Fix the “Sorry, You are Not Allowed to Access This Page” Error in WordPress

“Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page.”

It’s one of those frustrating moments: you’re rushing to make critical changes to your WordPress site, and suddenly, you’re blocked by this error message. It often occurs due to permission issues or security restrictions imposed by your server.

This error doesn’t just disrupt your workflow; it can also affect your site’s user experience and potentially harm your brand’s reputation. The good news? It’s fixable.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through effective methods to resolve the “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” error in WordPress. We’ll also cover the potential causes, so you can address the issue at its root. Whether you’re managing your website yourself or working with a WordPress development company, understanding how to troubleshoot this error can help you ensure smoother site management.

What is the “Sorry, You Are Not Allowed to Access This Page” Error?

While we often think of it as an “error,” the “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” message in WordPress is actually a security measure. It protects certain parts of your site by restricting access based on permissions.

The issue arises when you, as an Administrator (who should have full access), are locked out of areas you should be able to manage—often the entire WordPress admin dashboard or specific sections of it. This situation commonly occurs after making updates to your theme, plugins, or WordPress itself.

In short, this error means that WordPress believes you don’t have the right permissions to access that part of the site. Whether it’s a permissions issue or a data mismatch between files and your database, it prevents you from making necessary changes to your site.

What are the Potential Causes?

There are several reasons why this error may show up on your site. Let’s break down the most common causes:

• Incorrect User Permissions: The most common cause is a permissions issue. Your WordPress settings may be incorrectly configured, blocking you from accessing specific pages. Double-check your file permissions to ensure that you have the necessary authorization.
• Discrepancies in the wp-config.php File: If there’s a mismatch between the data in your wp-config.php file and your website’s database, this can lead to access issues. For example, if the username and password in this file don’t align with your database credentials, WordPress may restrict access.
• Corrupt Themes, Plugins, or WordPress Core: Sometimes, data discrepancies between your website’s files and the database can cause this error. If the information within your theme, plugin, or WordPress core files doesn’t match what’s in your database, the server might deny your access request.
• Outdated PHP Version: WordPress runs on PHP, and an outdated version of PHP can affect your website’s performance and cause access issues like this one. Keeping your PHP version up-to-date is crucial for both functionality and security.

12 Ways to Fix the “Sorry, You are Not Allowed to Access This Page” Error in WordPress

There might be multiple reasons behind the “Sorry, You are Not Allowed to Access This Page” error. You must have patience to find the cause and solve it.

So, let’s begin with some quick troubleshooting steps.

Ensure You Are an Administrator

The first thing you should check is whether your user role is set to Administrator. If your role has been downgraded or corrupted, it can block access to certain pages.

In the WordPress dashboard, you can check your user role. Go to Users → All Users and check the role column.

If you aren’t able to access the Users page, it means you are not the administrator. If you or someone else in your team accidentally deleted or changed your user role, then you can add a new admin user with phpMyAdmin.

Disable All Plugins

One common cause of the “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” error is a recently installed or updated plugin. If you suspect a plugin is behind the issue, the first step is to deactivate all your plugins.

Here’s how to troubleshoot this method:

• Deactivate Plugins to Isolate the Issue: Begin by disabling all your plugins. If the error disappears, you’ve found the likely culprit. You can reactivate your plugins one by one to pinpoint the specific plugin causing the problem. Once identified, you can troubleshoot that plugin further or remove it if it’s non-essential to your site’s functionality.

• Locked Out of the Dashboard: If you’re completely locked out of the WordPress dashboard and can’t deactivate plugins via the admin panel, you’ll need to use SFTP (via a client like FileZilla). Connect to your server and navigate to wp-content → plugins. From here, you can rename the folder of the plugin you suspect is causing the issue. For example, change plugin-name to plugin-name_old. This action effectively deactivates the plugin.
• Testing Each Plugin: After renaming the plugin folder, check your site to see if the error is resolved. If the error persists, rename the plugin folder back to its original name and repeat the process for the next plugin. Continue this until you identify the problematic plugin.

This method allows you to identify whether a plugin conflict is behind the error and provides a clear path to restore access to your site.

