Fix the WordPress 403 Forbidden Error: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Are you seeing a “403 Forbidden” message when trying to access your WordPress site? This frustrating error stops visitors in their tracks and can cost you traffic, leads, and revenue. Don’t panic—in most cases, this error is fixable with the right approach.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through 15 proven methods to troubleshoot and resolve the WordPress 403 Forbidden error, from quick browser fixes to advanced server configurations. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, you’ll find clear, step-by-step solutions below.

What Does “403 Forbidden” Mean on WordPress?

A 403 Forbidden Error is an HTTP status code indicating that while your web server is running and received the request, it’s refusing to fulfill it due to permission issues. Think of it like having a valid ticket to an event but being told you’re not on the guest list at the door.

Unlike 404 errors (page not found) or 500 errors (server problems), the 403 error specifically means: “I know what you want, but I won’t let you have it.”

Common Variations of WordPress 403 Errors

You might encounter different messages depending on your server configuration:

• “403 Forbidden – You don’t have permission to access / on this server”

• “Access Denied – Error 403”

• “HTTP Error 403 – Forbidden”

• “403 Forbidden – nginx” (on NGINX servers)

• “You are not authorized to view this page”

What Causes the 403 Forbidden Error in WordPress?

Understanding the root cause is the first step toward fixing the problem. Here are the most common triggers:

Top 5 Causes of WordPress 403 Errors

1. Incorrect File Permissions (Most Common) – Files or folders have restrictive permissions preventing access

2. Corrupted .htaccess File – Apache server configuration file contains errors

3. Plugin Conflicts – Security or other plugins blocking legitimate access

4. Server Security Rules – Hosting firewall, ModSecurity, or IP blocking

5. CDN/Caching Issues – Cloudflare or other CDNs serving blocked content

Other potential causes include malware infections, incorrect file ownership, DNS issues, and missing index files.

15 Methods to Fix WordPress 403 Forbidden Error

Quick Fixes to Try First

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Often the simplest solution works. Cached data can sometimes cause false 403 errors.

1. Open Chrome and press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac)

2. Select “Cached images and files” and choose “All time” as time range

3. Click “Clear data”

4. Alternatively, test your site in an incognito/private browser window

Temporarily Disable CDN
If you use Cloudflare or another CDN:

1. Log into your CDN dashboard

2. Find your domain and select “Pause” or “Development Mode”

3. Wait 5 minutes, then test your site

4. If fixed, clear your CDN cache completely before re-enabling

Intermediate Solutions

Check and Correct File Permissions
Incorrect permissions are the #1 cause of WordPress 403 errors.

Recommended WordPress permissions:

• Files: 644

• Folders/Directories: 755

• wp-config.php: 440 or 400

How to fix via FTP (using FileZilla):

1. Connect to your site via FTP/SFTP

2. Navigate to your WordPress root directory

3. Right-click on the main folder and select “File Permissions”

4. Set to 755 for folders, 644 for files

5. For wp-config.php specifically, set to 440

6. Check “Recurse into subdirectories” to apply to all contents

Reset Your .htaccess File
A corrupted .htaccess file frequently causes 403 errors on Apache servers.

1. Connect via FTP to your WordPress root directory

2. Download the existing .htaccess file as backup

3. Rename the original to .htaccess_backup

4. Go to WordPress admin > Settings > Permalinks

5. Click “Save Changes” without making edits

6. WordPress will generate a fresh .htaccess file

Troubleshoot Problematic Plugins
Plugins, especially security plugins, can sometimes cause false positives.

If you can access WordPress admin:

1. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins

2. Deactivate all plugins

3. Test if the 403 error is resolved

4. Reactivate plugins one by one, testing after each

5. When error returns, you’ve found the culprit

If you cannot access admin:

1. Use FTP to access /wp-content/plugins/

2. Rename the “plugins” folder to “plugins_old”

3. Test your site – if it works, a plugin is causing it

4. Create a new “plugins” folder

5. Move plugins back one by one from “plugins_old” to test

Advanced Solutions

Check Server Configuration Files
Server-level configurations might be blocking access.

For Apache servers, check:

• .htaccess files in parent directories

• httpd.conf or apache2.conf

• Virtual host configuration files

For NGINX servers, check:

• nginx.conf

• Server block configurations

• Location directives with “deny all” rules

Verify File Ownership (Linux Servers)
On Linux/VPS servers, incorrect file ownership causes 403 errors.

