A Complete Guide to Common WordPress HTTP Status Code Errors

royjemee

Updated: August 21, 2025

5 Mins read

It’s a beautiful sunny day, you’re up early sitting on your porch admiring the weather and you pull out your laptop excited by the endless possibilities of a productive day to follow.

You open your browser, go over to the search bar, and type in your website URL. Just as you’re taking a sip of your coffee your eyes wander to the screen and you see this

Vibes ruined, day ruined, mood ruined! But it can get way worse! What if you don’t know what the http status code error even means?

We’ve all been there. Trying to get work done only to be stopped in our tracks by an http error code. It's truly a nightmare, especially for a non-technical person who lacks the know-how to decipher the code.

That is exactly why we’ve decided to write this guide for you. We’ll take you through the dark seedy underbelly of the world of http error codes and walk you through what each means and what to do when you run into one.

But first, we need to understand what an http error code is.

What is an HTTP Status Code Error?

HTTP status codes are messages from web servers to your browser. They help explain what happened when you try to visit a webpage. These are important! Why? Because it simply shows what's wrong with your site.

Here’s how it works:

Requesting a Page: Suppose, you typed a web address or clicked a link. Now the browser asks it's (the URLs) server for information for the given URL/Link.
Server Processes the Request: Once the server get the request and search information for the page.
Server Sends a Response: Then the server processes and approves the information and sends a response with status codes.

There are five (5) types of status codes. Which are following:

1xx Informational: The server request was received and current processing.
2xx Success: The request was successful, and the server has sent the page or file you wanted. The request is successfully processed. And it sent you required information.
3xx Redirection: The page you're looking for is moved, so you need to move on to a new page.
4xx Client Error: There is a problem with your request. Either the page is missing or you don't have access to the page.
5xx Server Error: This is a server-sided issue. The server failed to process the request you gave.

Status codes gives you information on why a page isn’t loading. It indicates what might be wrong and how to fix it.

If you don't, well do not worry! Because this article is for you. And I'll try my level best to inform you all the things you should know in a very simple way.

However, you might think what these error codes are actually referring to. As, mostly the terms are quite specific. Although developers and web designers easily understands it, a basic user might not.

So, before I share details about the status codes, I've listed the frequently used terms for you.

Terminology List

HTTP
This is the system that lets your browser talk to websites. It moves data between your device and the server.

Status Code
A 3-digit number that shows what happened when you tried to load a page. It tells you if things went right or wrong.

URI (Uniform Resource Identifier)
This is a web address that points to something online. URLs (like the ones you type in the browser) are one type of URI.

Server
A powerful computer that stores websites. It sends pages, images, and data to you when you ask for them.

Client
That’s your device or browser. It asks the server for stuff like pages or files.

Browser
An app you use to visit websites. For example: Chrome, Brave, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Redirect
A web page automatically sends you to another page. This happens when a link has changed to a new directory.

Cache
It is the temporary storage for browsers. It helps to load websites faster the next time you visit.

Permissions
Rules that decide who can view, change, or use files on a site or server.

Logs
Records of what happened on a server. They help you find and fix problems.

Plugin
An extra tool you add to your WordPress site to add new features or functions.

Theme
The design and layout of your WordPress site. It controls how your site looks.

Host / Hosting Provider
A service that stores your website and makes it available online. They keep your site running and accessible to visitors.

Common WordPress HTTP Status Code Errors

Informational Responses (1xx)

1xx status codes are messages from the server that tell you the request has been received and is being processed. These are not final responses, but rather updates that the server is working on your request.

1xx codes are generally not common in everyday browsing. They are more like behind-the-scenes updates to let the browser know the server is handling things.

Successful Responses (2xx)

2xx codes mean your request worked properly. The server received your request, and processed it. Meaning the server responded just as expected.

Redirection Messages (3xx)

3xx codes mean your browser needs switch to finish the request. Usually, this happens when a page/URL moved to a new location.

Client Error Responses (4xx)

4xx codes mean there was a problem with the request. Maybe you typed the wrong URL. Or, you tried to access a restricted page.

Server Error Responses (5xx)

5xx codes mean the server ran into an error and couldn’t finish the request. This indicates a server-sided error.

Some Common WordPress Error Codes

If you manage a WordPress site, you’ve probably come across a few error codes. These HTTP status codes can be confusing. But they actually give you helpful insights about what’s going wrong.

Here are some of the most common error codes WordPress users get.

403 Forbidden Error

403 error occurs when you're blocked from accessing the page. It happens because of incorrect file permissions.

How to fix it: You need to tweak your .htaccess file. Temporarily disable all the security plugins to fix it. Or seek assistance from the hosting provider.

404 Not Found Error

The most common error is 404 not found. This means your permalink settings are broken or your .htaccess file is corrupted.

How to fix it: Resetting permalinks regenerating the .htaccess file will fix 404 errors

400 Bad Request Error

400 bad request usually happens during AJAX requests. Plugin conflicts, theme issues, or bad server settings are the main cause of it.

How to fix it: Try disabling plugins one by one. If the issue still persists, switch to a default theme. Sometimes increasing the PHP memory limit would do the trick.