How To Fix HTTP 303 Status Code 4 Easy Methods

The HTTP 303 status code appears when a page has been temporarily moved. This means the Web Hosting server can’t get the page you need right away. Instead, it sends you to a different page. While the 303 HTTP code is not an error on its own, it can cause problems when it doesn’t work correctly.

For example, you may get stuck in a loop where the site constantly redirects. This can also mess up how pages are stored in the browser’s cache or make your site slower by using more data and server resources. If your website continually sends too many 303 responses, it can confuse search engines and affect user experience.

That’s why it’s important to understand why this happens and how to fix it. This tutorial explains what the HTTP 303 code means, shares the most common causes, and shows you 4 simple methods to fix it.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The HTTP 303 status code means the server tells your browser to go to another page using a GETrequest.
• It usually happens after you submit a form or send data through a POSTrequest.
• While it’s not an error, misuse can cause issues like redirect loops or slow site performance.
• To fix a 303 redirect issue, always back up your website before making changes.
• Check your server settings and look for redirect rules in .htaccess or nginx.conf.
• Review your server logs to find which pages or requests are causing the 303 status code.
• Turn on debugging in WordPress to catch plugin or theme issues that may trigger redirects.
• Turn off plugins temporarily and switch to a default theme to test for conflicts.
• Check your custom code for redirect functions that may send a 303 response.
• Use HTTP 303 only when redirecting after form submissions or POSTactions, not for moving content pages.

What is the HTTP 303 Status Code?

When you visit a website and it quickly sends you to another page, that’s often because of a special message called a redirect. One type of redirect is the HTTP 303 Status Code, also called See Other.

This is a message from a web server telling your browser that the thing you’re looking for is somewhere else – go there using a different method. It usually shows up after you submit a form or send data using a POST request.

Instead of showing the result on the same page you tried to access, the server says, Check the result at another link. This type of redirect works by switching the request type from POST to GET, which means your browser should now use a GET request to fetch the new page.

This is helpful because GET requests are safe to repeat, while POST requests may change data on the server if done again. So, the 303 redirect protects users from accidentally repeating an action, such as submitting a payment form twice.

You’ll often see a 303 redirect when a form is submitted, like on contact pages or checkout forms. It’s also common when a website or app connects with an API and needs to redirect to a new page after the data is received or sent.

It’s also important to know how 303 differs from other redirect codes. For example, a 302 redirect means it has moved temporarily, and a 301 redirect means a page has moved permanently; however, both still use the same method (usually GET or POST) as the original request.

A 303 response code, on the other hand, always switches to a GET request, no matter what the original method was. This small difference can change how your browser or app behaves after the redirect.

Now that you understand what an HTTP 303 status code is and how it differs from 301 and 302 redirects, let’s look at its causes.

What Causes an HTTP 303 Status Code?

The 303 HTTP status code is not always a problem, but sometimes it shows up when something isn’t working as it should. To fix it, you must know what may be causing it. There are a few common reasons this redirect happens on a website.

1. Resource Relocation: This tells you the requested page or file has been temporarily moved to another location. Instead of providing the content, the server tells your browser to check a different link. This is a normal use of the 303 status code, especially after actions like form submissions.
2. Server Configuration Issue: Sometimes, your server settings (like Apache or Nginx) include redirect rules that aren’t correct or too strict. These rules can send users to another page using a 303 response code, even when unnecessary. If you don’t check these settings carefully, they can lead to extra redirects and confuse browsers or users.
3. Application Logic: If your site or app has custom code that handles forms, login actions, or API calls, that code may include a line telling the server to send a 303 response. Developers often add this on purpose, but if the code is outdated or misused, it can lead users in the wrong direction.
4. Plugin/Theme Conflict: If you’re using WordPress, sometimes a 303 redirect is caused by a plugin or theme conflict. Some plugins change how redirects work, especially those that manage SEO, login redirects, or forms. If a plugin or theme is not coded well, or if two tools are trying to do the same thing, they may send users to a different page using a 303 without you knowing.

These causes are all connected. Whether it’s a server setting, a line of code, or a plugin, they all affect how your site sends users from one page to another. The key to fixing a 303 status code is to figure out which one is behind the redirect. The following section explains different ways to resolve the 303 status code.

4 Ways to Resolve an HTTP 303 Status Code

Before you start fixing the 303 HTTP code, it’s a good idea to back up your website. This way, if something goes wrong, you can restore your site. Also, if your WordPress Hosting plan allows it, use a staging site (a copy of your site used for testing) to test changes before applying them to your live website.

Check Your Server Configuration

The first step is to check how your server is set up. Are you using Apache, Nginx, or something else? Most shared hosting plans use Apache. However, if you’re unsure, ask your hosting provider or log into cPanel and check under Server Information.

It’s important, because knowing which one you use will help you find the right files to check. In this section, we’ll discuss Apache and Nginx.

– Fix HTTP 303 in Apache

If your website runs on Apache, the issue is likely in your .htaccess file. First, locate the .htaccess file in your website’s root folder. If you’re a Hosted.com customer, you’ll find it in the public_html directory.

Right-click on this file and choose Edit.

Next, look for lines containing RewriteRule or Redirect. A 303 redirect may appear as:

RewriteRule ^old-page$ /new-page [R=303,L] 

If you find this, the server is forcing a 303 (See Other) redirect. To test if this is the problem, temporarily disable the rule by adding a # at the start of the line (this comments it out):

#RewriteRule ^old-page$ /new-page [R=303,L]

Then, save the file and restart the server by running the following Linux command for Apache: sudo service apache2 restart or through your hosting control panel.

Now, check if the issue is resolved. If it disappears, adjust or remove the redirect rule permanently.

