403
MediumWeb Server

Forbidden — the server understood the request but refuses to authorize it

What 403 Means

The 403 error on the HTTP Status-Codes indicates forbidden — the server understood the request but refuses to authorize it. This typically occurs due to file or directory permissions are too restrictive.

A 401 error means you need to authenticate (log in). A 403 error means the server knows who you are but you do not have permission to access the resource. Authentication will not help with a 403.

Common Causes

  • File or directory permissions are too restrictive
  • IP address blocked by server firewall or .htaccess rules
  • Missing index file in a directory with directory listing disabled
  • Authentication required but credentials not provided or insufficient

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HTTP 403 error

A 401 error means you need to authenticate (log in). A 403 error means the server knows who you are but you do not have permission to access the resource. Authentication will not help with a 403.

Related Error Codes