When webmasters know what a web server is and how it works, they fully understand that the 403 forbidden error is one of the most frequent problems. However, in case you have not been able to find a solution, we recommend reading this article with which you will learn what is the 403 forbidden error and how to fix it? – Fast and easy
What is the 403 forbidden error?
The 403 forbidden or “Forbidden” error is a status code that occurs when a web server refuses to allow the action requested by a client of a service or a website. Therefore, it prohibits the visitor from accessing a page that he tries to open from the browser.
Causes of the 403 forbidden error
The 4003 forbidden error occurs when the client does not have permission to access a web address because it is prohibited. Causes may include a problem with browser cookies, misspelling of the URL, or a crash caused by mod_security that has been activated on the PC to prevent attacks on the system.
What is 403 forbidden error and how to fix it? – Fast and easy
If you are trying to access a web page and the 403 forbidden error is shown , it is convenient that you know that this error does not come from a failure in the server but rather that the problem has been caused by the request denied to the client. For this reason, we recommend that you follow the steps mentioned below.
Check if the web page contains a restricted URL
The website you want to access may contain a restricted URL. This usually happens when the client tries to enter a directory without an index or prohibited by the administrator.
Refresh the page in the web browser
A solution to the 403 forbidden error can be a simple web browser update. To do this, press the “F5” key or click the “Refresh” button found in the browser’s address bar. If the problem is not solved, take the next step.
Check the boot file
In case you are an administrator of a website, it is advisable that you make sure that you have loaded the “index” file in the home dir. To do this, enter the control panel and locate the file manager or use FTP if you have access to this resource. If you still do not know what an FTP server is and what it is for, we invite you to investigate this topic so that you can take advantage of this resource.
The .htaccess file
.htaccess is a server configuration file that allows you to alter Apache Web Server settings. Generally, this file is hidden. However, with the “Hostinger” file manager, you will find .htaccess by default. Sometimes the 403 error is caused by a corrupted .htaccess file and therefore needs to be verified.
Use CPanel to verify the .htaccess file
If you use a hosting with cPanel, you can access the hosting control panel through “File Manager”. Go to cPanel and open the file manager. Next, go to the public_html folder and locate the .htaccess file. If you can’t, go to “Settings” and enable “Show hidden files.”
Once you get the .htaccess file, download it for a backup. Then delete .htaccess and try to access your website. If the error is corrected it means that this file was damaged.
Generate a new .htaccess file
Enter the panel of the platform you use to manage your content and select “Settings”. There, go to “Permanent Links”. Then, press the “Save changes” button. This process will create a new .htaccess file on your web page. If the 403 forbidden error still occurs, continue to the next step.
Reset file and folder permissions
The 403 forbidden error may be caused by wrong permissions for your folders and files. To correct this problem you must go to the control panel and select the “Repair files” section of the “Hosting” tool. Also, you can choose to deactivate or delete the website from CPanel in case you prefer to carry out this management.