The 403 Forbidden Error is a common hurdle many Internet users experience. It pops up when you’re barred from accessing the webpage or resource you’ve requested for in your web browser – either because you’re not allowed to, or because you’re trying to access a directory directly, which most servers won’t allow. With the HTTP status code being 403, hence the name 403 Forbidden Error.
This thorough guide aims to help you diagnose and resolve the 403 Forbidden Error encountered on Google Chrome.
Refreshing the Page
Most of the time, a quick refresh could solve the problem, especially when the 403 error is temporary. As the solution’s simplicity, it is always the first step you should opt for.
To refresh any page, you can either click on the ‘refresh’ button on your browser’s address bar or use hotkeys – Ctrl+R on Windows or Cmd+R on Mac. However, this method does not guarantee to overcome the predicament every time, but it’s worth giving a shot.
Checking the Web Address
Frequently, a simple typographical error in the URL could lead to a 403 Forbidden Error. Ensure the URL you are trying to access points to a legitimate web page or file, but not a directory.
A directory’s URL typically ends in a “/”, which most servers reject because they have been set up to disable directory browsing due to security constraints. When properly configured, these servers would redirect you to another page or give an error message. If they’re not well-configured, they might throw a 403 Forbidden Error.
Clearing Browser Cookies and Cache
At times, the problem lies within your browser – the page with the error has been cached in your browser, but the actual link has been updated on the website. In that case, give clearing your browser cache and cookies a try.
Clearing cache might slow down the page loading speed initially since the previously cached data need to be re-downloaded. Clearing cookies, on the other hand, could require you to log in again to most websites that you’ve previously visited. Here’s an on clearing your cache in all popular browsers.
Verifying Your Access Rights
If the website you’re trying to access requires users to log in to view content, a 403 Forbidden Error could appear if you’re not logged in. Although ideally, servers should indicate that you must log in first, improperly configured ones might bring up a 403 Forbidden Error instead. Try logging in to see if it solves the issue.
Patience Is Key: Try Again Later
If all the straightforward solutions above do not work, your best bet is to wait for a while and then try accessing the page later. 403 Forbidden Errors often originate from the website itself, and there’s a good chance someone is already working on the problem.
Reaching Out To The Website Owner
When all else fails, you can attempt to contact the website owner or the administrator. Their contact details can often be found on the website itself. If it has no contact form, you could also try getting in touch with them via their social media platforms.
Consult Your Internet Service Provider
Sometimes, the 403 Forbidden Error could be due to your public IP address or your ISP being blocked. Though not very likely, contacting them about the problem could possibly help.
Disconnecting Your VPN
Finally, your VPN service might be restricting your access to certain websites. Disconnecting from your VPN session, or switching to another VPN service, might be a solution.
Tag: #403ForbiddenError, #WebsiteTroubleshooting, #ClearBrowserCache, #AccessDenied
[Reference Link](!https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/220742019/some-safe-websites-no-longer-render-due-to-403-errors?hl=en)