Encountering a 401 Unauthorized Error on your WordPress site can be a frustrating experience, especially when you’re eager to access your content or provide a seamless user experience for your visitors. This error indicates that the server cannot verify your credentials, preventing you from logging in or accessing certain pages. In this guide, we will explore the 401 Unauthorized Error and provide solutions to help you regain access and ensure your WordPress site runs smoothly. Whether you’re a site owner, developer, or just curious about troubleshooting web errors, we’ll make this technical challenge easy to understand and resolve.
What is 401 Unauthorized Error?
401 Unauthorized Error is an HTTP status code that occurs when a server cannot fulfill a request because the client has not provided valid authentication credentials. The server denies access because it can’t confirm the client’s identity. This error is commonly encountered when trying to log in to a website or access a protected resource without the necessary authorization. There are different variations for 401 such as
- 401 Authorization Required
- Status code 401
- HTTP Error 401
- Access Denied
Causes of 401 Unauthorized Error
- Incorrect URL
- Outdated Links
- Plugin incompatibility
- IP Restrictions
- Misconfigured Servers
- Outdated browser cache and cookies
- Session Timeout
- Faulty Authentication Methods
- Restricted .htaccess file
How to Fix 401 Unauthorized?
Encountering a 401 error page can be frustrating, Here are some ways to help you fix this problem.
Clean your Browser Cache
The 401 error could be caused by the browser’s cache. So, clearing your browser cache and cookies or visiting your website in incognito mode can fix your problem. While there are other web browsers available, if you use Google Chrome, here’s how to clear your browser cache.
- To clear your cache in Google Chrome, click the three dots icon in the upper right corner of the browser window, then select More Tools > Clear browsing data.
- In the Clear browsing data window, select the Advanced tab to remove more advanced data. You can clear passwords, autofill form data, site settings, and hosted app data. When done, click Clear Data.
- Google Chrome also provides other ways to access the Clear Browsing Data window. You can access it under Chrome Settings > Privacy and Security,
- You can manually manage cache items by going to See All Cookies and Site Data. You can enable, disable, or clear cookies for individual websites.
Incorrect URL
Verify that you entered the proper URL. Although it may seem simple, if the URL is not entered correctly, 401 errors may occur. Another possibility is that the link you used to access the page leads to the incorrect URL. Therefore, it’s worth double-checking the URL you used. Make sure you spell everything correctly if you write it yourself. Verify that the link you clicked takes you to the page you’re seeking to access or try going directly to that page on the website.
Deactivate Your Plugin
Plugins can conflict and cause a 401 error. To determine if a plugin is the issue:
- Deactivate all plugins by going to Plugins > Installed Plugins in the WordPress dashboard.
- Reactivate each plugin one at a time, refreshing your site after each activation, to determine the problem.
Flush the DNS
If you’re still getting a 401 Unauthorized Error after attempting previous solutions, you could try clearing your DNS. This can help resolve problems resulting from outdated or changed DNS records that your computer can utilize to establish a connection to the internet. Here’s how to go about it:
- Type cmd into the search box to launch the Command Prompt.
- Choose “Run as administrator” by right-clicking on the Command Prompt.
- Press Enter after typing ipconfig /flushdns. If it worked, you’ll see the message “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache”.
Check Authentication Credentials.
The 401 page could occur when you attempt to access restricted resources, such as a password-protected page, using improper authentication credentials. As a result, you will be unable to open the page. Check that you have logged in with a valid user ID and password. Enter the proper authentication credentials, and try changing the password.
Check the WWW-authenticate header response
The WWW-Authenticate response header specifies the authentication technique used to get access to a resource. This header assists in determining the type of authentication needed and is sent with 401 Unauthorized answers. Administrators can determine whether the client is receiving the correct authentication challenge by looking at this header.
- Open the website that is causing the 401 error in your browser.
- To use the developer tools, right-click the page and choose ‘Inspect’ or ‘Inspect Element’.
- Navigate to the “Network” tab.
- To capture the network traffic, reload the page.
- Select the first request to your website (which is typically located at the top of the list), which should have a status of 401.
- Look for the ‘Headers’ tab in the detailed view of this request.
- To view the desired authentication method, click the ‘WWW-Authenticate’ header in the headers section.
Conclusion
401 Unauthorized error can be a significant roadblock, but with the right approach, it can be resolved effectively. By following the solution in this guide, you can fix the 401 Unauthorized error and ensure smooth and secure access to your web resources.
Q: What is the 401 Unauthorized Error?
A 401 When a server rejects a request due to faulty or absent authentication credentials, it indicates the response code 401.
Q: Can the 401 Unauthorized error be fixed by emptying the browser’s cache?
Yes, you can fix the 401 Unauthorized error by clearing the cache and cookies on your browser. This will eliminate any old or inaccurate authentication data that might be the source of the problem.
Q: What is the cause of a 401 Unauthorized error?
Invalid credentials, missing authentication headers, session timeouts, IP limitations, and incorrect server configurations are the most common causes of this error.