1. Connect via SSH to your server

2. Navigate to your WordPress directory: cd /path/to/your/wordpress

3. Check ownership: ls -la

4. Correct ownership (usually to your web server user, like www-data or apache):

   bash

    

    

   chown -R www-data:www-data /path/to/your/wordpress

5. For some setups, you might need:

   bash

    

   find /path/to/your/wordpress -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
   find /path/to/your/wordpress -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

Review Security Plugin Settings
Security plugins like Wordfence, Sucuri, or iThemes Security might be blocking access.

1. Temporarily disable the security plugin

2. If the 403 error disappears, check:

   • Firewall rules

   • IP blocking lists

   • Rate limiting settings

   • Country blocking rules

3. Add your IP to the allowlist/whitelist

4. Consider setting the plugin to “Learning Mode” temporarily

Scan for Malware and Malicious Code
Malware can modify files and permissions, causing 403 errors.

1. Use a reputable malware scanner:

   • Wordfence Security (free version available)

   • Sucuri SiteCheck (free online scanner)

   • MalCare

2. Follow the scanner’s instructions for cleaning infections

3. Consider professional malware removal services for complex infections

Server-Level Solutions

Contact Your Hosting Provider
If you’ve tried everything above, your hosting provider can help with:

1. Server firewall configurations (ModSecurity rules)

2. Server-wide permission issues

3. IP address blocking at server level

4. Resource limitation triggers

5. PHP handler or module issues

What to tell your host:

• When the error started

• What you’ve already tried

• The specific error message

• URLs where it occurs

Check Web Server Error Logs
Server logs provide the most detailed information about 403 errors.

For Apache servers:

# View error logs in real-time
tail -f /var/log/apache2/error.log

# Search specifically for 403 errors
grep "403" /var/log/apache2/error.log

For NGINX servers:

tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log
grep "403" /var/log/nginx/error.log

Log entries will show exactly which resource is being blocked and why.

Review DNS and Nameserver Settings
Incorrect DNS can sometimes cause permission-like errors.

1. Check your domain’s current DNS settings:

   bash

    

   nslookup yourdomain.com

2. Verify A records point to the correct IP address

3. Check nameserver settings at your domain registrar

4. Ensure no old DNS records are pointing to previous hosts

Prevention and Best Practices

Regular Maintenance Checklist
Prevent future 403 errors with these practices:

1. Weekly: Check plugin and theme updates

2. Monthly: Review security plugin logs for false positives

3. Quarterly: Audit file permissions and ownership

4. Bi-Annually: Test full site backups and restoration

5. Annually: Review server configuration and security rules

Essential WordPress Security Plugins
Preventative tools that can help avoid 403 errors:

1. UpdraftPlus – Regular backups before changes

2. Wordfence Security – Comprehensive security with careful configuration

3. iThemes Security – Alternative with good permission controls

4. Sucuri Security – Professional-grade security monitoring

When to Seek Professional Help

Consider hiring a WordPress professional if:

• You’ve tried all solutions without success

• The error affects your e-commerce or business-critical site

• You suspect complex server-level issues

• You’re uncomfortable with technical server modifications

Most WordPress developers can resolve 403 errors within 1-2 hours of work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to fix a WordPress 403 error?
Most 403 errors can be fixed in 15-30 minutes using the solutions above. Complex server-level issues might take 1-2 hours.

Can a 403 error hurt my SEO?
Yes, if search engine crawlers receive 403 errors, they may stop crawling your site and eventually drop pages from search results. Fix 403 errors promptly to maintain SEO rankings.

What’s the difference between 403 and 404 errors?
403 means “forbidden – no permission to access,” while 404 means “not found – the resource doesn’t exist.” Search engines treat these differently in rankings.

Should I change all file permissions to 777 to fix 403 errors?
Absolutely not. 777 permissions (read, write, execute for everyone) create severe security vulnerabilities. Always use recommended WordPress permissions (644 for files, 755 for folders).

How can I prevent 403 errors when moving WordPress to a new host?

1. Use a migration plugin like Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration

2. Check and set permissions immediately after migration

3. Update .htaccess file for the new server environment

4. Test all functionality before updating DNS