The 401 error is a fairly common problem that people encounter because it can occur in any browser.
The 401 (Unauthorized) status code indicates that the request has not been applied because it does not contain valid authentication credentials for the target resource, according to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). A WWW-Authenticate header field containing at least one challenge relevant to the target resource MUST be sent by the server producing a 401 response.
An HTTP 400 status code is returned when a request is unsuccessfully made. Specifically, a 401 error occurs when your browser refuses to let you access the page you are attempting to view.
Any browser may encounter 401 errors, therefore the message that appears may vary.
These mistakes happen on websites that demand a login to access.
Another possibility is that a small error is what’s causing the issue.
You can be certain that the problem is client-side, also known as browser-side, if you run into an error code in the 400s.
One of the most frequent causes of a 401 error is that the authorization cannot be successfully completed because of outdated cookies and cache in your browser.
In other cases, a plugin error or incompatibility is the source of this error.
Another possibility is that a small error is what’s causing the issue.
After going over some of the history of the 401 error, it’s time to talk about how to fix it.
Making sure you used the correct URL is the simplest possible fix, so let’s start there.
The purpose of your browser’s cache is to speed up page loads so you can have a better online experience.
Resolving the 401 error can also be accomplished by flushing your DNS (Domain Name Server).
It’s possible that something other than your browser is the cause of your 401 error.
If the problem still exists at this point, it might be the result of a server-side issue.
Techniques to Resolve the 401 Error
The following five techniques will help you resolve the 401 error:
- Check the URL for any errors.
- Delete the cache in your browser.
- Restart your DNS.
- Turn off all of your WordPress plugins.
- Examine the response for the WWW-Authenticate header.
Now let’s look at an illustration of a 401 error.
A client-side error, the HTTP status code "401 UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS" indicates that the website’s server has sent a "WWW-AUTHENTICATE" header response back to the visitor with an error. The error page has loaded and access has been denied because the visitor did not supply valid authentication credentials for the target resource.
Stated differently, THIS ERROR HAS YOU TRYING TO ACCESS A PAGE THAT THE SERVER HAS PROTECTED. To allow you access, the server needs the correct login credentials.
The specific error message might change based on your browser or the hosting server for the website.
The HTTP 401 Error – Unauthorized, Access Denied, Error 401 Unauthorized, 401 Unauthorized, and 401 Authorization Required are other variations of the 401 error.
Usually, a login prompt appears first when you access a protected page. A username and password are needed.
You must enter the correct login credentials in order to view the page. You will see the error message if you cancel the prompt or enter the wrong credentials.