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User permissions

How to Fix the “Sorry, You Are Not Allowed to Access This Page” Error in WordPress

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The WordPress message “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” usually means the signed-in account lacks a capability required by that particular dashboard page. Check the active account and its access first, then investigate permission-changing plugins. Look at hosting or filesystem settings only when there are signs of a server or file-write problem; changing file permissions is not a universal fix.

1. Confirm the account and the page you are trying to open

  1. Sign out of WordPress and sign back in with the account you intend to use. A successful login does not grant access to every admin page.

  2. In the dashboard, go to Users → All Users and check the active account’s assigned role. If you cannot reach that screen, ask a site administrator to confirm the role.

  3. Identify which page is blocked and what access it requires. Requirements can vary by page or plugin, so an account that can use most of the dashboard may still lack a capability needed for one settings screen.

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A WordPress.org support-forum reply describes this message as usually indicating that the current user lacks the capability required for the page. That is a community explanation, not a formal WordPress policy statement. The thread concerns one specific case and should not be treated as a diagnosis for every site: WordPress.org support thread: Cannot access settings page.

2. If the site is on WordPress.com, check its account and plan

WordPress.com’s rules and platform controls are not universal rules for self-hosted WordPress sites. On WordPress.com, confirm that you are using the intended account and check the site’s plan in Upgrades if the blocked page relates to installing or managing plugins or themes. WordPress.com says plugin installation requires a plugin-enabled plan; if the dashboard displays an unexpected plan, contact WordPress.com support. Its access guidance also lists the messages “Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page” and “You do not have permission to access this page”: WordPress.com user roles and permissions.

3. Check whether a role’s capabilities or a plugin’s rules have changed

A role can look correct while its capabilities have been altered. If you have appropriate administrative or WP-CLI access, inspect the account’s capabilities before making changes. WordPress.com documents these commands:

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WP-CLI access depends on the hosting environment and your permissions. Resetting a role changes the capabilities for that role and can affect every user assigned to it, so confirm the target and follow the site’s backup and access procedures before running it. These commands are documented in WordPress.com’s permissions guidance; their availability and platform-specific behavior should not be assumed for every host.

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Test permission-affecting plugins carefully

If the account and role appear appropriate, a plugin that manages roles, capabilities, or admin access may be involved. WordPress.com recommends temporarily deactivating plugins that affect permissions when investigating a role conflict. If you can access the dashboard, use its plugin controls and test whether the blocked page becomes available. If you cannot access the dashboard, do not rename plugin folders or make other file-level changes without a backup and guidance from your host or the plugin documentation; there is no single safe isolation procedure established for every installation.

One WordPress.org support-thread participant reported resolving a development-versus-live access difference through permissions associated with a security plugin’s user group. That example makes plugin-specific access rules worth checking, but it does not show that the same plugin or setting is responsible on other sites: the support thread.

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4. Investigate hosting or filesystem settings only when symptoms support it

A blocked dashboard page is not, by itself, evidence that file permissions are wrong. Consider a hosting-level investigation when WordPress cannot write files, PHP logs contain relevant errors, or the issue began after a migration. A host-published troubleshooting guide suggests checking PHP logs, the siteurl and home values, and the database table prefix after a migration. These are diagnostic leads, not a universal repair for an access-denied message: GARMTECH’s troubleshooting guidance.

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WordPress.com distinguishes dashboard user permissions from filesystem permissions, warns that changing file permissions can break functionality, and notes that some platform-managed files and folders cannot be changed. For unmanaged directories, its guide gives 775 or 755; for files, it gives 644. These are WordPress.com-specific guidance, not universal settings for self-hosted sites. GARMTECH separately recommends folders at 755 and files at 644 for its hosting advice. Do not apply blanket recursive permission changes such as a broad chmod command; ask the host or a qualified administrator to assess the actual server configuration.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

5. Give support enough detail to diagnose the problem

If the account, page requirements, and relevant plugin settings do not explain the error—or the evidence points to a platform or server restriction—contact the appropriate support team. Include:

For a WordPress.com account or plan mismatch, contact WordPress.com support. For a self-hosted site with file-write failures, relevant PHP errors, or a post-migration problem, ask the hosting provider to review server permissions and logs. Never send your password in a public support thread.

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