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Troubleshooting 403 and 404 Errors When Saving Formidable Forms Settings

18 threads Sep 9, 2025

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Encountering a 403 Forbidden or 404 Not Found error when trying to save your form settings can be a frustrating roadblock. Based on common community reports, these errors are often related to server configuration rather than a bug in the Formidable Forms plugin itself. This guide will help you understand why these errors happen and walk you through the most effective solutions.

Why Do These Errors Occur?

A 403 error typically indicates that the server understands your request but is refusing to authorize it. This is frequently a security measure. A 404 error means the server cannot find the requested resource. Both can be triggered when a security module on your server, such as ModSecurity, incorrectly flags a legitimate action from the Formidable Forms plugin as a potential threat and blocks it.

Common Solutions to Try

1. Check for Server-Level Conflicts

The most common cause of a 403 error on save is a server firewall or security rule. If you are on a LiteSpeed server or any server with ModSecurity, you or your hosting provider may need to adjust the rules to allow Formidable Forms' operations. Contact your web host's support team and ask them to check the ModSecurity audit log for any rules that were triggered when you attempted to save the settings. They can often whitelist the specific action.

2. Perform a Conflict Test

While a 403 error is often server-related, it's always good practice to rule out conflicts with other software on your site. To perform a basic conflict test:

  1. Temporarily deactivate all other plugins except Formidable Forms.
  2. Switch your theme to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
  3. Attempt to save your form settings again.

If the error disappears, reactivate your plugins and theme one by one, testing after each, to identify the source of the conflict.

3. Re-save Your Permalinks

For 404 errors, particularly those related to viewing entries or detail pages, a simple fix is often to refresh your site's permalink structure. Navigate to WordPress Dashboard > Settings > Permalinks and simply click the "Save Changes" button without making any modifications. This can reset the rewrite rules and resolve the issue.

When to Seek Further Help

If the steps above do not resolve your issue, the problem may require more advanced server-level troubleshooting that is best handled by your hosting provider. For issues specifically related to premium features of Formidable Forms, the 'Formidable Forms – Contact Form Plugin, Survey, Quiz, Payment, Calculator Form & Custom Form Builder' team provides dedicated support through their official helpdesk.

By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and resolve the most common causes of save errors, getting your forms back on track.

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