Server and client errors can appear quite often on your website. dealing with such issues is a part of the journey to a successful website project, and understanding more about such errors can help you fix them quickly and efficiently, so your site functions properly, your site visitors are satisfied and search engines rank your pages higher in search results.
One such client-side error is 406 Not Acceptable. It is a very specific type of error that requires specific approaches to fixing it. This is why, in the following paragraphs, you will read about what 406 Error Not Acceptable, what causes it, and what you can do to fix it right away.
What is 406 Error Not Acceptable
406 Error is one of the client-side HTTPS status codes and indicates that the client has requested data from the web server via an Accept header that the server is unable to process.
This issue derives from the fact that the web server may not process the request sent via the Internet browser, because of the wrong header format.
When such a situation occurs, the Internet browser displays the 406 error message. 406 Error is a part of the 4xx error messages, indicating an issue on the client side in the communication between a server. Similar 4xx errors include:
- Error 400 Bad Request
- Error 401 Unauthorized
- Error 402 Payment Required
- Error 403 Forbidden
- Error 405 Method Not Allowed
- Error 408 Request Timeout
- Error 409 Conflict
There are various reasons that can prompt HTTP Error 406. Some of these are:
- Improper file size. Some web servers are set to allow a very specific file size as a security measure. If this size requirement isn’t met, then 406 Error is displayed.
- Encoding limitations. A 406 error code can be displayed on the occasion a certain encoding method isn’t accepted by the requested server.
- Location limitations. In certain situations, the requested resource might be available exclusively for a certain geographic area. In this situation, a client that requests this information outside the permitted zone will receive an Error 406 message.
- MIME type violation. Should the Internet browser request a MIME type that the server can’t provide, an Error 406 message will be displayed.
How to Fix 406 Error Not Acceptable
There are six methods that can get the issue fixed:
Method 1: Check the Requested URL
Sometimes the display of 406 Error is caused by inputting an incorrect URL. Carefully check the address for any mistakes such as mistyped, adding, or missed symbols, and try reloading the requested page. If this doesn’t fix the issue, proceed with the next method.
Method 2: Roll Back Recent Updates
If 406 Error appears after recent website updates, then these changes might well be at the root of the problem. Roll back to an older version of your website and try to load the requested page once again. Should you be using a CMS such as WordPress for crafting your website, consider downgrading the core application.
Method 3: Check for Faulty Site Extensions/Add-Ons/Plugins
If your website is based on a CMS and various extensions are installed, the problem might be rooted in one of them.
To see whether this is the case, deactivate all of the extensions/add-ons/plugins and see whether you can access the requested resource. If you are able to do so, then the issue lies within one of the deactivated extensions/add-ons/plugins. To find out which one exactly, follow these steps:
- Activate one extension/add-on/plugin, open the website, and see whether it prompts the error message.
- If 406 Error doesn’t appear, deactivate the extension/add-on/plugin, and activate the next in the list.
- Repeat the procedure until you stumble upon the extension/add-on/plugin that causes the problem.
- Once you know which extension/add-on/plugin causes the problem, delete it or contact developers for further assistance.
Method 4: Check for Unwanted Database Changes
In case you are using a CMS and installing various extensions/add-ons/plugins, keep in mind that many of them can freely access your website’s database.
Such is the case with the WordPress plugins – sometimes these modules can interfere with various site settings and prompt HTTP status codes such as 406 Error.
If this is the case with your website, the most effective way of fixing the problem is by manually looking through the database tables and checking for any unexpected and unwanted changes. If you see such, fix them, or revert to an older version of your website database.
Method 5: Check the Internet Browser Settings
Sometimes a specific set of browser settings can cause the display of 406 Error.
There are many websites that require cookies and JavaScript functionalities to be enabled in order to provide the requested resources. Check the settings of your preferred web browser and make sure that these features are enabled.
Method 6: Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Sometimes too many cache and cookie files can cause performance issues and make your browser display error messages such as HTTP Error 406.
Clear your browser cache and cookies and try reloading the requested web page. If you are not sure how to proceed, then have a look at our simple guide: How to Clear Web Browser Cache
Conclusion
406 Error indicates that there are issues with processing the requested data format from the server. In such situations, the server can’t send back any data, as the formatting requirements aren’t present. In this article, we suggested 6 methods that can help you fix 406 Error.
