A 405 Method Not Allowed error means the web server received and understood your request, but the HTTP method used for that request is not allowed for the requested page or resource.
For example, a website may allow a page to be accessed with a normal GET request but reject a POST, PUT, or DELETE request to the same URL.
A 405 error is usually caused by a website, application, plugin, API, or web server configuration problem rather than a problem with your internet connection.
What Causes a 405 Method Not Allowed Error?
A 405 error can occur for several reasons, including:
- An HTTP method that is not permitted for the requested URL
- Incorrect website or server configuration
- Broken
.htaccessrules - WordPress plugin or theme conflicts
- Incorrect API requests
- Web application firewall rules
- ModSecurity blocking or modifying a request
- Incorrect Apache or Nginx configuration
- Application routing problems
- CDN or reverse proxy configuration issues
The error often appears after submitting a form, using an API, logging in, uploading content, or performing another action that sends data to the server.
What Are HTTP Request Methods?
Web browsers and applications use HTTP methods to tell a server what action they want to perform.
Common HTTP methods include:
- GET: Retrieve a page or resource
- POST: Submit information to the server
- PUT: Create or replace a resource
- PATCH: Modify part of an existing resource
- DELETE: Remove a resource
- HEAD: Request response headers without the full page content
- OPTIONS: Determine which methods or communication options are supported
A 405 error occurs when the server recognizes the requested method but does not permit that method for the requested resource.
How to Fix a 405 Method Not Allowed Error
1. Refresh the Page
Start by refreshing the page and trying the action again.
A temporary application or server problem may occasionally cause a request to fail.
If the error continues, avoid repeatedly submitting the same form or transaction until you determine whether the original request was processed.
2. Check the Website Address
Make sure the URL in your browser is correct.
An outdated bookmark, malformed URL, or incorrect application endpoint may send a request to a location that does not support the requested method.
Try returning to the website’s homepage and navigating to the page again.
3. Try the Action Again From the Website
If the 405 error occurred after clicking a saved link or directly visiting a URL, try performing the action through the website’s normal navigation instead.
Some pages are designed to receive requests only after another page or form generates the appropriate request.
4. Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies
Although 405 errors are usually server-side problems, outdated cookies or cached website data can occasionally interfere with application behavior.
Clear the cached data and cookies associated with the website, reload the page, and try again.
5. Try a Private or Incognito Window
Open the website in a private or incognito browser window.
If the website works normally there, a cached session, cookie, or browser extension may be contributing to the problem.
6. Contact the Website Owner
If you are a visitor and continue receiving a 405 error, the problem will often need to be corrected by the website owner or hosting provider.
When reporting the problem, include the URL, the action you were performing, and the approximate time the error occurred.
What If You Own the Website?
If your website is unexpectedly returning a 405 Method Not Allowed error, you should determine which HTTP method is being rejected and why.
Website owners should investigate the following:
- Apache or Nginx configuration
.htaccessdirectives- WordPress plugins and themes
- Application routing
- API endpoint configuration
- ModSecurity rules
- Web application firewall settings
- CDN or reverse proxy rules
- File and directory restrictions
- Recent website or server changes
Your web server and application logs are often the best place to begin troubleshooting.
Check the Allowed HTTP Methods
A properly generated 405 response may include an Allow response header that identifies which HTTP methods are permitted for the requested resource.
For example, the server may indicate that only the following methods are allowed:
Allow: GET, HEADIf an application attempts to send a POST request to that resource, the server may respond with a 405 error.
Compare the method being sent by the application with the methods permitted by the server or application route.
Check Your .htaccess File
On Apache web servers, rules inside the .htaccess file can restrict certain types of requests.
Review the file for directives involving:
LimitLimitExceptRequire- Rewrite rules
- Redirect rules
- Security restrictions
If the error began after modifying your .htaccess file, temporarily reversing the recent change can help determine whether it caused the problem.
Check WordPress Plugins and Themes
If your website uses WordPress, a plugin or theme may send requests using an unsupported HTTP method or interfere with WordPress routing.
This can sometimes happen with:
- Security plugins
- Contact form plugins
- Membership plugins
- Backup and migration tools
- REST API integrations
- Page builders
- Custom plugins or themes
If the error began after installing or updating a plugin or theme, temporarily disabling the affected component may help identify the cause.
Check API Requests
405 errors are especially common when working with APIs.
For example, an API endpoint may support:
GET /api/usersbut reject:
POST /api/usersif that endpoint is not configured to accept POST requests.
When troubleshooting an API, verify:
- The endpoint URL
- The HTTP method
- Authentication requirements
- Required headers
- Request body format
- API documentation
Make sure the application is using the correct method for the specific endpoint.
Check Apache or Nginx Configuration
Your web server may be configured to restrict certain HTTP methods.
Apache directives, Nginx location blocks, proxy rules, and application handlers can all affect which methods are accepted.
If the error affects multiple pages or websites, review recent server configuration changes and examine the web server error logs for additional information.
Check ModSecurity and Firewall Rules
Security software such as ModSecurity or a web application firewall can interfere with HTTP requests that appear suspicious.
If a legitimate request produces a 405 error, review the security logs to determine whether a firewall rule is involved.
Avoid completely disabling your web application firewall to resolve a single issue. When possible, identify the specific rule or request causing the problem and create a narrow exclusion only if the request is confirmed to be legitimate.
Check CDN and Reverse Proxy Settings
If your website uses a CDN, reverse proxy, load balancer, or external firewall, the request may be rejected before it reaches your web server.
Review any rules that restrict HTTP methods or control access to specific URLs.
Proxy configurations should also preserve the correct HTTP method when forwarding requests to your origin server.
What’s the Difference Between a 403 and 405 Error?
A 403 Forbidden error means the server understands the request but refuses to provide access to the requested resource.
A 405 Method Not Allowed error means the server recognizes the requested resource, but the particular HTTP method being used is not permitted.
In simple terms:
403: Access to the resource is forbidden.
405: The requested action or HTTP method is not allowed.
What’s the Difference Between a 400 and 405 Error?
A 400 Bad Request error means the server could not properly process the request because something about the request was invalid or malformed.
A 405 error means the server understood the request but does not permit the HTTP method being used.
Still Getting a 405 Error?
If you continue receiving a 405 Method Not Allowed error after trying the troubleshooting steps above, contact the website owner or hosting provider.
When requesting assistance, include:
- The affected website address
- The exact page or endpoint producing the error
- What you were doing when the error occurred
- The HTTP method being used, if known
- The approximate time the error occurred
- Any recent website or server changes
- A screenshot of the error, if available
These details can help support staff locate the relevant server logs and identify the problem more quickly.
Need Help With Your Charter Hosting Website?
If your website is hosted with Charter Hosting and you are experiencing unexpected 405 errors, our support team can help investigate the problem.
Sign in to the
Charter Hosting Client Area
and
open a support ticket
with the affected domain name and a description of the issue.
We’ll help determine whether the 405 error is being caused by WordPress, an application, API configuration, ModSecurity, firewall rules, web server configuration, or another hosting-related issue.
