Knowledge Base

Understanding Error 403

A 403 Forbidden error means the server understood your request but refuses to authorize it. This is typically a permissions issue.

Common Causes

• Incorrect file or directory permissions
• Missing index file (index.html or index.php)
• IP blocking in .htaccess
• ModSecurity blocking the request
• Empty public_html folder

Solutions

1. Check for Index File

Your public_html folder needs an index file:

• index.html
• index.php
• index.htm

If missing, upload one or check if your files are in the correct directory.

2. Fix Permissions

In DirectAdmin File Manager:

1. Right-click on public_html
2. Select Set Permission
3. Set to 755 for directories
4. Set to 644 for files

3. Check .htaccess

Look for IP deny rules in .htaccess:

# Remove or comment out lines like:
# deny from all
# deny from 123.456.789.0

4. Directory Listing

If you want to allow directory listing (not recommended for security), add to .htaccess:

Options +Indexes

5. ModSecurity Block

Sometimes our security system blocks requests it considers suspicious. If you believe you're being blocked incorrectly, please contact support with:

• Your IP address
• The URL you're trying to access
• What you were doing when blocked