dnsServerwebwordpressadmin_panel_settingspermissionserror403securityfirewallsettingsserver_configurationlabelCommonwarningModerate

403 Forbidden

A 403 Forbidden error means the web server refuses to serve the requested resource. The server returns this response when it detects insufficient permissions or an explicit deny rule.

In WordPress the error often originates from file‑system permissions, .htaccess directives, security modules, or firewall rules. When the server blocks the request it stops the page from loading, even if the rest of the site works.

Symptoms

[dashicons-warning]
Error page displayed
You see a plain 403 Forbidden page with a message about permission denied.
[dashicons-admin-users]
Admin login blocked
You cannot reach /wp-admin and the login screen does not load.
[dashicons-admin-site]
Partial site access
Some pages load while others return 403, indicating selective blocking.

Common Causes

File permissions
Directories are set to 755 or 744 and files to 644 or 640, but a wrong setting blocks the web server.
.htaccess rules
Rewrite or deny directives in .htaccess tell the server to reject the request.
Security modules
ModSecurity, firewall plugins, or CDN rules add deny rules that trigger a 403 response.
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