How to Fix “Background Request Blocked” in WordPress

A common issue seen in WordPress often shows the error, “Background Request Blocked”. Such problems can render your website unresponsive by blocking the plugins, updates, or even themes from installing. This error usually occurs if WordPress cannot execute background HTTP requests. These requests are critical to check if any themes or plugins need updates and installations. Moreover, it can happen because of a misconfigured server, firewall, or security plugin that prevents such requests.

In this article, we will find the causes linked to the WordPress “Background Request Blocked” error, along with actionable steps you can take to fix it.

Understanding the Error Background Request Blocked WordPress

Usually, the “Background Request Blocked” message appears when WordPress fails to request a plugin update or server communication. It then leads to an error such as.

What Causes the “Background Request Blocked” Error?

The background request blocked is one of the most common WordPress errors that can be encountered for several reasons as illustrated below:

• Certain security plugins will block particular HTTP requests that can be a reason for error.
• The security configurations set on the server may block requests sent by WordPress.
• Setting the .htaccess file in the wrong way. It can prevent WordPress from sending background requests.
• Firewall of the server or malfunctioning PHP settings can also reject requests sent from WordPress.
• Errors and conflicts can arise due to an outdated version of WordPress, theme, or plugins.

Fixing “Background Request Blocked” in WordPress

To fix the background request blocked error in WordPress, you must try one of the following solutions:

Solution 1: Fix Security Plugin Conflicts

Security plugins like Wordfence, iThemes Security, and Sucuri block background requests to protect your site. But sometimes, they might accidentally block legitimate requests from WordPress. To fix this, you can disable your security plugin temporarily and see if the issue is fixed.

Access the Installed Plugins section from your WordPress dashboard, find the security plugin like Wordfence, and deactivate it:

Now check if the error is resolved or not. If the stated error is not fixed yet, set the Firewall mode to “Learning” from your WordPress Dashboard. For this purpose, go to the Wordfence Dashboard, navigate to Firewall, and then select All Firewall Options:

Now set the Firewall Status to Learning Mode to fix the error background request blocked Wordfence:

In this mode, Wordfence monitors and learns which requests are safe instead of blocking them. This stops it from mistakenly blocking legitimate WordPress requests.

Solution 2: Fix the .htaccess File Configuration

The .htaccess file is an important configuration file for websites using the Apache web server. If it’s not set up correctly, it can stop WordPress from making background requests. This often happens due to conflicting rules or overly strict security settings.

To fix this issue, you can regenerate the .htaccess file. For this purpose, access the file using an FTP client or cPanel’s File Manager and navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation. Find the .htaccess file, download a backup copy, and then delete it from your server.

Next, go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Settings, and then Permalinks:

Now save the settings to automatically generate a new .htaccess file. Finally, check if the “Background Request Blocked” error is resolved. If the error is gone, the problem was likely caused by a misconfiguration in the original file.

Solution 3: Update WordPress, Themes, and Plugins

An outdated WordPress version, theme, or plugin can cause compatibility problems and lead to the “Background Request Blocked” error. To fix this, make sure everything is up-to-date. After updating the themes, WordPress, or plugins, check if the error is resolved.

Solution 4: Fix Server Configuration

Server settings can sometimes block WordPress from making background requests. This usually happens due to strict firewall rules or the server blocking outgoing HTTP requests to other services. To fix this issue, contact your hosting provider and ask them if outgoing HTTP requests are blocked. Also, request them to check the server firewall to ensure it’s not stopping HTTP requests to external servers, like the WordPress update server. 

If your server uses a proxy, it might also block background requests. Ask your provider to confirm that the server is set up correctly to allow outgoing requests.

Conclusion

The “Background Request Blocked” error in WordPress can disrupt essential functionalities, such as plugin updates, theme installations, and background HTTP requests. You can fix the issue by disabling conflicting plugins, regenerating the .htaccess file, keeping WordPress and its components up-to-date, and checking server settings with your hosting provider. In this article, we discussed several solutions to fix the “Background Request Blocked” error in WordPress.

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