You may have encountered such errors while visiting a website or specific webpage in your everyday web browsing experience. Show
If you visit a web website and your browser displays the warning 400 bad request error, you need to try a few things to resolve the situation. Whether you are the site’s administrator or just a visitor, an error code 400 may be resolved in a few simple steps. But do you know what HTTPS error 400 is actually? Everything you need to learn about 400 bad request errorWhen a request is sent to a server that the server does not comprehend, a 400 Bad Request error is returned. The HTTPS status code 400 represents this problem; it is referred to as a bad request error 400. A mistake in the request might result in a 400 Bad Request error. The server may not be able to deliver a 404 Error because you’ve entered the URL incorrectly. Alternatively, your web browser may be attempting to access an expired or invalid cookie on your behalf. It’s possible to receive a 400 error when you attempt to upload a file that’s too large to specific sites rather than an error indicating the file size limit. Most of the time, though, the issue is one that you can fix – perhaps you entered the URL incorrectly, or your browser cache is the source of the problem. You can also learn about 503 Service Unavailable Error, it might help you to understand it. This post will discuss resolving the HTTPS error 400 as quickly as feasible.
Important Tips For How to fix error 400.It’s possible to receive a bad request error 400 when you attempt to upload a file that’s too large to specific sites, rather than an error indicating the file size limit. You can always do something to repair a 400 error, but finding out what might be difficult due to the fault’s ambiguity. 1. Refresh the current pageA simple refresh may often solve the problem of a 400 bad request error. Most browsers have a Refresh button in the address bar or the F5 key to reload a page. It doesn’t work all the time, but it just takes a second to give it a go. 2. Ensure that you’ve entered the correct addressThe most typical cause of an HTTPS error 400 is a wrong URL. If you manually entered a URL into your browser’s address bar, you might have mistyped it. If you followed a link on another web page and received a 404-error message, this may be the case. Make sure there aren’t any evident mistakes in the address. Also, look for URL symbols that you don’t frequently see, such as hyphens or periods. DNS, or the Domain Name System, connects a website’s URLs to its host server’s IP address. bad request error 400 may occur if your computer’s DNS cache does not match the information on the webserver. These problems may also be caused by DNS cache corruption. Let’s try clearing the cache next, as it’s a simple process. To remove Windows’ DNS cache, perform these steps:
Follow these instructions to remove the DNS cache on a Macbook:
4. Try using a different browserMake sure you’re using a browser compatible with the URL you’re trying to access. It should not affect what you’re doing without modifying the current browser. This is a fast test to detect whether browser bugs are causing incorrect HTTP headers to be sent to websites. Troubleshoot the other browser to see whether it’s the one that’s causing the issue. Browser extensions should be disabled, settings should be reset, and a browser reinstall should be the final choice. Attempt the following repair to solve error code 400 if the website does not operate. Cookies are tiny files that save information about your previous visits to a website. For example, if you add anything to your shopping basket, a cookie may remember your selection, so it is still in your cart the next time you visit. Cookie corruption, partial cookie overwriting, or erroneous cookie loading may result in HTTPS error 400. Let’s begin by erasing our browser’s cookies. To quickly go to your browser’s cookie settings, use one of the following shortcuts:
Once on the website, clear the browser cache and retry. It was a cookie problem that caused the 400 bad request error. The last resort is to restart the device if the problem persists. 6. Reboot your pcAlthough it is a hit-and-miss approach, restarting your computer and, in particular, your networking equipment (routers and modems) is a typical technique to get rid of an HTTPS error 400 and a large number of server-related issues. If you’ve tried all of the remedies and the issue still doesn’t appear to be going away, the website may be experiencing difficulty. If possible, try contacting the website via the contact us page (if one exists) or social media. It’s likely that they are already aware of the situation and are trying to resolve it as quickly as possible. Wrap UpSo, that was all about how to fix error 400. Contrary to common opinion, resolving HTTPS error 400 is simpler. If you have a website and don’t want your users to suffer due to errors, check out our selection of WordPress Plugins and Essential Plugin Bundle. Typically, 400 bad request error refers to the client-side, including your browser, phone, and desktop computer. In most cases, that’s all you need. Using a WordPress website, try using smart plugins from Essential Plugins. We also have an entire essential plugin bundle specially made for you: Utility Plugins, Sliders pack, Essential Security, Marketing tools, A Popup Anything Plugin. Other Related Articles: Top 7 Common WordPress Mistakes to Avoid 4 Common WordPress Theme And Plugin Errors, How to Fix Them WordPress Sliders Not Working Perfectly? Here’s Why? & How To Fix It? The 400 bad request is an HTTP response code sent from a web server that didn’t understand the request sent from your browser. It isn’t the most descriptive of error codes but the fact it’s an HTTP 4xx code means it’s client side. That means it’s typically an issue with your browser, computer, phone or whatever device you’re using to access the website. Don’t worry though, HTTP error 400 is not serious and is more frustrating than service affecting. There are lots of ways to fix it too. We’re going to walk you through what a 400 bad request error is, what causes it and how to fix it. We’ll walk you through every step and show you exactly what to do and how to do it. By the end of this post, you’ll know everything you need to know about this particular error and how to fix it! What Is a 400 Bad Request Error?A 400 bad request error is an HTTP error that occurs when the request sent from your browser is not understood by the web server. It’s one of a series of HTTP 4xx errors that are known as client errors because they are usually caused by the client (the browser or local device) rather than the hosting server. There are times when the 400 bad request error isn’t a client error though. That’s typically when you’re uploading a file to a website. If that’s what you’re doing when the error occurs, we cover how to fix that at the end of the article. The HTTP 4xx error family includes:
There are 28 HTTP 4xx codes in all but these are the ones you’ll see most often. HTTP Status CodesThere are hundreds of HTTP status codes covering almost every eventuality. They are given numbers to help you quickly identify the potential issue you’re facing and are split into five distinct families.
