How to Fix the 401 Error in WordPress (6 Solutions)

As a WordPress site owner, a 401 error can be incredibly frustrating. You try to log in to your site‘s admin area and suddenly get blocked by an ugly "401 Unauthorized" message.

This common error prevents access to your WordPress dashboard and locks you out of your own site!

After troubleshooting WordPress sites for over 15 years, I‘ve seen my fair share of these access denied errors. In this post, I‘ll share the insights I‘ve gained to help you quickly resolve 401 errors.

We‘ll cover:

• What causes 401 errors and why they happen
• 6 proven solutions to fix the 401 error
• Extra tips to prevent 401 errors in the future

By the end, you‘ll know exactly how to troubleshoot and fix 401 errors so you can get your WordPress site back online. Let‘s dig in!

What Is the 401 Error in WordPress?

The 401 error, also known as the "401 Unauthorized" or "401 Access Denied" error, occurs when WordPress cannot authenticate your access to the server.

Some common 401 error messages include:

• "401 Unauthorized"
• "401 Access Denied"
• "401 Authentication Required"
• "401 Invalid Credentials"

This error is an HTTP status code that means the request sent to the server is unauthorized. Most often, it blocks access to the WordPress admin login page and dashboard.

But occasionally, the 401 error can affect your entire WordPress site. Pages return a 401 status instead of loading normally.

According to Sucuri, 401 errors account for 15% of all WordPress security incidents. So if you see one, don‘t panic – it‘s fairly common. The good news is that this error is usually easy to fix.

Next, let‘s explore what causes 401 errors so you know how to prevent them.

What Causes the 401 Unauthorized Error in WordPress?

A 401 error occurs when there is an authentication problem between WordPress and the web server.

Here are the most common triggers for 401 errors that I‘ve encountered:

• Password protecting wp-admin: Adding a password to your wp-admin folder without providing valid credentials will trigger a 401 error.
• Too many login attempts: Multiple failed logins can trigger firewall rules that block access to wp-admin.
• Web application firewall (WAF): A WAF like Sucuri or Cloudflare can block access if not configured properly.
• Security plugins: Security plugins like Wordfence may block access during perceived attacks.
• Brute force attacks: Repeated login attempts by hackers can trigger 401 errors.
• Themes/plugins conflicts: Bugs or conflicts with themes, plugins or core files can sometimes cause 401 issues.

And less commonly:

• Outdated file/folder permissions: If permissions are too strict, WordPress may not authenticate properly.
• Web server configuration: Nginx or Apache misconfigurations can block WordPress access.
• DNS issues: DNS errors can cause authentication failures.

Now that you know why 401 errors happen, let‘s get into the solutions!

Here are the 6 best ways to fix the 401 unauthorized error in WordPress.

6 Ways to Fix the 401 Error in WordPress

1. Temporarily Disable Admin Password Protection

It‘s common to password protect the WordPress wp-admin folder for extra security.

But if you forget the password or it becomes out of sync, this can easily trigger a 401 error.

Here‘s how to disable the wp-admin password as a troubleshooting step:

1. Log in to your hosting control panel.
2. Navigate to Password Protected Directories or Directory Privacy.
3. Find your wp-admin folder and uncheck the password protection toggle.
4. Save the changes.

You should now be able to access wp-admin and log in like normal.

Tip: You can re-enable password protection after troubleshooting by creating a new, strong password.

2. Clear Your Firewall Cache

If you use a firewall like Sucuri or Cloudflare, a stale cache can cause 401 errors.

Here‘s how to clear the cache on each:

Sucuri

1. Log in to your Sucuri dashboard.
2. Go to the Firewall tab > Clear Cache.
3. Click Clear Cache.

Cloudflare

1. In your Cloudflare dashboard, go to Caching.
2. Click Clear Cache Everything.

Also try clearing your browser cache and any caching plugins you use. This resolves most firewall-related 401 errors.

3. Deactivate All Plugins

Plugin conflicts are a common cause of 401 errors in my experience.

To troubleshoot, temporarily deactivate all plugins:

• From wp-admin: On the Plugins page, select all plugins > Deactivate > Apply.
• Via FTP: Rename the /wp-content/plugins folder to plugins.deactivated.

This disables all plugins so you can test if one is causing the 401 error.

Then reactivate plugins one at a time until the issue returns. The last plugin you activated before the error is likely the culprit.

4. Switch to a Default WordPress Theme

Themes can also trigger 401 errors in some cases.

Switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One to see if your custom theme is the issue:

1. In wp-admin, go to Appearance > Themes.
2. Activate a default theme like Twenty Twenty-One.
3. Test if you can now access wp-admin.

If switching themes fixes the 401 error, contact the theme developer for support. Or, consider changing themes.

5. Reset Your WordPress Password

Sometimes the 401 error is caused by your hosting blocking access after too many failed login attempts.

Rather than guessing passwords, have WordPress email you a password reset link:

1. On the login screen, click "Lost your password?"
2. Enter your admin email address.
3. Follow the emailed reset link to change your password.

You should now be able to log in with your new password.

6. Contact Your Web Host

If you still can‘t access your WordPress dashboard or site, reach out to your web host‘s support team.

Provide details on the 401 error and troubleshooting steps you‘ve tried. Their technical staff can review server logs to determine what‘s blocking access.

The host can resolve any issues on their end or provide guidance based on the error details.

How to Prevent 401 Errors in WordPress

While fixing 401 errors is usually straightforward, prevention is ideal.

Here are some tips to avoid 401 errors in the future:

• Use strong passwords that are at least 12 characters long
• Change passwords periodically (every 90 days is recommended)
• Limit login attempts with security plugins like Loginizer
• Keep WordPress and plugins updated
• Avoid using too many plugins, or untrusted ones
• Properly configure firewalls like Sucuri, Cloudflare, or Wordfence
• Install a security plugin like Wordfence to detect attacks
• Monitor site traffic closely for spikes that indicate attacks

Taking proactive security measures makes 401 errors far less likely. See my complete WordPress security guide for more prevention tips.

Fixing the 401 Error: Recap

Dealing with a 401 unauthorized error in WordPress can be incredibly frustrating. But in most cases, it can be resolved quickly.

The most common causes include:

• Forgotten wp-admin passwords
• Too many login attempts
• Firewall conflicts
• Plugin issues
• Themes conflicts

To fix a 401 error, try:

1. Disabling the wp-admin password
2. Clearing firewall caches
3. Deactivating plugins
4. Switching themes
5. Resetting your password
6. Contacting your host

Following the tips in this guide will help you get your site back online fast. Let me know if one of these solutions works to resolve your WordPress 401 error!