What it means for a link
Often a false alarm in link checkers: many sites block automated requests with 403 while working fine in a browser.
Common causes
- Bot protection or a firewall rule
- File permissions on the server
- Geo-blocking
How to fix it
Open the link in a browser. If it works there, keep it; if not, replace it.
How Google handles it
Not indexed. If Googlebot gets 403 on your site, check your firewall or CDN rules.
Check your own URLs: paste a list into the bulk HTTP status checker, trace one URL with the redirect checker, or test every link on a page with the broken link checker.
HTTP 403 questions
What does HTTP status 403 mean?
403 Forbidden: The server refuses to serve the request.
Is a 403 a broken link?
Often a false alarm in link checkers: many sites block automated requests with 403 while working fine in a browser.
How do I fix a 403?
Open the link in a browser. If it works there, keep it; if not, replace it.
How does Google handle 403?
Not indexed. If Googlebot gets 403 on your site, check your firewall or CDN rules.