406 Not Acceptable is an HTTP status code indicating the server cannot provide a response that matches the client’s specified criteria in the Accept headers. This occurs when the server cannot generate a response in a format the client accepts, such as an unsupported file type or media format.

In today’s competitive landscape, businesses must maintain a consistent online presence through their websites. Performance issues with these websites can disrupt that consistency and adversely affect customer experience, leading to business loss.

In fact, a report suggests that 79% of customers won’t revisit a website if they have a bad experience. The ‘406 Not Acceptable’ error is common among these errors.

If you are wondering what ‘406 Not Acceptable’ means, this blog will clear all your doubts. Read more to know its causes, ways to fix it, and steps you can take to prevent website errors.

What Does ‘406 Not Acceptable’ Mean?

All website content and their types are stored on web servers. The type of content can be different extensions of images, videos, text, or GIFs. To open a website, you enter the URL on your browser. Your browser then requests the server to display all the content in a specific format.

If the content received from the servers is incompatible with the format the browser is allowed to accept, the webpage shows the ‘406 Not Acceptable’ error instead of its actual content.

But, before learning how to fix the ‘406 Not Acceptable’ error, let’s take a look at what can cause it.

Also Read: HTTP Error 407: Proxy Authentication Required Explained

Common Causes of the 406 Not Acceptable Error

There are many reasons why the ‘406 Not Acceptable’ error happens. Find a detailed explanation of the most common ones below:

Browser Restrictions

Some browsers restrict the format of content types. For instance, a browser may accept images only in the WebP format. If your website only provides images in JPEG formats, your host server may reject the request and show the ‘406 Not Acceptable’ error.

Server Configuration Issues

Similar to browser restrictions, servers also have rules about the content format they allow. If your host server is not optimised for multiple content formats, your website will show a ‘406 Not Acceptable’ error message.

Firewall Restrictions

Browser antimalware tools can sometimes mistake a content request from the browser to a server as suspicious activity and result in a ‘406 Not Acceptable’ error.

URL or API Issues

One way to access a website is through an API (Application Programming Interface). An API is a software platform through which different software exchanges data.

If you use an API to open a website, the API will send the website server a content request in a particular format. If that format is incompatible with the server’s content delivery format, the website will display a ‘406 Not Acceptable’ error.

Also Read: How to Fix 502 Bad Gateway Errors: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Fix the 406 Not Acceptable Error

If you find yourself struggling with questions such as what does ‘406 Not Acceptable’ mean and how to fix it, here are a few steps you can take towards a resolution:

Try a Different Browser or Device

Some technical browser settings can interfere with the correct delivery of content types from a server. You can try using a different browser or device to help resolve the ‘406 Not Acceptable’ error.

Clear Your Browser Cache

Your browser stores temporary data about previously visited sites. Outdated cache data can sometimes hinder your website’s content delivery. Delete the cache and cookies data from your browser settings, and it might fix the error.

Disable Browser Extensions

Certain browser extensions can hinder your website’s performance and cause errors. Try disabling all extensions and reloading your website again.

Contact Your Web Hosting Provider

If none of the above suggestions fix the issue, you should contact your web hosting provider. They can help you fix this error and get your website running again.

Keep Your Website Up and Running with Crazy Domains

With 81% of consumers doing online research before buying anything, businesses can not afford to lose their customers over website errors such as ‘406 Not Acceptable’.

The best way to prevent such website errors is through reliable web hosting partners such as Crazy Domains.

With optimised server configurations and scalable hosting solutions, you can reduce the possibility of website errors as your business grows. Choose a web hosting plan from Crazy Domains that suits your needs to ensure an enhanced website experience for your customers!

To learn more about our comprehensive web hosting solutions, get in touch.