How to Fix 403 Forbidden Error on Google Chrome

Do you know that there are several ways to deal with the 403 forbidden error on Google Chrome? This error happens on the web browser when you try to visit a website but they have not been authorized to access. Sometimes you get this error even with authorization because the browser fails to transmit the authorization to the server.

Just like with 502 errors and 404 errors, website designers can customize how a 403 error looks. Thus, you might receive different looking 403 pages on different websites. Websites might also use slightly different names for this error.

For example, you might receive things like:

  • HTTP Error 403 – Forbidden
  • HTTP Error 403.14 – Forbidden
  • Error 403
  • 403 Forbidden
  • HTTP 403
  • Forbidden
  • Error 403 – Forbidden
  • Forbidden: You don’t have permission to access [directory] on this server

How to Fix 403 Forbidden HTTP Error?

Each browser can display the 403 status code differently. In most cases, you will get a fair response suggesting that you have been stopped from reaching the content.

Moreover, the method to solve this problem varies based on whether you are a basic user or a website’s creator. Here are some actions you can take to deal with this error.

For general users

The 403 error message will appear on the user’s screen and you will be able to configure it at browser or computer level.

1. Check the URL

Most web users enter a website through a bookmark, Google Search, or from an offline PDF file. When the creator of the website changes the URL, web users will no longer be able to access those content because of the outdated URL.

Even spelling mistakes while executing the URL in the bar can also be the reason. Be sure not to make any mistakes and have the right URL in the bar. This is a basic method to solve any 4xx errors. For example, if the URL is wrong, your browser will go to a false address. In most cases, the server denies your access and you will get the 403 error in response.

2. Check Permission for Desired Actions

It’s not likely to say when you access the right location on the web you will be granted all of its content. Most websites require a premium subscription for extended content. If you are not willing to pay, your authorization will be limited. Trying to access unlimited content sometimes makes you face the 403 forbidden error. Be sure to have the right to access the proper information on the web.

3. Clear Cookies

Cookies are used to detect user’s activities on the web. Although they are small parts of data, they bring many details like login data, session data, click tracking and affiliate link tracking.

Cookies give the web owners information about what you like and the machine you are using. They are also important because they will inform the server about your accessible content.

Missing or false cookies can prevent the server from recognizing authentication and cause the 403 forbidden error. You can read our article on Deleting cookies on Google Chrome and follow the instructions. Other browsers like Firefox and Edge use the same method. On Safari, enter “History” then choose “Clear History…”.

4. Clear Cache

The cache is a type of data which stores the content of your favourite websites. For example, if you use Facebook regularly, your browser will load the images, stylesheets from Facebook. The next time you use Facebook, the browser will perform faster.

However, tiny changes on the website can affect the cache of the browser. Invalid and out-of-date cache can lead to the 403 forbidden error. We can clear cache the same way we clear cookies. Select the option to clear cached content in the clear browsing history section. Reload the webpage to check if the error still occurs.

5. Logout and Login

Some users sign in to a website and remain logging in for a long time. Login sessions on most web pages are time limited so their login sessions will be invalid. They will not be accepted by the server due to inrecognisation. The 403 forbidden error also occurs in this situation.

Signing out and logging in may be the solution if you have logged in for a long time.

6. Location Blocking

Some servers do not allow the IP addresses of particular countries to enter the website. This happens most to IP addresses from China and Russia due to security. In this situation, the error message like this may appear to inform that your IP address has been blocked:

Ask the web provider to grant accessibility or use a VPN program to change your IP address.

If none of the methods above works, you may need to ask the web’s creator to support your surfing.

For Website Owners

If you own a website, you will receive reports about the 403 forbidden error in several situations. Try the listed method below to repair your website.

7. Enable Directory Browsing

The server may encounter the 403 error when users try to enter an incorrect URL as we mentioned above.

With the incorrect link, the browser will display the details of the directory. It is up to the website owner’s choice to open or close the gate to the “news” directory on the server.Although directory browsing is not threatening, we recommend not using directory browsing because it is less secure.

If you want to use directory browsing, remember to add “-indexes” in the .htaccess file. Otherwise, use cPanel or contact your web hosting company to turn off directory browsing.

8. Disable .htaccess File

This file stays on the basis of the website and it is used to modify the site. If there is anything wrong with this file, you will possibly encounter the 403 forbidden error. You can disable the .htaccess file to see if it is causing the problem or not by simply changing its name to .htaccess.bak or .htaccess.001. These are instructions to find the .htaccess file:

  • Open the File Manager in your cPanel hosting profile.
  • Search for the .htaccess file located on the basis of your web page.
  • Right-click and rename it.
  • Check if the 403 error still appears. If the error is fixed, review the .htaccess file to find out the wrong code.

9. Check File Permission

Each website requires a particular file permission to give user access to that website. If you attempt to enter the website with the wrong file permissions set on the web server, you’ll get a 403 forbidden error message. When you accidentally modify the permission, it also creates an issue of public access to certain websites. Make sure you give the user “read” permission or you will receive a number of complaints about the 403 error.

10. Check Server Configurations

Nowadays, websites are more complex and more modern and you will be the person to decide how the server behaves. For example, you can command the server to deny access to specific files. This may cause the 403 error when users try to request the directory from the browser.

Let’s take a look at the content management system or the popular WordPress, you can install as many plugins as you wish to improve the features. But the plugins sometimes modify the file permission and prevent users from public access. You have to design your site carefully or you will come up with problems.

11. Check Server Connection

When the server is temporarily unavailable, the connection will suffer and the 403 forbidden error will occur. It happens when you start some maintenance tasks on your server. Many websites have more than just one physical server; they use a cloud-based network. When the error occurs, the administrator has to detect which server it is related to in order to fix the error.

12. Image Hotlinking

Image hotlinking is a process that helps one site to directly access the image of another site using the URL of the image. This will reduce the usage of your bandwidth and fee of hosting. If image hotlinking is available on your site but the images of other domains are not loaded then the 403 error message will show up. Use cPanel to configure and disable hotlinking if necessary.

In this video, we are gonna show you how to fix 403 Forbidden error on Google Chrome:

Hope something helps you.

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