sitechecker.pro logo mobile

What is 401 Status Code: Tips on How to Identify and Fix

What is 401 Status Code: Tips on How to Identify and Fix

Free Complete Site Audit

Access a full website audit with over 300 technical insights.

Something went wrong. Please, try again later.
Trusted by
Sitechecker trusted company

Free Website SEO Checker & Audit Tool

  • Scan the site for 300+ technical issues
  • Monitor your site health 24/7
  • Track website rankings in any geo

Exactly, a 401 status code, officially labeled as “Unauthorized,” is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) status code that the server sends back to the client (for example, your web browser) when the client’s request lacks valid authentication credentials to access the requested resource.

In simpler terms, when someone tries to access a specific web page and receives a 401 status code, it means the server does not recognize the user’s provided credentials (if any were given), or no credentials were provided, and the resource requested requires them.

Typically, the website will present the user with a login screen, where they can enter their credentials (username and password) to gain access to the resource. If the credentials are not valid or not provided, the server returns the 401 status code, preventing the user from accessing the requested content.

For instance, while using browsers like Chrome or Edge, you’re likely to encounter a graphic icon accompanied by a brief message indicating that the requested page is malfunctioning. At the bottom, the text “HTTP Error 401” will be displayed and a suggestion to reach out to the site’s owner if the issue continues:

401 Page Isn't Working

In certain situations and with different browsers, you might receive a more austere warning, represented by a blank page displaying a “401 Authorization Required” message:

401 Authorization Required

Nginx’s error message for 401 Authorization Required

Error message indicating 401 Authorization Required

Some other variants include:

“HTTP 401 Error – Unauthorized”

“401 – User Unauthorized”

“Access Denied”

In terms of SEO, excessive 401 errors can indicate to search engine crawlers that many of your site’s pages are protected and not accessible, which could limit your site’s visibility in search engine results if not managed correctly. That’s why it’s crucial to properly control access to your web content and make sure all public content is easily accessible to search engines.

Main Reasons Why a Server Might Return a 401 Status Code

Navigating the web, you might sometimes stumble upon a 401 status code. This signifies an unauthorized request, but what triggers this response? Let’s take a brief look at the key reasons why a server might return a 401 status code:

Incorrect Credentials This is one of the most common reasons for a 401 error. If a user enters incorrect login details, the server cannot verify the user’s identity and therefore refuses access to the requested resource.
Lack of Necessary Authorization Sometimes a user might have some level of authorization, but not enough to access a specific resource. For example, they might be a standard user trying to access an admin-only area.
Session Expiration When a user logs into a site, they often start a “session” where they can move around the site without having to log in again. However, for security reasons, sessions often expire after a certain period. If a user’s session has expired, they’ll need to log in again, and if they try to access a resource without doing so, they might encounter a 401 status code.
Incorrectly Configured Authentication If the authentication on a server or website is set up incorrectly, it could mistakenly return a 401 status code even when the user provides correct credentials.
Issues with Cookies If a user’s browser is set to not accept cookies or to delete them regularly, it could interfere with the site’s ability to remember the user’s login details, leading to a 401 error.

Remember, a 401 status code doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with the website. Often, it’s working exactly as it should, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized users. However, when these errors start cropping up where they shouldn’t be, it might indicate an issue that needs addressing.

How a 401 Status Code Can Impact SEO

The 401 status code can indeed impact your SEO, though its effect is more nuanced than simply blocking search engine bots. When a page requires authentication, it’s often because the information on that page isn’t meant to be publicly accessible. So, in a sense, these pages shouldn’t necessarily be crawled or indexed by search engines in the first place.

However, problems may arise if your publicly accessible pages are mistakenly configured to require authentication or return 401 status codes. In such cases, search engines like Google will be unable to access these pages, which means they can’t be crawled, indexed, or ranked. This could significantly impact your site’s visibility in search engine results.

Furthermore, user experience is an important factor for SEO, and encountering a 401 status code can be confusing or frustrating for users, especially if the reason for the error isn’t clear. If a user encounters a 401 error, they might choose to leave your site and go elsewhere, which can increase your bounce rate and potentially harm your site’s overall SEO performance.

For these reasons, it’s important to monitor your site for 401 errors and to fix them where necessary. You should also make sure that any pages you want to be publicly accessible do not require authentication unless absolutely necessary.

Common Issues Related to 401 Status Code in SEO and Their Respective Fixes

Unidentified 401 Errors

401 errors that are going unnoticed, impacting both user experience and SEO.

