HTTP 403 error - what to do?

When you surf the web, your browser may sometimes display HTTP errors. This practical tip explains how to deal with an error code 403.

Error code 403 - how to fix?

All errors that start with "4" are client errors, the reason lies with your personal device.

• Error code 403 or the message "Access forbidden" appears if the server does not allow you to access the target directory / file.
• There are various sources of error for the error.

Possible source of error: "No directory browsing"

Almost all websites prohibit searching your directories.

• For example, if you can call up the "//.../html/index.html" file, calling up the parent directory "//.../html" is usually not permitted.
• Instead, a 403 error is returned. This serves to protect the website so that strangers cannot see the server structure and therefore hidden files.

Incorrect browser settings

An incorrectly configured browser or a firewall can also induce a 403 error. So go through this checklist:

• Clear your browser cache. We explain how to do this in the practical tips for Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Firefox.
• Disable proxy plugins. AdBlock programs can also cause problems - so deactivate them temporarily and test the faulty page again.
• Check whether your firewall is blocking your browser's traffic. Check whether your browser is entered in the firewall and what rights it has.

Problem detection with advanced 403 error codes

Some web servers that use the IIS developed by Microsoft, for example, not only output "Error 403", but a more precise error code.

• This allows the problem to be narrowed down considerably. Instead of "403", for example, "403.2" is then output. The list of the corresponding codes can be found on the official Microsoft homepage.

Contact the website owner

It can also happen that the read rights of the page are not set correctly: Incorrectly configured .htaccess files can cause the entire directory to be blocked for external users, even if some files are to be publicly accessible.

• If you still get the error code after several days, do the operator a favor and tell them about it. You can often find an e-mail address in the imprint.
• However, only contact the website owner if the website links you to a 403 page: If you are unable to open some URLs that you have entered in the address bar, there is usually a reason.

In the next practical tip, you will learn how to set up your own 404 page.