How to Fix Google Chrome 403 Error

The 403 Forbidden error is an HTTP status code that indicates that you are forbidden from accessing the site. When site owners have set proper permission rights for the webpages and if you do not have them, you may face the same. On the other hand, if the site owner has not properly set the permissions, you will face the same error. You may face the error in some other formats like

How to Fix Google Chrome 403 ErrorWhat Causes 403 Forbidden Error?Basic Troubleshooting StepsMethod 1: Sync Date and TimeMethod 2: Use Private BrowsingMethod 3: Remove Cache & Cookies Method 4: Disable Extensions (If Applicable)Method 5: Run Malware ScanMethod 6: Update Windows Method 7: Update ChromeMethod 8: Find Harmful Software Method 9: Modify LAN SettingsMethod 10: Disable VPN and ProxyMethod 11: Use Google DNS AddressMethod 12: Whitelist URL in Antivirus and Firewall Method 13: Contact Internet Service Provider

403 Forbidden HTTP 403 Forbidden HTTP Error 403 – Forbidden HTTP Error 403. 14 – Forbidden Error 403 Forbidden: You don’t have permission to access [directory] on this server Error 403 – Forbidden

In most cases, there is nothing much you can do from your side to solve the problem. Yet, if it is a temporary glitch, here are some things that will help you know how to fix 403 error.

What Causes 403 Forbidden Error?

If you have any misconfigured access rights from the client-side, then you can more likely solve the issue by yourself. Proper read, write, execute permissions of the file or folder resulting from folder/file properties could be the reason behind the issue. Other than these factors, there are few other sources of 403 Forbidden error. They are listed below.

Private content that requires adequate permissions. User restricted contents. Accessing geographically restricted web pages. Presence of malware/virus. IP address is not valid or blocked. URL typo errors. Internet connectivity errors. Corrupt cache, incompatible extensions, or add-ons in the browser.

Now, move ahead to the next section to find out how to fix 403 forbidden error on Google Chrome.

Basic Troubleshooting Steps

Follow these basic troubleshooting steps to fix the said error.

Reload Webpages: The primary fix to any common browser-related error is to reload the web pages to resolve any internal glitches. You can directly reload webpages in Chrome by pressing the reload button or simply pressing Ctrl + R keys in the corresponding webpage.

Make sure URL is Correct: Ensure the URL is perfect without typo errors. Check the extensions . html or . com and whether it is reliable or not. Make a note that a regular URL will end in . com, . html, . org, . in, . php etc, whereas a directory URL will have a suffix of “/”. Try Different Device: Check if the problem is with your device or the website. Connect to a different device and try to access the same webpage in it. If you face the same error 403 on a different device, then there might be a problem with the website. On the other hand, if you did not face the issue on some other device, then the problem is with your PC. Restart Router: If you are using a Wi-Fi connection rather than Ethernet, there are few possibilities that any configuration problems in the router may lead to the problem.

Note: To re-initiate the network connectivity, please reboot your router as instructed below.

  1. Find the ON/OFF button at the back of your router. Press the button once to turn OFF your router.

  2. Disconnect the power cable and wait until the power is entirely drained from the capacitors. Now, your router is completely drained out of power.

  3. Wait for a minute before restoring the power and wait until the network connection is re-established.

Check if you are Logged Out: If you try to access the webpage from the browsing history, you might have been logged out of the webpage/ application now. So, check if you are logged in and then ensure you do not face the error again. Try again later: Patience matters. Reboot your PC and try to access the website after some time. Check if you face the problem again.

If you did not attain any fix by implementing the above instructed basic troubleshooting methods, then it’s time to try advanced troubleshooting options to learn how to fix 403 errors. Here are a few simple and effective methods arranged in chronological order that will help you understand how to fix 403 error. Follow them in the same order to attain perfect results.

Method 1: Sync Date and Time

Whenever you try to access any web pages in Google Chrome, the server ensures if the date and time of your PC correlate with the date and time of the server located in that particular geographic location. This feature might seem unnoticed by many users, but it is primarily intended to avoid data steal or data misuse. You may also get 403 Google error when you have the incorrect date and time settings in Windows 10 PC. Make sure the date and time on your computer are correct by following the below-mentioned steps.

  1. Type Date & time settings in the Windows search bar

  2. Check and select the Time zone from the drop-down list and ensure if it is your current geographic region.

  3. Then, make sure the time and date match with the Universal time and date.

If there is any variation, fix it and check if you have resolved the problem.

