How to Solve 401 Unauthorized Access Error?
When you want to login to any page are you facing a 401 Unauthorized Access error?
401 Unauthorized Access Error is a known HTML Error Code, which encounters when you are surfing on the internet. It usually displayed on the site that requires user credentials. The meaning of this error is very cleared that you don’t have access rights to the requested page.
This page will not load until you sign in with a valid User ID and Password. This message reminds us to fill the right details if, you want to login to your site.
What does 401 Unauthorized Access Error Means?
All HTTP response status codes that are in the category of 4xx, all considered as Client-Side error response. It means that you, your browser, or your connected hardware are unable to access some required steps, that are necessary to access particular web content.
It might be a problem with your wrong username and password, might be something wrong in your hardware configuration that needs to be changed, or might be connectivity error.
The 401 Unauthorized Access Error is an HTTP Status code that means you don’t have permission to access the requested website and if you want, then you have to login first. If you are trying to log in, and you are receiving the 401 Unauthorized Access error, then it probably means that entered credentials are invalid for some reason.
Mostly this error occurs when you access that site where you need to provide additional login information. Although this is a client-side error, it can be triggered as a server error when confirming the authentication credentials.
Variations of 401 Error
The error is not standard, so keep this in mind, the error represents itself in different ways. Some of the error variations are:
- “401 Unauthorized”
- “Authorization Required”
- “HTTP Error 401 – Unauthorized”
- “Response: HTTTP_Unauthorized”
Note: Representation of the error also depends on the site, because some website owners create there own custom page.
What are the Reasons?
1. Incorrect URL
When you are trying to access an invalid URL, then you get 401 error message.
2. Incorrect Login Credentials
If you enter the wrong username and the password, Hence you get the 401 error.
3. Trying to Access a Page without Log In
When you want to request a part of the site which requires you to be securely logged in, then you’ll get 401 error message.
4. DNS Error
In some rare circumstances, it might be possible that the DNS lookup errors are responsible for 401 error message on your browser. The site requires login information without prompting you to log in (server-side issue).
How to Fix 401 Unauthorized Error?
Method 1) Incorrect URL
Before doing anything else, check the entered URL is correct or not, most of the time this is the main culprit of the 401 error. Sometimes you give the wrong URL or try to open the URL link which is reserved for only authorized users before you type, to make sure that you provide a valid address.
Many web servers provide security from inappropriate URLs for example, obtaining a file directory through URL to access the data. In this case, type the correct URL and reload the page to solve the problem. Sometimes if we are going to a particular URL through some link, then it’s possible the link is wrong.
Method 2) Make Sure You Logged In
If your URL is valid, but you can not access the site, then it might be possible you aren’t login to the site.
In the landing page of the site, look for a login link, then give your credentials and load the page. If you don’t have credentials, then create a new account with the help of secure access link before accessing the site. Once you are log in to the site, you’re able to access any part of the site without any trouble.
Method 3) Insert the Correct Login Credentials
If you are getting a 401 error after login, then it means your provided username either password is invalid. You have to provide correct username and password. In case, when you forget your password, then reset it by using the sites in-built Password Reset feature to choose a new password.
This process is simple if you registered the website with your valid email address, then most of the sites send an email with your username and with a new password. Otherwise, you have to contact the website admin to regain the access. Try again after filling the correct login information of your site.
Method 4) Clear your Web Browser Cache and Cookies
When 401 error occurs, it means the client has not authorized to perform the particular request, the reason behind this may be the invalid or corrupted cookies which cause improper authentication for the server.
Your browser cache stores the local copies of web content and resources, it might be possible that your live version is conflicting with the cached version of your desktop which causes 401 error. You have to clear your cache and cookies to get rid of this error with the help of the combination of keys ctrl+shift+del.
Method 5) Temporarily Disable all Plugins and Theme
To solve the 401 error, you have to disable all your Plugins and Theme. Maybe one of your Plugin or Theme creates 401 error.
You have to disable all Plugins and Theme by Rename the name of the folder from the File Manager in the cPanel.
If your Plugin or Theme is the reason for the 401 error, then disable all Plugins or theme can resolve the issue.
Method 6) Eliminating a Potential DNS Error
When DNS error is the reason behind 401 error, then you have to flush your DNS to remove it, and advised you to maintain your internet services on a regular basis.
To flush DNS in windows follow the below steps:
1. Press window key+R to Open the Run window.
2. Type cmd command in the window and click on Ok button.
3. A command terminal window will be open on the screen. Type the ipconfig /flushdns command on the screen and press Enter.
4. After a few minutes, it ends up with the Successfully Flushed message.
Hopefully, the steps given in this article will help you to understand more about the HTML 401 Error and also how to fix it.
HTTP Status Code (the 4xx and 5xx varieties) appears, when there is an error occur during the time of loading web page. 4xx HTTP Status Code is related to the Client-Side errors, and some of them are as:
Under the category of 5xx HTTP Status Code, the errors related to Server-Side errors. Some of them are:
