403 Error on .gov sites

This happens on any ,gov site such as (moffatcounty.colorado.gov) or (slb.colorado.gov). I have tried changing to a mobile hotspot, turned off the vpn etc. and I am still getting the 403 error.

I can open the sites on my cell phone when connected to my home internet.

Thanks!

To help narrow it down:

1. Do the .gov sites open in Edge InPrivate mode using Ctrl + Shift + N?
2. Do they open in another browser such as Chrome or Firefox on the same PC?
3. Are you using any third-party antivirus or security software besides Windows Security?

In the meantime, please try clearing Edge’s cached data:

• Open Edge.
• Go to edge://settings/clearBrowserData
• Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
• Set the time range to All time, then clear the data.
• Close and reopen Edge and test the sites again.

Also check Settings > Network & internet > Proxy and make sure Use a proxy server is turned off unless you intentionally use one.

If the same 403 error also happens in another browser, that will help confirm this is a Windows/security configuration issue rather than Edge itself.

Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Thanks!

This happens on any ,gov site such as (moffatcounty.colorado.gov) or (slb.colorado.gov).

I have tried changing to a mobile hotspot, turned off the vpn etc. and I am still getting the 403 error.

Hi, @Beverly Rave

To help narrow this down:

1. Does the 403 error happen on every .gov site, or only certain ones? Please provide one or two example website addresses.
2. Does the same site open in another browser or in an Edge InPrivate window?
3. Are you using a VPN, proxy, antivirus web protection, or a work/school network?

A 403 error means the website is refusing the connection. If it happens across several .gov sites, the issue may be related to your network, VPN/proxy, browser data, or IP address rather than Edge itself.

In the meantime, try opening Edge InPrivate with Ctrl + Shift + N. Also temporarily disconnect any VPN or proxy and test the site again. If possible, connect the PC to a different network, such as a mobile hotspot, and check whether the .gov sites open there.

Let me know the results, especially whether they work on another network.

Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Thanks!

Hi @Beverly Rave ,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum!

A 403 Forbidden error indicates that the web server understands your request, but is actively refusing your connection. Government (.gov) portals implement strict security measures, including Web Application Firewalls (WAF), geofencing, and automated IP blocks.

Please try the following troubleshooting steps to resolve this:

Step 1: Turn Off VPNs and Proxy Connections

• Many .gov portals automatically block known commercial VPN IP addresses, datacenter proxies, and Tor nodes to prevent automated scraping or attacks.
• Disconnect from any active VPN or proxy software and try accessing the site using your standard internet service provider (ISP) connection.

Step 2: Check in Incognito Mode and Clear Site Data

Corrupted security tokens, stale session cookies, or aggressive browser extensions can trigger access denials:

• Open a Private/Incognito window (Ctrl + Shift + N in Edge/Chrome) and try opening the site.
• If it works in Incognito, clear your cache and cookies:

1. In your browser, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
2. Set the time range to All time.
3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then click Clear data.

Step 3: Temporarily Disable Ad Blockers and Security Extensions

• Certain browser extensions (such as privacy shields, ad blockers, or user-agent switchers) strip request headers or modify SSL/TLS signatures, causing .gov firewalls to flag the request as automated traffic.
• Go to your browser extensions menu, toggle them off temporarily, and reload the webpage.

Step 4: Flush Your DNS Cache

1. Press Windows Key + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
3. Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter, then restart your computer.

Step 5: Test on an Alternate Network (Mobile Hotspot)

If your local network’s public IP address has been temporarily blacklisted due to suspicious activity from your subnet or ISP, connect your device to a mobile hotspot/cellular network to test access.

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can continue troubleshooting together.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Yes" and kindly upvote it. Thanks

Okay I will wait for response