HTTP 405 Method Not Allowed — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

A 405 Method Not Allowed error means the web page exists, but the way your browser tried to reach it is not allowed. Every request to a website uses a 'method' — like GET (just view a page) or POST (submit a form). The server is saying: 'I know that page, but you cannot access it that way.' As a regular user, this usually appears when a form submission or button click goes wrong.

Affected Models

All web browsers
All websites with forms or interactive features
Mobile browsers
Web applications

Common Causes

You submitted a form in a way the server does not expect
You tried to access a page directly by URL that is only meant to receive form data
A website bug sent the wrong type of request to the server
You refreshed a page after submitting a form, which re-sent the submission
A browser extension modified the request in an unsupported way

How to Fix It

Do not refresh the page. Instead, click your browser's Back button and try the action again from the beginning.

Refreshing after a form submission re-sends the same broken request.
Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again.

Cached data can sometimes cause the wrong type of request to be sent.
Try a different browser to see if the problem is specific to yours.

If it works in another browser, a local extension or setting is likely the cause.
Disable browser extensions, especially ad-blockers or privacy tools, and try again.

Some extensions rewrite web requests in ways that break them.
If the error appears on every attempt, contact the website's support and describe exactly what you were doing.

This is likely a bug on the website that only they can fix.

When to Call a Professional

As a visitor, this error is almost always caused by a bug on the website side. Report it to the website's support team. If you manage the website, a web developer needs to check the server configuration and the allowed request methods for that URL.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'method' mean in a 405 error?

Every time your browser visits a page, it sends a type of request called a 'method'. GET means 'show me this page'. POST means 'submit this data'. The 405 error means the server does not allow the method your browser used.

Is this error my fault?

Usually not. Regular browsing does not produce 405 errors unless a website is broken. If you typed a URL directly into the address bar for a page that is only meant to be reached via a button or form, that could cause it.

Should I report this error to the website?

Yes — it is helpful to do so. The website's developers may not be aware of the bug. Describe what you clicked or submitted when the error appeared.