Title: Directory Browsing Error 403
Last modified: August 22, 2016

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# Directory Browsing Error 403

 *  [Phinos](https://wordpress.org/support/users/phinos/)
 * (@phinos)
 * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/directory-browsing-error-403/)
 * Hi,
 * Shortly after activating the feature, prevents directory browsing, I try to browse
   [http://www.mydomain.com/wp-includes](http://www.mydomain.com/wp-includes), but
   an error 403 with the following message :
 * _403 – Forbidden Error
    You are not allowed to access this address. If the error
   persists, please contact the website webmaster.
 * If you are the webmaster of this site please log in to Cpanel and check the Error
   Logs. You will find the exact reason for this error there.
 * Common reasons for this error are:
 *  Incorrect file/directory permissions: Below 644.
 *  In order files to be read by the webserver, their permissions have to be equal
   or above 644. You can update file permissions with a FTP client or through cPanel’s
   File Manager.
    Restrictive Apache directives inside .htaccess file.
 *  There are two Apache directives which can cause this error – ‘Deny from’ and‘
   Options -Indexes’.
 * Why does this happen? how to solve it? Thank You.
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/better-wp-security/)

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [*B.V.RammannaRaau*](https://wordpress.org/support/users/reviewkeys/)
 * (@reviewkeys)
 * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/directory-browsing-error-403/#post-5334448)
 * Nothing to worry about it. Directory browsing disabled. Directory browsing must
   be denied and whatever you are getting right now is correct as the server responding
   with 403 forbidden error message. If, being an admin of your site, you want to
   see directory structure you can access using either **FTP** or **file manager**.
   But others are prohibited to access your sites directory structure. If you still
   want to see your site’s directory structure then you have to **either deactivate
   the feature or commenting out the rule in htaccess** file as follows.
    **# Options-
   Indexes**
 *  Thread Starter [Phinos](https://wordpress.org/support/users/phinos/)
 * (@phinos)
 * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/directory-browsing-error-403/#post-5334468)
 * Hi,
    I’ve seen my friend’s website using this plugin, it should be 404 pages 
   instead of 403. It is not about worry, my question is, why are others with the
   same theme can display 404 pages but not for my website. I’ve asked about this
   to my hosting provider, but they say this happens because Itheme Security Plugin.
 *  [*B.V.RammannaRaau*](https://wordpress.org/support/users/reviewkeys/)
 * (@reviewkeys)
 * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/directory-browsing-error-403/#post-5334493)
 * Your site is running on **Apache server** and **iThemes Security** plugin writes**
   Options -Indexes** rule on **.htaccess** file.
    It returns **403 forbidden error**
   if someone browse through your sites directories. Yes, Your hosting provider 
   rightly said that it is because of **iThemes Security** plugin. But you can also
   get the same error if you add same rule manually on **.htaccess** file even if
   you don’t install **iThemes security** plugin.
 * > I’ve seen my friend’s website using this plugin, it should be 404 pages instead
   > of 403.
 * Either **some settings are different** or **some installed plugins having conflict
   with iThemes Security** in your friend’s website. But for **“forbidden error”**
   responding with **“404 – page not found error”** in your friends site is not 
   a right practice though.
 * > why are others with the same theme can display 404 pages but not for my website.
 * Your site is working fine but not your friend’s site. Both 403 and 404 errors
   have their own specific purposes. Since you are not getting any issues right 
   now, it will be a good practice in **wordpress.org forum** to close this thread.
   If you have another valid issue open a new thread instead.
    Have a grate day 
   bro. 😀
 *  Thread Starter [Phinos](https://wordpress.org/support/users/phinos/)
 * (@phinos)
 * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/directory-browsing-error-403/#post-5334498)
 * Hi Ramanarao,
    Thank you for your explanation. My last question, What if I give
   index file that contains _<META http-equiv=”refresh” content=”0;URL=http://mysite.
   xxx/404″>_ to redirect to a 404 page? Thank you.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Directory Browsing Error 403’ is closed to new replies.

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## Tags

 * [error 403](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/error-403/)
 * [itheme security](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/itheme-security/)

 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Phinos](https://wordpress.org/support/users/phinos/)
 * Last activity: [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/directory-browsing-error-403/#post-5334498)
 * Status: not resolved