The "403 Forbidden Error" while browsing with Safari is perhaps one of the most common errors encountered by an iPhone user. In fact, a quick search Apple's discussion forums reveals that many users have sought the solution to this seemingly ongoing issue.

To find the fix to this issue, one must first understand what this error code denotes to apply the proper measures required to get rid of it.

'403 Forbidden Error:' What Does It Mean?

An article published by GetSolved in November 2019 says that the "403 Forbidden Error" usually happens when a user tries to open a webpage. The error may be caused by trying to enter an invalid URL, internet access issues, or outdated software installed on the device.

Before pointing the issue at the device, a user might want to check if the URL in question can be accessed from a different device.

Once the issue has been isolated, a user may proceed to perform the following workarounds.

Also Read: Apple iOS 14.2 Beta Update Rolls Out with 'Buggy' Pop-up Notifications

How to Get Rid of the '403 Forbidden Error?'

iKream suggested a number of solutions on their March 1 post, which any iPhone XR user might want to try.

1. Restarting Safari - An iPhone user who had experienced this error for the first time could mean that the error is nothing but a glitch on the browser.
2. Soft-Resetting the Phone - Should the above recommendation failed, a user may choose to restart their iPhone XR. One can do so by pressing and holding the Side/Power button together with any of the Volume buttons for a few seconds. Once a prompt appears that says Slide to Power off, the user must drag the slider to the right to power down the device. The user must wait for at least 30 seconds before pressing the Side/Power button again to turn the device back on. It is worth noting that performing a soft reset on the device would not affect any saved information.
3. Clearing the Cache and Browsing Data - Devices that connect to the internet will have cached files to help load a formerly visited website faster by localizing some of the data on the phone.
   However, these seemingly harmless files can indeed cause some trouble to Safari, especially when the cached file becomes corrupted and causes the app to become unstable. To take care of this, the user must go to the iPhone's Settings, then on look for and click Safari. Once there, the user must scroll down to Privacy and Security section then tap the option that says Clear History and Website Data.
   Clearing Safari's history and cookies will not, in any way, lose all the passwords the browser saved, and neither does the information saved on the AutoFill section. The user may take another step forward by going to the Advanced section and scroll down to find the Website Data section, where one may choose to tap on the Remove All Website Data option.

If the "403 Forbidden Error" continues, it is time for the user to update to the latest iPhone software and/or reset their phone's network settings.

Doing this will restore the iPhone's default network options and completely remove the network settings saved on the device.

If all else fails, it is perhaps time to contact Apple Support and seek more advanced solutions.

Related Article: WATCH! iOS 14.2 Beta Pop-up Bug Fixes in 5 Easy Steps: Remove the Annoying Notification

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Written by Lee Mercado