Hi @wearebrainstormmedia,
I hope you are doing well today!
A 403 Forbidden Error typically indicates that the server understands the request but refuses to authorize it. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but when it’s specifically related to activating a plugin like Smush on your WordPress site, there are a few common causes and solutions to consider:
1. Security Plugins and Server Security Settings
If you have security plugins installed, they might be blocking requests made by the Smush plugin. Try temporarily disabling your security plugins to see if that resolves the issue. If it does, you’ll need to adjust the settings of your security plugin to allow Smush to operate correctly.
Some hosting providers have strict security rules that might block the operations of plugins like Smush, especially if they make external requests. Contact your hosting provider and ask if their security settings might be causing the issue. They may need to whitelist certain IPs used by Smush as listed below that you can see on https://wpmudev.com/docs/getting-started/wpmu-dev-ip-addresses/
IP addresses used by Smush
165.227.251.117
165.227.251.120
140.82.60.49
45.63.10.140
2. File Permissions
Incorrect file permissions on your server can lead to a 403 error. Ensure that your files and directories have the correct permissions. Generally, folders should be 755 or 750, and files should be 644 or 640. You can change file permissions using an FTP client or through the file manager in your hosting control panel.
3. .htaccess File
A misconfigured .htaccess file can also lead to a 403 error. Try renaming your .htaccess file (for example, to .htaccess_old) and see if that resolves the issue. If it does, you’ll need to generate a new .htaccess file by going to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and simply clicking “Save Changes” without making any changes.
4. Plugin Conflict
Another plugin might be conflicting with Smush. Try deactivating all other plugins and then activate Smush to see if the issue persists. If the error goes away, reactivate your plugins one by one to identify the conflicting plugin.
5. Check Server Logs
Server logs can provide more details about the source of the 403 error. Check your server error logs through your hosting control panel or ask your hosting provider for assistance. This can give you more insight into what’s causing the issue. Conclusion
Resolving a 403 error when activating a plugin like Smush involves checking and adjusting file permissions, ensuring there are no conflicts with other plugins or security settings, and possibly contacting your hosting provider for more specific support.
Please follow these steps and let us know if you need further help on this.
Kind regards,
Zafer