Utilize tools such as Google Search Console, web server logs, or SEO crawler software like Website Crawler for Technical SEO Analyze to identify and locate 401 errors.

Unresolved 401 Errors

Identified 401 status codes that obstruct site accessibility.

The solutions can vary depending on the root cause of the 401 error. If it's a user-side issue, ensure they provide the correct login details. If it's a server-side problem, it may require rectifying your server's authentication configuration.

Incorrect Public Page Configuration

Publicly accessible pages are wrongly configured to require authentication leading to unnecessary 401 errors and preventing search engines from accessing these pages.

Review and adjust your website's page settings to ensure public pages are not improperly set to require authentication.

Poor User Experience

Users are encountering 401 errors without sufficient guidance, leading to confusion and a higher bounce rate.

Implement clear error messages that guide users when they've entered incorrect details or their session has expired. For server-side issues, ensure the server communicates the nature of the problem clearly to the end-user.

Recurring Server Errors

Server issues are leading to recurring, unwarranted 401 errors

Regular maintenance of the server's hardware and software, along with increasing server capacity if necessary, can help reduce 401 errors caused by server issues. It's also essential to review and fix any bugs in your server's authentication system.

Identifying and resolving 401 errors is vital to the success of your SEO efforts. These errors, when not addressed, can lead to reduced site visibility, poor user experience, and overall lower SEO performance.

Http Status Code Checker

Sitechecker Pro offers an HTTP Status Code Checker that can help identify 401 issues. It scans each page of your website, simulating the behavior of search engine bots, and as it navigates through your pages, it identifies and lists any HTTP status codes encountered, including 401 status codes. This allows you to see exactly where these issues are occurring so that they can be addressed.

The tool also offers insights into other website performance metrics, making it a comprehensive solution for site audit and SEO optimization.

A 401 status code, also known as “Unauthorized,” is an HTTP status code that can impact user experience and SEO. It’s returned when the server can’t authenticate the client’s request. Common reasons include incorrect credentials, session expiration, or issues with cookies.

Conclusion

In terms of SEO, 401 errors on publicly accessible pages can block search engine bots, reducing your site’s visibility. Therefore, It’s crucial to identify and resolve these issues using tools like Google Search Console or Sitechecker Pro.

Additionally, to avoid 401 errors, managing server performance, configuring public pages appropriately, and guiding users effectively are important. With these steps, you can manage 401 status codes, improve your website’s SEO, and enhance user experience.

FAQ
A 401 status code indicates "Unauthorized" access - the server understands the request but requires user authentication. On the other hand, a 403 status code means "Forbidden" - the server understands the request but refuses to authorize it, even with correct authentication. Essentially, 401 is about authentication, while 403 is about authorization.
The 401 response status code, labeled as "Unauthorized," means the request made by the client was not authenticated by the server. This usually happens when incorrect or no credentials are provided for a resource that requires them, making the response "unacceptable" until valid credentials are provided.
The fix depends on the cause. If it's a user-side issue, ensure the correct login details are used. If it's a server-side problem, it may require rectifying your server's authentication configuration.
A 401 unauthorized error typically occurs when the server receives a request that it can't authenticate. This can be due to incorrect or missing login credentials or a result of an issue with the server's authentication setup.
In a REST API, a 401 status code means the request lacks valid authentication credentials for the target resource. It is similar to 403 Forbidden, but specifically for use when authentication is required and has failed or has not yet been provided.
An example of a 401 error would be when a user tries to access a webpage that requires login but enters incorrect login credentials. The server, unable to verify the user, returns a 401 status code, often accompanied by a message such as "Unauthorized" or "Login Required".
Fast Links

You may also like

View More Posts
What are HTML Headings? And How Do They Work for SEO?
SEO Basics
What are HTML Headings? And How Do They Work for SEO?
Ivan Palii
Nov 14, 2023
What is Review Schema? Best Practices for Creating Review Schema Markup
SEO Basics
What is Review Schema? Best Practices for Creating Review Schema Markup
Ivan Palii
Nov 13, 2023
What Kind of Software Can Help a Web Developer Check Her Online Content for Accessibility Issues?
SEO Basics
What Kind of Software Can Help a Web Developer Check Her Online Content for Accessibility Issues?
Ivan Palii
Oct 30, 2023

So, soon? Well, before you go…

Get instant on-page SEO analysis of your home page

  • Detect broken links
  • Detect issues with content optimization
  • Check PageSpeed for mobile and desktop
Something went wrong. Please, try again later.
You’ll get the report in 2 seconds without required signup
exit-popup-image
close