImunifyAV, ClamAV).
2. Use online website scanning services (e.g., Sucuri SiteCheck, VirusTotal).
3. Compare site files against a backup copy or a “clean” version of the CMS.
4. Inspect the database for unknown users or suspicious records.

If the issue cannot be resolved using these methods, it is recommended to contact the hosting provider’s technical support for further assistance.

Conclusion

A 403 forbidden error is one of the most common issues when working with web resources. It indicates that connection to the requested site is restricted due to incorrect file permissions, misconfigured web server settings, or limitations imposed by the administrator.

Understanding the root cause of the error helps to quickly identify and resolve it. Users are advised to begin with basic steps: clear the browser cache, test the site in a different browser, temporarily disable VPNs and proxies. Website owners should verify that correct permissions are set for files and directories, review .htaccess rules, check installed plugins, and validate DNS parameters.

FAQ

Can a 403 Error Be Temporary Due to Server Load or File Permissions?

Yes. In some cases, it may occur during a DDoS attack or sudden spikes in server load.

Can a 403 Error Be Related to HTTPS, SSL, or htaccess File Errors?

Yes. The issue may occur when accessing a resource via HTTP if the site is configured to work only over HTTPS, or if the SSL/TLS certificate is misconfigured.

Can a 403 Error with Insufficient Permissions Affect Only the Index Page or Specific URLs?

Yes. If access permissions or .htaccess rules are incorrect, the 403 Forbidden status may affect only specific pages.