How to fix error 406 not acceptable

Anyone having spent any time online in their lives has occasionally run into an error code stopping them from accessing that particular web page and forcing them to give up or look for a solution. One of these is error 406 ‘not acceptable’ message, and it has quite a few applicable solutions.

Indeed, before you go into panic mode, this issue could have a more-or-less simple fix, so let’s find out what error 406 ‘not acceptable’ is, why it happens, and what you can do about it.

What is error 406 not acceptable?

Specifically, the error code 406, also known as ‘not acceptable,’ is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) response status code from the 4xx category, which indicates a client error, informing the visitor that the server can’t produce a response matching the list of acceptable values. Typically it appears in the following form:

“Not Acceptable. An appropriate representation of the requested resource could not be found on this server.”

That said, sometimes the message will identify the ‘requested resource’ where the problem lies, alongside displaying other messages or server information mentioned.

Why does error 406 not acceptable happen?

Notably, the error 406 suggests that the client has sent a valid request to the server, but the server can’t meet its special requirement in the form of an HTTP Accept- header. Several most common causes include the server not providing the requested MIME type or proper formats, not returning with the correct language or using the wrong compression method or format, sending back too many bytes for the request range, or failing to provide understandable characters.

How to fix error 406 not acceptable

When this error occurs, there are some things that can resolve it, be it on the side of the visitor or the website administrator/owner, including:

Making sure the URL is correct: The easiest solution for a visitor is to try typing the address again, which fixes the issue if the website URL was invalid.
Resetting your devices and networks: Other times, the problem may appear when trying to use a gaming or media platform like Netflix, in which case it’s the user’s device or network that’s causing it, and restarting may help.
Rolling back your recent CMS changes: Sometimes, rolling back your content management system (CMS), like WordPress, will help if there’s a complication with something inside your site’s files.
Refreshing plugins, themes, and extensions: Speaking of WordPress, a plugin, theme, or extension could be culprit, so turning them off one by one and reinstalling them could help you narrow it down.
Analyzing your database: If you notice a change or conflict in your database when scanning it with an appropriate tool, then there’s your problem right there, so make sure to address it.
Analyzing server logs: Check your server logs, regardless of the app, CMS, or web design system at work, as you may discover errors causing the 406 message.
Contacting the server administrator or API provider: If all else fails, your next step is to go overhead – reaching out to the server’s administrator or the API provider, sharing the details of the request and employed methods so far.

Conclusion

All things considered, error 406 could stem from an easily solved problem and the above solutions will usually make it alright. If you’re encountering a different 4xx error code, such as the HTTP error 400, the 403 forbidden error, the 404 error message, the similar 405 ‘method not allowed’ code, or the 429 ‘too many requests’ message, then consult our guides.