HTTP 406 Not Acceptable — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

A 406 Not Acceptable error means the website cannot deliver content in the format your browser asked for. Your browser told the server what type of content it can handle. The server checked its options and found none that match. It is like ordering a meal in a restaurant, but the kitchen does not have the ingredients for any dish you will eat. This is a rare error for regular visitors and almost always a website-side problem.

Affected Models

All web browsers
All websites
Mobile browsers
Content-heavy websites

Common Causes

The browser sent unusual 'Accept' headers that the server cannot match
A browser extension is modifying what content types your browser claims to accept
The website is set up incorrectly and does not offer standard content formats
A server-side script returned a non-standard content type
Aggressive browser security settings are limiting accepted content types

How to Fix It

Reload the page with Ctrl+F5 (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) to force a fresh request.

Sometimes a one-time glitch in the request headers causes this error.
Try a different browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

Different browsers send slightly different request information. Another browser may work fine.
Disable any browser extensions, especially privacy or security tools, and reload the page.

Some extensions alter what your browser tells servers it can accept.
Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again.

Cached broken data can affect how future requests are formed.
If the problem persists across all browsers, report the error to the website's support team. It is likely a server configuration issue they need to fix.

Include the URL and what you were trying to do when you report the issue.

When to Call a Professional

This error is almost always a configuration problem on the website's server. As a visitor, report it to the site's support team. Website owners should consult a web developer to review the server's content negotiation settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would a website not be able to serve content my browser accepts?

Every browser tells a server what types of content it can handle — like HTML pages, images, or JSON data. If the server only offers content in an unusual format, and your browser does not accept that format, you get a 406. This is rare for normal websites but can happen with poorly configured servers.

Is this error something I caused?

Almost certainly not. Regular browsing does not change what content types your browser accepts. Unless you have manually installed an unusual browser extension, this is the website's problem.

Will this error go away on its own?

Sometimes — if the website fixes its server configuration. But it will not fix itself on your end without intervention. Try reporting it to the site's support team.