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Help! Google Says ‘Blocked Due to 4xx’ – Here’s How I Fixed It

Hunter Mosaddek
April 11, 2025

How to Fix "Blocked Due to Other 4xx Issue" in Google Search Console?

Google’s “Blocked due to other 4xx issue” warning in Search Console (GSC) can tank your SEO rankings and frustrate users.

While most guides cover basic 403 or 404 errors, they often skip critical codes like 401 (Unauthorized), 408 (Timeout), and 451 (Unavailable for Legal Reasons).

Worse, misconfigured SSL, mixed content, or overlooked server logs can silently trigger 4xx-like issues.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to diagnose and fix all 4xx errors—including gaps most tutorials miss—with actionable code snippets, server log analysis, and EAT-compliant strategies to safeguard your site’s health?

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What Are 4xx Errors?

4xx errors are client-side issues where the server refuses a request. Common culprits include:
  • 403 Forbidden: Blocked access due to permissions.
  • 404 Not Found: Missing pages.
  • 429 Too Many Requests: Server overload.
  • 401 Unauthorized: Missing authentication (e.g., login walls).
  • 408 Timeout: Slow server responses.
  • 451 Unavailable: Legal restrictions (e.g., GDPR).

Possible Causes & Fixes

403 Forbidden

The server understood your request but refuses to authorize access. Common causes:
  • Incorrect file/folder permissions
  • IP blocking (firewall/security rules)
  • Missing index file (index.html/index.php)
  • IP-based blocking via .htaccess or firewalls.

Quick Fixes (5-Minute Solutions)

Check the URL
  • Ensure no typos (case-sensitive!)
  • Example: domain.com/Folder ≠ domain.com/folder
Clear Browser Cache
  • Chrome/Firefox: Ctrl + Shift + R (hard reload)
Test with Incognito Mode
  • Bypass extensions/cookies causing conflicts
Verify File Permissions 
# Safe permissions for most servers:
chmod 644 files   # -rw-r--r--
chmod 755 folders # drwxr-xr-x

Advanced Fixes (For Developers)

A. Apache Server (.htaccess)

# Fix 403 in .htaccess
Options -Indexes  # Disable directory listing
<IfModule mod_authz_core.c>
    Require all granted
</IfModule>

B. Nginx Server

# nginx.conf fix
location / {
    autoindex on;
    allow all;
}

C. WordPress Sites

  1. Rename .htaccess → .htaccess.bak (temporarily)
  2. Deactivate security plugins (Wordfence, iThemes)

Troubleshooting Checklist

  • Check server error logs (/var/log/nginx/error.log or /var/log/apache2/error.log)
  • Disable mod_security (temporarily)
  • Verify file ownership (Apache: www-data, Nginx: nginx)
  • Test with curl -I yourdomain.com (bypasses browser issues)
Still stuck?
Most 403 errors can be resolved in under 15 minutes with proper diagnosis.
Contact US.

401 Unauthorized

Causes:
  • Pages behind login walls (e.g., member-only content).
  • Misconfigured .htaccess password protection.
Fixes:
  • Remove HTTP authentication for public pages.
  • Use meta robots noindex for private content.
Code Snippet:
# Remove .htaccess password protection
AuthType None
Require all granted

408 Request Timeout

Causes:
  • Slow server response (>15 seconds).
  • Resource-heavy scripts (PHP, JavaScript).
Fixes: Tool Recommendation: Test speed with GTmetrix (free speed test).

451 Unavailable for Legal Reasons

Causes:
  • Geo-blocking (e.g., GDPR compliance).
  • DMCA takedowns.
Fixes:
  • Use a CDN (e.g., Cloudflare) to manage geo-restrictions.
  • Replace removed content with a 410 (Gone) status.

410 (Gone)

This means the page has been permanently removed. If intentional, leave it as is. Otherwise, restore the page or set up a 301 redirect to a relevant page.

429 (Too Many Requests)

Your server is blocking Googlebot due to excessive requests. Reduce crawl rate in Google Search Console or upgrade hosting to handle more traffic.

400 (Bad Request)

This often happens due to incorrect URLs. Check for broken links or incorrect request headers in your CMS or website code.

405 (Method Not Allowed):

The server doesn’t allow certain HTTP methods. Ensure your robots.txt and server configuration permit Googlebot’s crawling.

Advanced Fixes for Developers

A. Redirects and .htaccess Examples

Most guides lack redirect code. For 301 redirects:
# Redirect 410 (Gone) to a new page
Redirect 410 /old-page.html

# Redirect 404 to homepage
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ / [L,R=301]
Authority Link: Apache Redirect Guide.

B. Server Log Analysis

Locate error logs for Apache (/var/log/apache2/error.log) or Nginx (/var/log/nginx/error.log). Look for entries like:
[client 66.249.66.1] AH01630: client denied by server configuration: /wp-admin/
Shared Hosting? Use cPanel’s Error Log tool or contact support. “How to read Apache error logs for 4xx errors” (DigitalOcean Tutorial).

C. SSL and Mixed Content Issues

Mixed content (HTTP/HTTPS conflicts) can mimic 4xx errors. Fix with:
  • Use Why No Padlock? (free tool) to scan.
  • Update internal links to https://.

Prevention Tips

      1. Audit Links Monthly: Use Ahrefs (broken link checker).
      2. Set Up Custom 404 Pages: Guide users back with navigation.
      3. Monitor Crawl Stats: Adjust Googlebot’s rate in GSC (Settings > Crawl Rate).
      4. Canonical Tags: Avoid “soft 4xx” pages with 200 status codes.
EAT Tip: Cite Google’s Webmaster Guidelines for canonicals (source).

Conclusion

Fixing 4xx errors isn’t just about patching broken links—it’s about understanding server logic, security rules, and Googlebot’s behavior.

By addressing gaps like 401, 408, and SSL conflicts, using tools like Screaming Frog and GTmetrix, and following EAT best practices (e.g., citing authoritative sources), you’ll protect your site’s crawlability and rankings.

Stay proactive: automate audits, leverage CDNs, and always validate fixes with curl -I or GSC’s URL Inspector.

Category : Technical SEO
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