– Fix HTTP 303 in Nginx

For Nginx, the problem is usually in the server configuration files, often located in /etc/nginx/sites-available/. Open your site’s configuration file and look for rewrite or return 303 rules. A 303 redirect in Nginx may look like this:

rewrite ^/old-page$ /new-page redirect; or return 303 /new-page; 

To test, comment out the line (add # before it) or modify it to use a 301 (Permanent) or 302 (Temporary) redirect instead. Save the file and restart Nginx with:

sudo service nginx restart

If the 303 stops, you’ve found the issue. However, if the problem persists after checking server configurations, move to the next solution.

View Your Server Logs

If the HTTP 303 issue still appears, the next step is to check your server logs. These logs record everything happening on your site, including errors and redirects. They can help you figure out where the 303 redirect is coming from.

First, you need to find the log files on your server. If you’re using Apache, the logs are usually in this folder:

/var/log/apache2/

If you’re using Nginx, go to:

/var/log/nginx/

In these folders, you’ll find 2 important types of logs:

1. access.log: Show all requests made to your site.
2. error.log: Show problems or warnings from the server.

Remember, the location of access.log and error.log files may vary depending on how your hosting server is set up. For example, if you’re a Hosted.com client, you’ll find the error log file within the public_html folder – the root directory.

However, the access log will be the domain name file under the access-logs symlink directory (A symbolic link, also called a symlink, is a shortcut that points to another file or folder already stored in your File Manager).

To access this symlink directory, connect to your web server via SSH as follows:

Open your Windows command prompt or terminal. Then, write the following command, ensuring you replace the placeholders:

ssh specify-your-username@write-your-server-ip -p provide-your-port-number

If this is your first time connecting to the server, a message will appear asking if you want to add it to your known hosts. Type yes to continue. Then, enter your password.

Note that nothing will show on the screen as you type, so be careful to enter it correctly.

Now, type the following Linux command to list the directories and files in your current folder:

ls -l

Here, you’ll see access-logs symlink directory belonging to the user.

Get into access-logs using the cd command, then write ls -l and press Enter to list the files and folders in the access-logs directory. Note: the access log will be the domain name file under the access-logs; however, the domain name on its own is HTTP, and the one ending with -ssl_log is the HTTPS one.

Next, open the access log file (domain name file) and find entries that include status code 303. You may use the cat command to view the entire file, or the head command as follows to list the first few entries (e.g., we listed 5):

head -n 5 yourdomain.tld

These lines show which pages are redirected and which links are causing it. As you look through the log, check for patterns. For example, if the same URL keeps causing a 303 redirect, that’s a clue.

It may be a plugin, script, or redirect rule pointing to the wrong location. If you see the same IP address, form, or file name showing up often, note it down. This will help you figure out the root cause.

Once you know which pages or actions are causing the redirect, you can go back to your server or WordPress setup and fix the issue more directly. The logs give you a clear view of what’s happening behind the scenes, so this step is key to solving the problem.

IMPORTANT:

The main LiteSpeed/Apache error log will not be available to a cPanel user directly, as it contains information about all the domains running on the server.

Debug Your Application

If you’re still seeing the HTTP 303 status code and can’t find the cause through server settings or logs, it’s time to debug your application. This means checking inside your website’s code and tools to see what’s happening.

If you’re using the WordPress Content Management System (CMS), the first step is to turn on debugging. To do this, open your wp-config.php file in your WordPress site’s main folder (public_html).

Add or update these two lines of code above the line that says, /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );

This tells WordPress to start recording errors and warnings in a log file.

After that, save the wp-config.php file.

Next, go to the wp-content folder on your site. Inside, you’ll find a file called debug.log. Right-click on it and choose View to open this file in read mode. Now, look for anything related to redirects or headers. These messages can help you spot which plugin, theme, or part of your code is causing the 303 redirect.

Deactivate Plugins or Switch to Default Theme

After that, try to deactivate your plugins and then activate them one by one because sometimes, plugins send a 303 response to move users to a thank-you page or another part of your site. If the redirect occurs after turning on a plugin, you’ve found the issue.

You should also consider switching to a default WordPress theme, like Twenty Twenty-One or Twenty Twenty-Four. This helps you check if your theme is causing the problem. Custom themes may contain code that triggers redirects without letting you know.

When to use HTTP 303 Redirects (& How They Affect SEO)

An HTTP 303 status code is usually used after actions like form submissions or POST requests. It tells the browser to fetch the page using a GET request instead of repeating the POST action. This helps prevent duplicate submissions when users refresh the page.

For example, after someone fills out a contact form or makes a payment, a 303 redirect can safely send them to a Thank You page without reprocessing the form.

From an SEO point of view, 303 redirects have minimal impact. They are treated as temporary redirects, so search engines usually don’t index the redirected page. That’s why you should avoid using 303 redirects for pages you want to rank in search results.

To maintain good SEO and user experience:

• Only use 303 redirects for actions that should not be repeated.
• Use 301 or 302 redirects for content that needs to be indexed or permanently moved.

Lastly, if you’ve added any custom code, perhaps in a plugin or your theme’s functions.php file, find anything using wp_redirect() or similar redirect functions. These may include code that returns a 303 See Other response. Double-check the links and conditions in that code to ensure it’s not sending users to the wrong place.

FAQS

Other Tutorials of Interest

– How To Reduce HTTP Requests On WordPress Websites: 7 Easy Ways

– How To Create A 301 Redirect In WordPress: 4 Easy Ways

– WordPress Recovery Mode: Everything You Need to Know

– How To Fix 400 Bad Request: Request Header Or Cookie Too Large

– How To Configure WordPress Error Logs: Identify & Fix Issues