WordPress is the best platform on the internet to start your website journey with. It has all the tools to help you in good and bad times. Yes, it is the perfect place but it’s not magical. WordPress will show you errors one of which is 403 forbidden error in WordPress. This will keep you away from the files you have to have access to. When you face this issue don’t panic. Follow these steps as they are and you will fix 403 forbidden error in WordPress in minutes!
Plugin-
This 403 forbidden error can occur in any host. Whichever platform you may be using for your website, this error is bound to occur. One time or another you will have to face this error. There are several reasons that cause this error. In these steps we are going to look at some possible reasons behind the error and try to resolve it.
But first you have to take complete backup of your website. This will prevent the mishaps and you starting from zero again. Losing already established and well-functioning website can cost you a lot. So always before processing any update or sorting out the error, backup your website and save all the core files in your system.
Now, first thing we are going to do here is to check on plugins. Plugins are the tools to solve issues quickly and make the website run smoothly. But sometimes they can also cause you lethal harm as well. So when the 403 forbidden error happens check on plugins.
We need to check on the external plugins that we are using. For this we need to navigate to FTP client that the host has provided. Then go to the root directory of the website. After logging into the directory find the wp-content folder. Under that folder you will find a folder for Plugins.
Now you have to rename the plugin folder. By changing the name of the folder you will effectively deactivate the plugins you have. Then reload your website and see if the error in gone.
If it does then we have to find out which plugin specifically causing this problem. For this activate each plugin one by one. When you find the one plugin that’s having a compatibility issue, deactivate it and remove permanently. This will fix 403 forbidden error in WordPress!
Htaccess Files-
One of the reasons why you are having the 403 forbidden error in WordPress is .htaccess files. If the plugins don’t sort out the issue, then you have to check on the .htaccess files in your directory. They have the power to cause you more harm. That’s why you need to sort it out as soon as possible.
For this again you will have to navigate to FTP client your host has given. Then log into your root directory. Download the file into your system. Open the file with notepad. Check the file if it’s corrupted somewhere. If you find the it corrupted remove that file from the root directory.
Now, after removing the corrupted file from root directory you need to go to the admin dashboard of your website. There go to Permalinks and click on save. This will recreate the htaccsess file for your root directory. This will be new and bug free.
This Step Can Also Fix 403 Forbidden Error In WordPress!
File Permissions-
If the htaccess files can’t fix 403 forbidden error in WordPress, then it can be the file permissions. Every file in your website needs permission in order to be visible for specific people. It edits the file as per the requirement and does many more useful things.
But if the file has wrong permission then it can cause more errors like 403. This will result in dropping the number of viewership. Before editing the file permissions you have to know more about it. Having wrong file permission will make your website restrain you from viewing certain files of your own website.
If you want you can take expert’s help in this. Just be confident that you can do it with care. You can do it by following the steps exactly as they are. Here we are going to change the file permissions and folder permissions as well.
First thing you need to do in connect with your website with the help of FTP client your host has provided. Then go to root directory and check all the files and folders permissions. For folders the permissions will be set to 744 or 755. If you set it to other number then the 403 error will return.
Just like that the file permissions are set to 644 or 640. Due to the wrong numerical code your website updates can get affected as well. Check the numerical code carefully.
While checking file permissions click on ‘recurse into subdirections’ and ‘apply to directories only’. After this click on ‘OK’. Repeat this process with each file and click ok at the end. This will resolve the 403 forbidden error in WordPress.
External Plugins-
If this also doesn’t fix 403 forbidden error in WordPress, then the last option left to do is external plugins. These external plugins in your website can cause you a lot of issues. Mostly because of the incompatibility of these plugins can cost you a lot.
To sort this out, once again we have to go to the root directory with the FTP client. There you will have to find the folder for external plugins. You can spot it under the plugin folder.
Go into the folder and deactivate each plugin one by one. Reload your website each time and check if the error is gone. By doing this you will recognize which external plugin is causing the issue. After identifying the plugin deactivate and remove it from the directory. Download and install other one with zero compatibility issue.
This will definitely fix 403 forbidden error in WordPress.
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