How to Fix Error 403 in WordPress

23 - Feb - 2018

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Hello friends, I hope you all are doing great. In today's tutorial, I am gonna show you How to Fix Error 403 in wordpress. It is safe to say that 'Error 403' is the most commonly seen vision on your WordPress dashboard. Even though the WordPress is worlds most easy to operate shared web hosting which comes free of cost, the errors and routinely breakdowns are normal. It's most obvious that these breakdowns occur due to server issues or other troubles but this could most definitely be a trouble if you have a post lined up. Therefore, we have dedicated this post to the Error 403 which stops you from accessing the files that you need to interact with on a daily basis in order to run your webpage successfully.

What is this ‘Error 403’?

In simplest of the word combination, the Error 403 is a commonly seen bug where the user is unable to access his server or any such services on the WordPress dashboard. The following three scenarios are where the Error 403 has been reported the most:

While accessing the Login page on your dashboard.
While installing the WordPress.
While trying to connect to one of your categories or pages on your website.

The message accompanying this Error 403 will be different each time; however, the reason is always some default permission settings. As we all know, every file on your system and a web page has certain permissions which enables it to be viewed. If you set the permissions inappropriately, you as an administrator might not be able to access your own website.

What is the reason behind the Error 403?

Although the root cause of the Error 403 is permission setting, there tend to be a couple more reasons behind it.

There must be a possible intrusion in your WordPress permissions folder. Since the Error solely occurs due to permission settings, therefore, it is possible that someone else changed these settings and enabled you from visiting your own webpage and dashboard.
Did you see the .htaccess file? The said file is a telltale of the WordPress and its permissions when a user takes up a hosting. This file provides instructions to the server and helps you to access files and other directories when given a command. In case this file goes corrupted, you could lose your access and hence, the Error 403 appears.

Maybe a Plugin is getting in the way. The security plugins are a great help when it comes to ensuring that your web page is secure from hackers. But these security plugins could alter the permission settings automatically without you knowing any of it and hence, losing your access.

In one way or the other, the root cause is an alteration of the Permission settings. Therefore, whatever happens, one has to go back to permission settings and enable yourself the access to the same. However, the process is not as straightforward. Read on to learn how to troubleshoot this issue like a total pro and completely effortlessly.

Troubleshoot "Error 403" and get back your access

Fixing a WordPress Bug is not as difficult as it appears to be, but precautions are a must. Therefore, before moving on to the steps of correcting the Error 403, create a backup of your WordPress Database. In fact, you should create a backup every once in awhile to avoid the Error establishing a Database Connection. It is most probable that you might not have an access to your dashboard since you access has been jeopardized, but it is in your best interest if you do so. To create a backup:

Visit the All-in-one WP Migration settings on your dashboard
Next click on the Backups tab
Lastly, click on the Create Backup button
Now you will be asked where you wish to save your back up at.
Make sure that you download the backup in a .docx file on your desktop.
This is because the restoration from the desktop is really simple.

1. Disable Plugins

This again is a subject to availability of your access to the dashboard, but anyhow if you are able to access your dashboard quickly disables the security plugins. But in case you are unable to access your dashboard, you are going to have to use the FTP, that is, file transfer protocol such as, FileZilla which allows you to transfer your data from your server without you needing to access the browser. While you are setting up a FileZilla account, the credentials should be the same as your WordPress. Once you are done with logging up at the FTP client, follow the below steps:

Find the public_html folder.
Now search for wp-content.
Look for the plugins folder.
Now change the name to plugins-disabled

As soon as you do this, a new folder will be created in the name of plugins and you shall gain access to your dashboard. This directly means that it was a security plugin acting up. Once you have discovered that a security plugin was in the way, follow the below-mentioned steps:

Rename the folder and this time navigate it thoroughly
This time, rename the first plugin that you see

This is a hit and trial method where you will have to rename every plugin, go back to the dashboard and check for any progression. Once you discover the plugin at fault, simply delete it and you are good to go.

2. Permission Settings

The final straw is to alter the Permission settings if you are not entirely disabled from reaching out to your dashboard. The permission settings are visible on the right-hand side panel of your dashboard. Reach out to it and enable the settings which have been stopping you from looking at your own website.

Conclusion:

In the list of a total number of WordPress bugs, the Error 403 is apparently easier to fix without much hassle. The only piece of information one needs to know is keep a check on your permission settings so as to avoid this error to disturb your otherwise productive day. Follow 000webhost blog post for detail guideline to solve 403 wordpress error.