Activate a Default Theme

If disabling plugins doesn’t fix the issue, the problem may lie in your WordPress theme. Themes, especially after updates or customizations, can sometimes conflict with core WordPress files, causing access errors.

Here’s how to troubleshoot this method:

• Switch to a Default Theme: Try activating a default WordPress theme such as Twenty Twenty-One or Twenty Twenty. These themes are designed to be fully compatible with WordPress core and will help determine whether your current theme is causing the issue.

• Using FTP to Switch Themes: If you’re locked out of the admin area and can’t switch themes from the dashboard, you’ll need to use SFTP. Connect to your server and navigate to wp-content → themes. Locate the folder of your current active theme and rename it (e.g., from theme-name to theme-name_old).
• After renaming the folder, WordPress will automatically revert to a default theme. When you return to your site, you should see a message indicating that your active theme is broken and WordPress has activated a default theme in its place. This will restore access to your site, though it will use the default theme until you resolve the issue with your original theme.
• Troubleshooting the Theme: With the default theme activated, your site should be accessible. You can now troubleshoot your previous theme to identify whether it was the cause of the error. Once resolved, you can change your theme.

Activating a default theme helps you confirm whether your theme is causing the access issue and provides a way to restore functionality while troubleshooting the problem.

Check Your WordPress Error Log

When you’re unable to resolve the “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” error after trying basic methods like disabling plugins or switching themes, your next step should be to check your WordPress error log. Error logs can provide crucial insights into what’s causing the issue, such as:

• Plugin or theme compatibility problems: Your error log might reveal conflicts between your active plugins or themes and WordPress itself.
• Database errors: There could be issues with the connection between your WordPress installation and your database, causing access errors.
• File issues: Corrupted or missing files can also trigger the error. The log might give you information about which file or function is causing the problem.

To access your WordPress error log, you have two options:

• Check logs provided by your hosting provider: Many web hosts automatically generate error logs. You can usually access these via your hosting control panel or by reaching out to their support team.
• Set up WordPress error logs: If you’ve previously configured WordPress to maintain its own error logs, you can check the logs for details. This can be done by accessing your wp-config.php file and ensuring that debugging is enabled with this line:

define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );

Checking error logs is a more technical approach, but it’s a reliable way to uncover deeper issues that could be triggering the access error.

Check Your wp-config.php File

The wp-config.php file is critical to your WordPress site’s functionality, as it contains key configuration settings, including your database credentials. If there’s a discrepancy in this file, especially in the database information, you may encounter this error.

This issue can occur in several cases:

• Database credential mismatches: If the database name, username, or password in wp-config.php doesn’t match what’s stored in your MySQL database, it can result in access issues.
• File edits or hacking: If you’ve recently made changes to wp-config.php or suspect your site may have been hacked, this is one of the first places to check.

To troubleshoot:

• Use SFTP (via FileZilla or another client) to access your server.
• Navigate to the wp-config.php file located in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
• Carefully check the values of the database name, username, and password, ensuring they match what is stored in your database.

This process is easier if you have a file integrity monitoring or change detection system set up, as it will alert you to any changes made to this critical file.

Ensure Your Database Prefix is Correct

Each WordPress installation uses a database prefix to differentiate its tables in the database. By default, this prefix is wp_, but many users change it for security reasons. If the prefix in your wp-config.php file doesn’t match the one in your MySQL database, it can lead to access issues, including the “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” error.

This problem is especially common after:

• Site migration: When moving a WordPress site from a local environment to a live server or between hosting providers, the database prefix may not transfer correctly.
• Development staging: If you’ve worked on a staging version of your site and migrated it to a live environment, discrepancies in the database prefix can occur.

To check and correct your database prefix:

• Use SFTP to access your site’s files and open the wp-config.php file.
• Look for the database prefix line, which usually appears as $table_prefix = ‘wp_’; (the prefix might differ based on your setup).
• Next, log in to phpMyAdmin (available in your hosting control panel) and look at the prefixes for your database tables. These prefixes must match what’s listed in your wp-config.php file.
• If they don’t match, edit the prefix in the wp-config.php file to ensure they are the same.

