Fix: “Access Denied, You Don’t Have Permission to Access on This Server” Error

If you’ve encountered the “Access Denied, You don’t have permission to access on this server” error while trying to access a website, there are a few potential causes to consider.

How to Fix Access Denied, You Don’t Have Permission to Access on This Server Error

Two common culprits of this error are your LAN Proxy Server Settings and VPN, but it could also be related to a corrupted browser cache, a problematic DNS server, or conflicting browser extensions. In this guide, we’ll explore all of these possible causes and show you what you can do to resolve the error and gain access to the website you need. 

1. Check If the Website is Down for Everyone

If you encounter this error only when you visit a specific website, the first thing you should do is check whether the issue is on your end. This can easily be done by visiting a website like Downdetector and checking the status of the website that’s blocking your access. 

If Downdetector shows reports of the website being offline/unavailable for many people, it means that the issue is not being caused by something on your end. In this case, the only thing you can do is wait for the website to come back online. 

Checking the status of the website on Downdetector

If Downdetector shows no reports of the website being offline, it means that something on your end is causing the problem. In this case, you can try the solutions listed below to resolve this error. 

2. Disable LAN Proxy Server (If Applicable)

If you have the LAN Proxy Server setting enabled on your PC, it is likely the main cause of this error. The Proxy Server acts as a gateway or checkpoint between your computer and internet traffic. This helps safeguard your computer from cyber threats. It is similar to a VPN, but it works differently. 

However, the Proxy Server can sometimes stop websites from working properly because it may block access to certain URLs or IP addresses. This can cause all sorts of connection errors, such as the one you’re currently facing.

To resolve this issue, you can disable the LAN Proxy Server on your system by following the steps we’ve listed below:

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run Dialog Box.
2. Type inetcpl.cpl in the search bar and press enter.

   

   Opening Internet Properties using Run Dialog Box

3. Navigate to the Connections tab.
4. Click on the “LAN Settings” button at the bottom right.

   

   Opening LAN Settings

5. Remove the checkmark present next to “Use a proxy server for your LAN.”

   

   Removing Proxy Server

6. Click on OK.
7. Click on Apply.

Now that the LAN Proxy Server is disabled, open your browser and check whether you’ve gained access to the website. If you still face the error, don’t worry as we’ve listed many more solutions below.

3. Disable VPN (If Applicable)

Having a VPN (Virtual Private Network) enabled can protect your online data and grant you access to websites that are otherwise blocked in your region. It does this by encrypting your internet traffic and routing it through a secure server in a different location; which gives you a different IP Address.

It may be possible that the IP Address given to you by your VPN is being flagged by the website’s servers as suspicious, therefore your access is being blocked. 

To resolve this issue, simply disable your VPN software. Once you’ve done that, check whether the error has been resolved. If you can now access the website without any issues, the VPN was the cause of the error. But if the error continues to occur, the VPN is not the cause of the error and you can turn it back on if you want. 

4. Try a Different Browser

Your internet browser itself may have some issues associated with it, such as a corrupted cache or faulty browser extensions. These issues can cause many types of connectivity errors, such as this one. 

To check if your browser is the cause of this error, simply download another browser and load the same website on it. This new browser should ideally not have any extensions or other data present in it. 

If the website loads without any problems, there’s something wrong with the browser you were using. To fix your browser, can try clearing its cache, disabling its extensions, or resetting the browser from settings.

But if the website does not load on the new browser either, then the problem isn’t related to your browser. In this case, you can skip the remaining part of this solution and go to the next solution in this guide.

4.1 Clear Browser Cache

To fix your browser, the first thing you should try is clearing its cache. The cache is a storage location in your web browser where it stores copies of web pages, images, and other content that you’ve accessed in the past.

This allows your browser to load frequently visited sites more quickly by retrieving files from the cache instead of downloading them anew from the server. However, if the cache becomes too large or corrupted, it can cause issues with website access. 

Therefore, clearing your browser cache has a high chance of fixing this error. If the error is only occurring on a specific website, and all other websites work fine, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox allow you to clear the cache of only that specific site.