Method 2: Use Private Browsing

If you are facing Forbidden 403 error due to security and privacy reasons, then you can try Incognito mode. Here, your search history or recent pages will not be monitored or recorded and thus it hides all the corrupt cookies and cache responsible for 403 Google error. Follow the below-mentioned steps to open web page in private mode.

  1. Open Google Chrome.

  2. Click on the three-dotted icon at the top right corner.

  3. Select the New Incognito window option or press and hold Ctrl + Shift + N keys in the chrome to launch it.

Also Read: Fix Chrome not Connecting to the Internet

Method 3: Remove Cache & Cookies

Cache and Cookies in your browser store your browsing data. If there are any suspicious data stored locally, or if the data is corrupt or incompatible you may face 403 Google error. Hence, clear the browsing data, cache, and collected cookies to fix the problem.

  1. Open Chrome browser.

Note: You can directly navigate the page to delete browsing history in Chrome by typing chrome://settings/clearBrowserData in the search bar.

  1. Click on the three-dotted icon at the top right corner.

  2. Click on the More tools option as depicted below.

  3. Click on Clear browsing data…

  4. Here, select the Time range for the action to be completed. For example, if you want to delete the entire data, select All time and click on Clear data.

Note: Ensure that the Cookies and other site data box and Cached images and files box are checked before clearing the data from the browser.

Now, check if you have fixed the issue.

Method 4: Disable Extensions (If Applicable)

You can enjoy a wide range of third-party extensions and add-ons in Chrome by adding them to your browser. If they are downloaded from a reliable source, you have no problem dealing with them. Yet, if any extensions or add-ons interfere with the functionality of Chrome, then you have to temporarily disable them all to fix the errors. Here is how to do that.

  1. Launch the Google Chrome browser.

Note: To skip the steps to reach the extensions page, type chrome://extensions/ in the search bar and hit Enter.

  1. Click on the three-dotted icon at the top right corner.

  2. Select the More tools option.

  3. Click on Extensions.

  4. Finally, turn off the extension you want to disable. If you did not face any error after disabling any particular extension, then click on the Remove option to delete it from your browser.

Also Read: Fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT Chrome error

Method 5: Run Malware Scan

The Forbidden 403 error may occur due to malware attacks on your PC. The bugs that intruded in the PC might infect and corrupt the essential program files leading to the discussed error. To avoid conflicts, use antivirus software that could monitor your PC or scan the whole PC as instructed below.

  1. Press the Windows + R keys together to open Windows Settings.

  2. Click on Update & Security

  3. Click on Windows Security and select the Virus & threat protection.

  4. Click on Scan Options .

  5. Choose a scan option as per your preference and click on Scan Now.

6A. All the threats will be enlisted here. Click on Start Actions under Current threats.

6B. If you do not have any threats in your system, the system will show No current threats.

The Windows Defender will remove all the virus and malware programs once the scanning process is complete.

Method 6: Update Windows

Microsoft is trying to improve all of its versions of Windows to bring a browser without any errors. You can fix the bugs and update problems in your Windows 10 computer by updating it. Follow the below-mentioned steps to update your Windows PC.

  1. Press Windows + I keys simultaneously to launch Settings.

  2. Click on the Update & Security tile, as shown.

  3. In the Windows Update tab, click on Check for updates button.

4A. If a new update is available, then click Install Now and follow the instructions to update.

4B. Otherwise, if the Windows is up-to-date, then it will show You’re up to date message.

Also Read: Fix Google Chrome error He’s Dead, Jim!

Method 7: Update Chrome

Outdated browsers might not support improvised versions of webpages, leading to Forbidden error 403. To fix the bugs and problems, update Google Chrome as instructed below.

  1. Launch the Google Chrome browser.

  2. Click on the three-dotted icon to expand the Settings menu.

  3. Then, select Help > About Google Chrome as illustrated below.

  4. Allow Google Chrome to search for updates. The screen will display Checking for updates message, as shown.

5A. If updates are available, click on the Update button.

5B. If Chrome is already updated then, Google Chrome is up to date message will be displayed.

  1. Finally, Relaunch the browser with its latest version and check if you have fixed the Forbidden 403 error.

Also Read: How to Fix DHCP Lookup Failed Error in Chromebook

Method 8: Find Harmful Software

If your computer has any incompatible programs and its files that interfere with a specific web page, you may face the 403 Forbidden error. You can remove them by following these steps.

