How to Fix Cloudflare Error code 1020 Access Denied
Are you visiting a website and constantly getting this “Error 1020” error?
It can happen when you visit a website to shop, a streaming website, or even the website where you’ve bought a monthly subscription.
Some visitors face “Error code 1020” when visiting a website that uses the Cloudflare network for security.
Cloudflare is a service that helps websites stay fast and safe by blocking unwanted traffic.
When you see “Error 1020: Access Denied,” it indicates that Cloudflare’s firewall has blocked you, thinking your visit is breaking the site’s security rules. However, this error can also happen for other reasons.
What Are The Reasons for Cloudflare Access Denied Error
Excessive requests from your IP to the server:
Excessive requests refer to a high volume of website visits in a short period of time.
This commonly triggers bot detection, and to protect the website, Cloudflare blocks the IP address from being visited.
You might be using a shared IP
Shared IP is the IP address provided by a proxy service or Internet Service Provider (ISP), and multiple users share the same IP address for their devices.
If any user sharing that IP engages in activities that trigger Cloudflare’s security measures, such as excessive requests or data scraping, the IP will be blocked, resulting in the 1020 error for all users sharing that IP.
Even if you’re not violating the firewall rules set by Cloudflare or the website owner, others sharing your IP address might be.
Website blocked in your region:
Website owners may configure their firewalls to restrict access from specific geographic regions.
If you attempt to access the site from a restricted location, Cloudflare will block your request, resulting in the 1020 error.
Browser Extensions
Browser extensions, particularly those designed to enhance privacy, can interfere with Cloudflare’s security protocols.
Extensions that block cookies, scripts, or alter user-agent strings may prevent Cloudflare from verifying your request, potentially leading to the 1020 error.
Network issues:
Slow Internet: A sluggish connection can cause incomplete requests, which Cloudflare interprets as potential threats.
ISP-Level Blocking: Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) may block access to certain websites or services. If your ISP restricts access to a site protected by Cloudflare, you may encounter the 1020 error.
Steps to bypass Cloudflare 1020 error code
Disable your VPN
VPN can lead to the 1020 error for several reasons:
Shared IP Addresses: This is particularly common when you use a free VPN. They often assign users to shared IP addresses that have a bad reputation for malicious activities by the Cloudflare firewall and that’s why you might be blocked from visiting the website.
Suspicious Activity: Some VPN services may have been associated with malicious activities, leading websites to block traffic from their IP ranges.
Try turning off your VPN or use a trusted and premium VPN to access the website.
Clear the cache of your browser
Your browser stores temporary files, images, and scripts to expedite website loading.
Outdated or corrupted cache data can interfere with Cloudflare’s security protocols, leading to the 1020 error.
This occurs because the cached information may not align with the website’s current security settings, causing access issues.
Clearing your browser’s cache can potentially solve the 1020 error.
Go to ‘Settings’
‘Privacy and security’
‘Delete browsing data’ >
Select ‘Cookies and other site data’ and then click ‘Delete data’.
Check your device’s Date and time
Incorrect date and time settings on your device can create discrepancies between your device and the website’s servers, potentially resulting in a ‘1020 Error. ‘
Fixing the date and time can solve it.
Check if your browser’s extension is causing the issue
Certain browser extensions can interfere with website access leading to the 1020 error. Extensions that block cookies, scripts, or modify request headers may trigger security protocols for Cloudflare, resulting in access denial.
How to identify the culprit extension:
Access your browser’s settings or extensions/add-ons manager.
Turn off all extensions:
- Attempt to access the website again.
If the website works, congratulations!
Now enable each extension individually to identify the culprit extension.
Enable cookies in your browser:
Cloudflare uses cookies to verify the user’s legitimacy and identify malicious visits, if you have disabled the cookies in your browser, this can lead to Error 1020 as at least necessary cookies are required by Cloudflare.
Go to ‘Settings’ >
‘Privacy and security’ >
Go to ‘Third-party cookies’
Enable ‘Allow third party cookies’.
Try visiting the website from the incognito window:
As incognito windows operate separately from the main browser and do not use existing cache or extensions, using this mode can help bypass the conditions causing Error code 1020.
Try changing the User Agent
A user agent is a string of text that your browser sends to websites to provide details about your browser type, operating system, and device. Websites use this information to deliver content optimized for your specific device.
Some websites implement firewall rules that block specific user agents, potentially leading to Error 1020.
By changing your browser’s user agent, you can bypass these restrictions, as the website may perceive your request as coming from a different browser or device, thereby granting access.
How to change the user agent:
Press Ctrl + Shift + I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Option + I (Mac) to open Developer Tools.
Click on the 3 dots in the left corner.
Hover over “More tools” and click on “ Network conditions”.
Find “User-agent” and uncheck “Use browser default”
Now select a different browser and device.
Use a different device
An antivirus or the device operating system’s firewall also blocks websites.
Additionally, if your device is infected with malware, it could result in your IP address being flagged or blocked by websites.
Using a different device to access the website can help you access it without restrictions.
Use a different network
Switch to a different Wi-fi network or turn on your mobile data instead.
Using another network can help bypass ISP restrictions, and if you also change the device, you will further reduce the likelihood of encountering device-specific or IP-related blocks and significantly increase the chances of resolving Error 1020.
Use a proxy
Using a proxy is an effective way to address the ‘1020 Error’.
Whether the Cloudflare firewall blocked your personal IP or a shared IP address from your ISP, a reliable proxy service will provide you with an alternate IP address to bypass the ‘1020 Error.
Lastly, contact the website administrator
Sometimes, the misconfigured firewall settings that are too restrictive can even block legitimate users from accessing the website.
In this case, you can report to the website’s owner through social media or email and give them the details so they can fix your problem.