But one thing to keep in mind is that this method will also delete the site data (cookies) of that particular website, so any credentials (username and password) that you have saved on that website will be reset. 

Follow these steps to clear the cache of only a specific website on Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three dots at the top-right corner of the Window.
2. Click on Settings.
   

   

   Opening Browser Settings

3. Navigate to the Privacy and Security tab.
4. Click on “Site Settings.”
   

   

   Opening Site Settings

5. Scroll down to the Content section and click on “Cookies and site data.”
   

   

   Opening Cookies and Site Data Settings

6. Click on “See all site data and permissions.”

   

   Opening Site Data and Permissions Menu

7. Use the search bar to find the specific website where you’re facing the error.
8. Click on the trash can icon to delete its cache and other site data, such as cookies. 

   

   Clearing Site Data

Follow these steps to clear the cache of only a specific website on Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox and open the History tab by pressing Ctrl + H at the same time.
2. Use the search bar to locate the website that’s giving you the error.
3. Right-click on the website and select “Forget About This Site” to clear its cache and site data. 

   

   Clearing the cache of a specific site on Mozilla Firefox

Follow these steps to clear the cache for all sites on Google Chrome:

1. Open Settings and go to the Privacy and Security tab.
2. Click on “Clear browsing data.”
   

   

   Opening Browser Data Settings

3. Select “Cached images and files” only. 
4. Set the Time Range to “All time.”
5. Press the Clear Data button.

   

   Clearing Cache on Google Chrome

Follow these steps to clear the cache for all sites on Mozilla Firefox:

1. Click on the three lines at the top-right corner of the Mozilla Firefox Window.
2. Click on Settings.
   

   

   Opening Mozilla Firefox Settings

3. Navigate to the Privacy and Security tab.
4. Click on the “Clear data” button next to Cookies and Site Data.

   

   Opening Site Data Settings on Firefox

5. Select “Cached Web Content”. 
6. Press the Clear button.

   

   Clearing cache on Firefox

Now that your browser cache has been reset, you should have no issues accessing the website. However, if your access to it still gets denied on this browser, then the next solution is to disable your browser extensions. 

4.2 Disable Browser Extensions

Browser extensions are known to cause issues with certain websites as they can sometimes conflict with the script that’s being used by the site. When this conflict happens, the site usually rejects the user’s connection, which leads to connection errors such as this one. 

Browser extensions can also conflict with the security settings of your browser and cause connectivity problems, as not all browser settings are completely safe and secure. Therefore, it’s very important to choose your extensions carefully and only install the ones that are trusted. 

To check whether your browser extensions are the cause of this issue, you can simply temporarily disable them by following the steps written below:

1. Open your browser and click on the three dots at the top-right corner.
2. Select Settings.
   

   

   Opening Browser Settings

3. Click on the “Extensions” option from the list of options on the left.

   

   Opening Browser Extensions Menu

4. Disable all extensions by clicking on the blue switch.

   

   Disabling Browser Extensions

After disabling all extensions, load the erroneous website and see if you’ve gained access. If your browser still isn’t allowing you to access the site, you will have to reset your browser.

4.3 Reset your Browser

Since clearing the cache and disabling extensions didn’t fix your browser, the only thing left to do is reset your browser back to its factory settings. This will almost make your browser brand new, so any errors present in the browser will be removed and the problem you’re facing will finally be resolved. 

Before you reset your browser, it’s important to note that resetting your browser will not delete everything. On Google Chrome, the following data will remain saved, and everything else will be deleted. 

1. Saved usernames and passwords.
2. Auto-fill suggestions.
3. Browsing history.
4. Bookmarks.

On Mozilla, the following data will remain saved:

1. Bookmarks.
2. Saved usernames and passwords. 
3. Cookies.
4. Auto-fill suggestions. 
5. Personal dictionary (saved words). 
6. Download and browse history. 

To reset your Google Chrome browser, follow the steps listed below:

1. Open browser Settings. 
2. Click on the “Reset settings” option from the list of options on the left.
3. Click on “Restore settings to their original defaults.”