Ensuring consistency between your database and the wp-config.php file is crucial to resolving the error.

Evaluate and Correct File Permissions

It’s also possible that your site’s file permissions have been tampered with. In this case, WordPress may consider you unauthorized to view certain areas of your site, even if you’re still listed as an Administrator.

To check your site’s file permissions, you’ll need to use SFTP to access your server. Once you’re logged in, enter the public_html directory and bulk-select wp-admin, wp-content, and wp-includes. Right-click on these folders and choose File Permissions.

In the resulting window, make sure the following options are selected:

• The Numeric Value is set to 755.
• Recurse into subdirectories is checked.
• Apply to directories only is selected.

Click on OK when you’re done. Then, highlight all the other files in public_html, right-click on them, and select File Permissions again.

This time, set the options in the permissions window to the following:

• The Numeric Value should be 644.
• Recurse into subdirectories should still be checked.
• Apply to files only should be selected.

Then, return to your site to see if this solves the problem and the message “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” is gone.

Create a New .htaccess File

If none of the previous troubleshooting methods resolve the “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” error, the issue may lie in your .htaccess file. This file controls how URLs are rewritten on your site and is critical to your WordPress installation’s functioning. A corrupt or misconfigured .htaccess file can cause access issues.

Here’s how to fix it:

• Accessing the .htaccess File: Using FTP, navigate to your website’s root directory, often labeled public_html. The .htaccess file should be located here. If you don’t see it, ensure that hidden files are visible by adjusting your FileZilla settings.
• Renaming the Existing File: Rename your .htaccess file to something recognizable, like .htaccess_backup. This effectively disables the current version of the file without deleting it.
• Creating a New .htaccess File: To create a fresh .htaccess file, download the renamed version, open it in a text editor, and replace the contents with the following default WordPress rewrite rules:

#BEGIN WordPress
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
#END WordPress

• Uploading the New File: Save the file as .htaccess and upload it back to your server using FTP. If the .htaccess file was causing the error, this step should fix the issue, and you should regain access to your WordPress dashboard.

This method works well for resolving errors caused by URL rewriting issues or broken .htaccess configurations.

Update Your PHP Version

An outdated PHP version can be a common culprit behind the “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” error. Running the latest version of PHP not only improves your site’s performance but also enhances security and compatibility with modern WordPress features. Here’s how you can troubleshoot by updating PHP:

• Check for Compatibility: Before upgrading, ensure that your themes and plugins are compatible with the latest PHP version. Some older themes or plugins may not support the newest versions, which could cause functionality issues.
• Create a Backup: Backup your WordPress site to prevent any data loss. You can use plugins like UpdraftPlus or backup your files manually through FTP and your database via phpMyAdmin.
• Create a Staging Site: To minimize risk, it’s advisable to test your site on a local staging environment using tools like XAMPP. This allows you to see how your site performs with the latest PHP version before making any changes to your live site.
• Upgrade PHP: There are two main methods to update PHP:
• VPS/Command Line: If you’re running a Virtual Private Server (VPS), you can upgrade PHP directly via the command line using appropriate commands for your server setup.
• Hosting Control Panel: For most users, PHP upgrades are managed through the hosting provider’s control panel. Navigate to the PHP settings section and select the latest version supported by WordPress.
• Contact Your Host: If you don’t have access to PHP version controls, reach out to your hosting provider and request that they update your PHP version.

By upgrading to the latest PHP version, you not only resolve compatibility issues but also enhance your site’s security and overall performance.

Restore a Previous Version of Your Site

If none of the previous solutions have worked, the simplest and often quickest way to resolve the issue is to restore a previous version of your site. A recent change—such as a theme, plugin update, or configuration edit—might have triggered the error, and rolling back to a prior version can quickly restore access.

Here’s how to proceed:

• Revert Recent Changes: If you know which specific change caused the issue (for example, a recent plugin or theme update), revert that change manually. You can use a plugin like WP Rollback to easily downgrade a plugin or theme to a previous version.
• Restore from Backup: If you have a site backup from before the error occurred, restoring that backup is often the easiest way to resolve the issue. Most backup plugins like BackupBuddy allow you to easily revert to a previous version with just a few clicks.
• Manual Restoration: If you don’t have a plugin installed, you can restore your site manually by uploading the backed-up files and database using FTP and phpMyAdmin. Ensure you overwrite the existing files and database tables to roll back to the older version.

