Last updated on July 5th, 2026 at 08:24 am
Issue: External links on your site return a 403 HTTP status code, meaning access to the linked page or resource is forbidden. This often happens when a server blocks crawlers or restricts access.
Fix: Check the availability of the linked page or resource and take appropriate action.
How to Fix for Beginners
Test the Link: Click the link in your browser to see if it works for users.
Example: If https://example.com/resource shows a “403 Forbidden” error, it’s not accessible.
Verify in Google Search Console: Check if search engines encounter the same 403 error for the link.
Example: Use the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to test the link.
Resolve with the Website Owner:
If the content was removed, contact the external site owner to confirm if it can be restored.
If crawlers are blocked, ask the owner to adjust their server settings to allow bot access.
Update or Remove Links: If the issue persists:
Replace the link with a working alternative if the content is available elsewhere.
Remove the link if it’s no longer useful or relevant.
Monitor for Recurrences: Periodically audit external links on your site to catch and fix similar issues.
Tip: Regularly checking and maintaining external links ensures a better user experience and keeps your site SEO-friendly.