This page at Moz has a fuller explanation of HTTP status codes and what they all mean.
What Causes HTTP 400 Bad Request ErrorsWe hinted at the most common causes of HTTP error 400 above. It’s mainly a client error, meaning your browser or device. There are situations where it could be the network or web server corrupting the message before it arrives but client errors make up the vast majority of HTTP 400s. HTTP error 400 can be caused by:
That last is rare but we have personal experience of it when uploading files to WordPress. We’ll cover how to fix it in this guide. Fixing HTTP 400 Bad Request ErrorsFixing 400 bad request errors is usually a case of troubleshooting your browser or device. As the error message is pretty vague, it’s usually a case of trial and error when troubleshooting. The following are the steps we would usually take to address the error when it occurs to us. It begins with the quick and easy fixes before moving into more involved tasks. We walk you through every step of the way though, so you’re in good hands! Force Refresh the PageRefreshing the web page is typically the very first thing we do whenever there’s an issue loading a website. A forced refresh tells the browser to ignore any cached copies of the page it might have and to request a new copy from the server. It’s quick, easy and can often fix many of the more common issues. Use one of these key combinations to force a refresh of your browser.
Check the Requested URLIf you’re still seeing error 400, double check the URL you’re using. A typo in the URL is another common cause of the error. Given how many URLs we use per day, it’s very easy mistake to make. If you typed the URL, take a good look at it to make sure you didn’t make a mistake. Do the same if you used a favorite, just in case. Test Other WebsitesWhile HTTP 400 does not usually indicate an issue with your device or browser, we can quickly test that by visiting another website. By testing another site, you’re validating your browser, DNS, router and the device you’re using. Load the Astra website or another website and see what happens. If they load correctly, it’s definitely something affecting that particular URL. If they don’t load correctly, it could be a wider browser or device issue. Clear Browser CookiesCookies are small files that remember when you last visited a website and any pertinent data about that visit. For example, if you put something in a shopping cart, it may have been recorded in a cookie so it’s there when you return. Sometimes, cookies can become corrupted, partially overwritten or loaded incorrectly which can cause HTTP 400 errors. As clearing browser cookies is simple, let’s try that next. Use one of the following shortcuts to access the cookie page of your browser:
Once on the page, delete cookies and cached data and retest the URL you’re trying to reach. If the page loads, it was a cookie issue causing the HTTP 400 error. If the page doesn’t load, try the next fix. Try a Different BrowserIf you’re seeing the HTTP error 400, try the URL in a different browser. Unless you have made any changes to the current browser, it shouldn’t make a difference. We have seen browser issues send invalid HTTP headers to websites before and this is a quick test to see if that’s the cause here. If the website works in a different browser, troubleshoot the other one. Deactivate browser extensions, reset any preferences and, as a last resort, reinstall the browser. If the website still doesn’t work, move on to the next fix. Deactivate Browser ExtensionsHave you added a new browser extension recently? Have you installed a VPN extension? Ad blocker or proxy extension? Anything that can influence web traffic? While most browser extensions are well coded and do exactly what they say they do, not all are so well made. As they have been known to cause HTTP 400 errors, let’s disable extensions next. In Chrome: Settings > More Tools > Extensions > Toggle off all extensions In Firefox: Settings > Add-ons and Themes > Toggle off all extensions In Microsoft Edge: Settings > Extensions > Toggle off all extensions In Safari: Safari > Preferences > Extensions > Toggle off all extensions Other browsers will likely be a variant of Chrome or Firefox and should use similar methods. Clear Your DNS CacheDNS, Domain Name System, is what links URLs to the IP addresses of the server hosting the website. If there is a mismatch between what your computer holds in its DNS cache and the actual web server, it can cause HTTP 400 errors. Any corruption in the DNS cache can also cause these errors. As flushing the cache is easy, let’s try that next. To flush DNS in Windows, do the following:
To flush DNS on Mac, do the following:
If the website loads correctly, there is likely a corruption, old data or data mismatch in your DNS cache. You should be able to access the website as normal now. If it isn’t fixed, your final option is to restart the device. Restart DeviceRestarting your device can fix all kinds of issues. There’s a good reason every IT or network support tech will always ask you if you have rebooted when you talk to them. A reboot flushes all memory and all cached data held in memory. When the device loads again, it reloads everything it needs from stored files. This can be enough to fix a multitude of errors, including the HTTP 400 error. So, go ahead and restart your device and see what happens. Incorrect File SizeThe final fix stands on its own because it’s a different type of issue than these others. All the fixes so far are concerned with you not being able to access the website. This fix is relevant if you’re trying to upload a file to a website or web server and see the HTTP 400 bad request error. The HTTP error 400 can be caused by the file you’re uploading being too large. That’s usually because there’s a file size limit set on the website or server. This happens if you’re uploading large images, audio or video to a website that exceeds the file size limit. If it’s your own website, there may be a file size limit set by your web host. The test for this is simple. Find a much smaller file and try to upload it to the website in exactly the same way. If it works, you’re likely hitting the file size limit and are seeing HTTP error 400. Read this post to learn how to increase the maximum file upload size in WordPress. Final ThoughtsHTTP error 400 is relatively simple despite the lack of detail in the error itself. HTTP 4xx usually means client side, your browser, your phone, your computer. Usually that’s all you need to know. The rest is simply a matter of trial and error and the fixes within this post are usually all you’ll need! Do you know of any other fixes for error 400? Have any experiences of it you’d like to share? Tell us your thoughts below! |