   

   Resetting Chrome

4. Press the Reset Settings button.

To reset your Mozilla Firefox browser, follow the steps listed below:

1. Click on the three lines at the top-right corner of the Mozilla Firefox Window.
2. Click on Help.
   

   

   Opening Firefox Help menu

3. Click on More Troubleshooting Information.
   

   

   Opening Troubleshooting Information menu

4. Press the Refresh Firefox button. 

   

   Resetting Firefox

5. Temporarily Disable Firewall and Antivirus 

Antivirus and firewall programs are designed to protect your computer from unauthorized access and malicious activity. They work by inspecting incoming and outgoing network traffic and blocking any suspicious or potentially harmful activity. If you have these programs active and you connect to a website, they first assess the security level of the website. 

Once the Firewall and Antivirus have deemed the website as safe, they allow you to establish a connection to it. But if the website is deemed unsafe, they completely block your connection to it, which results in connectivity errors.

Oftentimes, the Windows Firewall and Antivirus programs block legitimate network traffic, including requests to access a particular server or resource. When this happens, the “Access Denied, You don’t have permission to access on this server” occurs. 

To ensure that your Firewall and Antivirus programs aren’t the culprits of this error, you will have to disable them temporarily and check whether it makes a difference. Keep in mind that you do not want to disable them permanently, as that leaves your computer unprotected from online threats.

Follow the steps we’ve written below to temporarily disable the Windows Firewall:

1. Press Windows Key to open the Start menu, type “Windows Security” and hit enter.

   

   Opening Windows Security

2. Select “Firewall & network protection” from the list of options on the left.
3. Click on the networks and disable Microsoft Defender Firewall.

   

   Disabling Firewall

In case you have any third-party Firewall program installed, make sure to disable that as well. 

Follow the steps we’ve written below to temporarily disable your Antivirus software:

1. In the Windows Security menu, select “Virus & threat protection” from the list of options on the left.
2. Click on the Open app option.

   

   Opening Antivirus Menu

This will open the interface of your Antivirus program. Navigate to the settings menu and temporarily disable the Antivirus.

In case you do not have any third-party Antivirus program, simply disable the Microsoft Defender Antivirus by clicking on Manage Settings and disabling Real-Time Protection. 

After disabling the Antivirus, open your browser and load the website. If the website loads without any issues, it means that your Antivirus program was the cause of the issue. In this case, you should download a new Antivirus program since your current one is causing problems. 

If you don’t know which one to install, you can check out our guide where we’ve listed the 5 best Antivirus programs for Windows. 

6. Use a VPN

If you’ve tried accessing the website from different browsers but your access is getting blocked on each one, one guaranteed way to access the website is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). It’s possible that the website has geographical or network restrictions that are preventing you from accessing it.

Using a VPN will allow you to bypass all these restrictions and access the website. The VPN does this by encrypting your traffic and re-routing it from a remote server. This will make it appear as if you’re accessing the website from a different location than your actual one.

If you don’t have a VPN currently installed on your system and are unsure of which one to install, check out our guide where we’ve listed the best 5 best VPNs currently available. 

Once you’ve installed the VPN, open it and set the virtual location to a country that does not heavily restrict internet for its residents, such as the US, Canada, or the UK. Once your VPN is connected, you should be able to connect to any website without issues.

7. Contact the Admin of the Website

If you’re facing this error only on a specific website, and none of the previous solutions in this guide have resolved the error, the only thing left to do is to contact the admin of the website that you’re trying to connect to. 

The website admin may be able to provide additional information or assistance in resolving the issue. They may be able to check the server logs to see if there are any error messages or access restrictions that are preventing access to the resource.

But one important thing to keep in mind is that when you’re contacting the admin, it’s crucial to give as much detail as possible about the issue. You should tell them about when the error started occurring, the reference number given with the error, and the steps you’ve taken to solve the error yourself.

It’s also worth noting that the website admin may not always be able to resolve the issue, especially if it’s related to a problem with the server or network infrastructure. In such cases, they may need to contact their hosting provider or IT team for further assistance.

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