[Solved] - Error 403 Forbidden: Access to this resource on the server is denied

What does the error “403 Forbidden: access to this resource on the server is denied” mean?

This error is an HTTP code that specifies the server recognizes a request but doesn’t authorize it. Unlike the error 404, which tells us the resource cannot be found, a 403 error specifically indicates that the requested resource is not granted access to.

Likely Causes​

Permission issue: This is one of the most common causes due to directory permissions or incorrect files. The server will return a 403 error, if it does not have the permission to access any directories or files.

Blocked IP address: The configuration of the server is done to block particular IP ranges or addresses, which in turn prevent access to resources.

Directory browsing disabled: The server will return a 403 error will be returned, if directory browsing is disabled, and there is no default file to be displayed.

URL Restriction: Due to security reasons, the server might restrict users from accessing certain URLs.

How can I fix the 403 error?​

File Permission: You need to ensure that the appropriate permissions are set. For instance, the permissions should be set to 755 and 644 for directories and files respectively on Unix-based systems.

Directory Browsing: If fitting, users can activate directory browsing by including the line Options +Indexes to the .htaccess file.

IP Restrictions: Users need to ensure that the server is not blocking their IP. This can be done by checking the IP filtering rules and firewall settings on the server.

Conclusion:​

A 403 error is quite common which can easily fixed by reviewing server settings, checking permissions, or contacting the administrator.