  1. Launch Google Chrome and click on three-dotted icon > Settings as shown highlighted.

  2. Here, click on the Advanced setting in the left pane and select Reset and clean up option.

  3. Now, select the Cleanup computer option as depicted below.

  4. Here, click on the Find button to enable Chrome to find harmful software on your computer.

5. Wait for the process to be completed and remove the harmful programs detected by Google Chrome.

Method 9: Modify LAN Settings

Several network connectivity issues may lead to Forbidden 404 error Google, and you can fix them by resetting local network settings as discussed below.

  1. Open Control Panel by typing it in the Windows search bar.

  2. Now, set the View by option to Category and select the Network and Internet link.

  3. Click on Internet Options.

  4. In the Internet Properties window, switch to the Connections tab and select LAN settings.

  5. Check the box Automatically detect settings and ensure Use a proxy server for your LAN box is unchecked (unless you need it).

  6. Finally, click on OK to save the changes and check if you are able to fix 403 forbidden error on Google Chrome.

Also Read: Fix NET::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED in Chrome

Method 10: Disable VPN and Proxy

If your network connection blocks you from accessing Google clients, you can try using another connection or disable VPN/proxy. Then, follow the steps to implement the same to fix 403 forbidden error in Google Chrome.

  1. Exit from Google Chrome and make sure you close all the applications related to Chrome from Task Manager.

  2. Hit the Windows button and type Proxy.

  3. Open Proxy settings from the search results.

  4. Here, toggle OFF the following settings.

Automatically detect settings Use setup script Use a proxy server

  1. Now, launch Google Chrome again and try if you can visit web pages.

  2. If not, use a VPN client and check if your problem is fixed. If not, try connecting your PC to another network like Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot.

Method 11: Use Google DNS Address

Several users have reported that Forbidden 403 error will be fixed by changing the DNS address provided by your Internet Service Provider. You may use Google DNS address to fix 403 forbidden error on Google Chrome and here are a few instructions to change the DNS address of your PC.

  1. Launch the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys together.

  2. Now, type ncpa.cpl and hit Enter key.

  3. Right-click on your active network adapter (e.g. Wi-Fi) and select Properties.

  4. Now, the Wi-Fi Properties window will pop up. Click on Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.

Note: You can also double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) to open the Properties window.

  1. Select the icon Use the following DNS server addresses. Then, enter the below-mentioned values in the field of Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server.

8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4

  1. Select Validate settings upon exit and click on OK.

  2. Close the window, and this method will fix Forbidden error 403.

Also Read: How to Go Full-Screen in Google Chrome

Method 12: Whitelist URL in Antivirus and Firewall

If your PC is threat-free after a malware scan and if your OS is up to date, yet still you face the Forbidden error in Chrome, then there are some chances that the super-security suite might prevent you from accessing any content specific URL. Here are some instructions to whitelist URLs in the antivirus program.

Option I: Whitelist URL

Note: Here Avast Antivirus is taken as an example. Do follow the steps according to your Antivirus program.

  1. Go to the search menu, type Avast and click on the Menu option at the top right corner.

  2. Click on Settings.

  3. In the General tab, switch to the Exceptions tab and click on ADD ADVANCED EXCEPTION under the Exceptions field.

  4. In the new window, click on Website/Domain

  5. Now, type the URL in the Type in url path. Next, click on ADD EXCEPTION option.

  6. If you want to remove the URL from the Avast whitelist, then go to Settings > General > Exceptions and click on the Trash icon.

Option II: Whitelist URL in Windows Defender Firewall

  1. Press the Windows key and type Windows Defender Firewall.

  2. In the pop-up window, click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.

  3. Click on Change settings. Finally, check for Chrome to allow through the Firewall.

  4. You can use Allow another app… to browse your Program if your desired application or Program does not exist in the list.

  5. Finally, click OK to save the changes.

Method 13: Contact Internet Service Provider

If this doesn’t work, try to reset Chrome or reinstall it if necessary and check if you face the error again. Still, if you did not attain any fix for 403 Forbidden error in Google Chrome, it’s better to contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or the website owners to seek some help.

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We hope that this guide was helpful and you have learned how to fix 403 error in Google Chrome. Let us know which method worked for you the best. Also, if you have any queries/suggestions regarding this article, then feel free to drop them in the comments section.