Restoring a previous version of your site can be an effective method for undoing any problematic changes or updates that triggered the error, getting your site back to a functional state quickly.

Contact Your Hosting Provider

If you’ve exhausted your troubleshooting options and still can’t fix the “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” error, it’s time to contact your WordPress hosting provider. Hosting companies often provide excellent technical support and can help resolve server-related issues that may be causing the error.

Here’s how contacting your hosting provider can help:

• Access to Server Error Logs: Your hosting provider likely has access to server error logs that you don’t. These logs can provide deeper insights into what’s causing the error, such as server misconfigurations or permission issues. They can review these logs to identify and resolve any underlying problems.
• Backups Provided by Hosting: Many hosting providers create automatic backups of your WordPress site. If a recent change caused the issue, your hosting provider can help you restore your site to a previous state using these backups, which can quickly resolve the problem without further troubleshooting.
• Technical Expertise: If the issue is beyond your technical skill set, hosting support can step in to fix server-related problems, resolve file permission issues, or provide advice on what action to take next. Many hosting providers offer 24/7 customer support, so they can help you in real-time.

By reaching out to your hosting provider, you leverage their expertise and tools to resolve the issue faster and with minimal effort on your part.

Reset Your WordPress Site

As a last resort, if none of the other troubleshooting methods work, you may need to reset your WordPress site to its default state. This process will completely wipe your current WordPress setup and revert it to a fresh configuration. While this can eliminate any underlying issues, it should be approached with caution.

Before resetting your WordPress site, it is absolutely crucial to back up all your data. This includes posts, pages, user comments, themes, plugins, and custom settings. Failing to backup your site could result in permanent data loss.

There are two main methods for resetting a WordPress site:

• Using WP Reset Plugin: The WP Reset plugin is a popular tool that can quickly reset your site. The plugin provides options to reset only specific parts of the site (like databases, themes, or plugins) or reset the entire site to its default state.
• Using WP-CLI: For more advanced users, the WP-CLI (WordPress Command Line Interface) can be used to reset your site via commands. This method is faster but requires technical knowledge of the command line.

Consider these details for a reset:

• What Happens During a Reset: When you reset WordPress, it will delete all content, including posts, pages, customizations, and user data. Essentially, it brings your site back to the state it was in when you first installed WordPress. After the reset, you can restore your content from the backup you created earlier.
• When to Use This Method: Resetting your WordPress site should be reserved for situations where all other troubleshooting methods have failed. It is a drastic step but can solve deep-rooted issues that simpler methods cannot address.

Resetting your site is a powerful option but should be handled with caution. It’s a last-resort method that can wipe your data, so make sure to have a full backup in place before proceeding.

FAQs on “Sorry, You are Not Allowed to Access This Page” Error

Regain Access to Your Site and Get Back to Business!

Getting locked out of your WordPress admin dashboard can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you’re in the middle of making important updates or managing your site. The “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” error can disrupt your workflow and impact your site’s functionality. However, with the right approach, you can troubleshoot and fix the issue without too much hassle.

Here, we discussed various potential causes and solutions to help you regain access to your site. Let’s recap the methods:

• Ensure you have the correct administrator role.
• Check for any corrupt plugins, themes, or core files.
• Disable all plugins to identify conflicts.
• Activate a default theme to rule out theme issues.
• Review your WordPress error log for insights.
• Ensure your wp-config.php file is correctly configured.
• Check that your database prefix matches your wp-config.php file.
• Create a new .htaccess file if the current one is corrupted.
• Update your PHP version to the latest.
• Restore a previous version of your site if recent changes caused the issue.
• Contact your hosting provider for further assistance.
• As a last resort, reset your WordPress site.

It’s important to keep backups of your site before making any major changes, and always ensure your WordPress is updated for better performance and security.

Remember, if you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to reach out to your hosting provider or expert WordPress developers for help.