"403 Forbidden": you don't have permission to access this resource

The server found the page and refused to show it. Nothing is missing. Something is telling the server to say no.

What to do, in order

  1. Check for an index file. If the folder has no index.html or index.php and directory listing is off, the server answers 403. Upload the homepage file to the right folder, usually public_html.
  2. Check file permissions. Folders should be 755 and files 644. A file set to 600 or a folder set to 700 gives 403. Fix them in your host's file manager or over FTP.
  3. Check .htaccess. A line like Deny from all or a broken rewrite rule causes it. Rename .htaccess to .htaccess-old and reload. If the site comes back, the problem is in that file.
  4. Check your firewall or security plugin. Cloudflare rules, Wordfence, or your host's ModSecurity may be blocking your country or your address. Try from your phone on mobile data. If it works there, you are the one being blocked.
  5. Ask the host. If none of the above, the host may have locked the account. Their error log will name the rule.

If it still fails, send me the address and I will tell you which step is broken.


Want the rest of your site checked after it is back? Run a free 40-point check at tinkeraudit.com.