What is 400 Bad Request Error Code, and How to Fix The Error?

Many of them are interested to know what is 400 Bad Request error code, and here is the article, which tells about the 400 Bad Request error code along with the fix methods. 

by Janani | Updated Mar 28, 2023

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What is 400 Bad Request Error Code?

The 400 Bad Request error code is an HTTP status code that indicates that the server cannot process the client's request due to malformed syntax. This means that the client sent a request that the server could not understand, or that the request was invalid or corrupt in some way. The error message can be triggered by a variety of issues, including an incorrect URL, an invalid parameter, or a request that exceeds the server's file size limit. It is a client-side error, meaning that the problem is with the request being sent by the client rather than with the server.

How to Fix 400 Bad Request Error Code?

When a client error occurs, such as a malformed request syntax, invalid message framing, or misleading routing, the server responds with the HTTP 400 Bad Request status code to indicate that it cannot or will not handle the request. There are several methods to fix the 400 Bad Request Error Code. 

1) Clear Browser Cache or Cookies

Consider clearing your browser's cache and cookies to resolve this issue. If you are a Google Chrome user, follow these steps:

  • Click on the three dots located in the top right corner of your Google Chrome browser and select Settings.
  • Locate the Privacy and security section and click on Clear browsing data.
  • Check the Cached images and files Cookies and other site data options on the Clear browsing data window and choose the time frame using the drop-down menu.
  • Click on the Clear data button and restart Google Chrome to complete the process.

2)  Turn Off Browser Extensions

To troubleshoot the HTTP 400 bad request error caused by extensions on Google Chrome, follow these steps:

  • Click on the three dots located in the top right corner of Google Chrome.
  • Select More tools -> Extensions.
  • Turn off all the extensions one by one by clicking on the switch button.
  • Refresh the web page and check if it loads normally. If it does, one of the extensions is causing the error.
  • To identify the specific extension, turn on each extension one by one, refreshing the page each time.

3) Double Check the Domain Address and Use Encoder/decoder Tool

Verifying the domain address is crucial to prevent the HTTP status 400 bad request error, which often occurs due to an incorrect URL. This error can result from various issues, such as a mistyped URL, malformed syntax, or illegal characters in the URL.

  • To avoid making mistakes while typing the URL, it's essential to double-check the spelling of the domain name carefully. Additionally, when entering directory paths, file names, or query strings, it's crucial to be attentive to special symbols such as hyphens or percentage characters.
  • An incorrectly encoded URL can also trigger the 400 bad request error. URL encoding is the process of converting characters into ASCII characters to ensure their transferability on the internet. For example, one of the most common encodings involves replacing spaces with %20.
  • However, a URL may be encoded incorrectly, leading to incorrect syntax such as double percentage characters (%%). If you encounter a URL or click on a link with poor encoding, you may receive the bad request error 400.
  • When you face a 400 bad request error due to an incorrect URL, it's advisable to use an encoder/decoder tool to resolve the issue. Decode the URL, then encode it again to ensure its accuracy.

4) Search the Keyword

In some cases, even when you are certain that the URL is accurate, the error message can still persist. If you know the title of the page or article you're looking for, try searching for relevant keywords on the website or through a search engine. Occasionally, the title can even be visible in the URL.

  • You can use a search engine such as Google or Bing. To perform a search within a specific site, enter "site:" followed by the website's URL and the relevant keyword.
  • For instance, if the article's title is "how to make a website," you can search for it by typing "site:hostinger.com how to make a website."

5) Flush DNS Cache

When you visit a website, your computer performs a DNS lookup to find the nameservers and IP addresses associated with the domain name. The IP addresses of the web servers are then stored in the DNS cache of your operating system to reduce the DNS lookup process on future visits.

However, if the DNS cache is outdated or corrupted, it can cause the HTTP error 400 bad requests. To resolve this issue, you need to flush the DNS cache. The process of flushing the DNS cache varies depending on the operating system you are using.

On Microsoft Windows 10

  • First, make right-click on the Start Menu. Then, choose Search or use the search box in the taskbar if enabled.
  • Next, Type or enter the command prompt.
  • Then, choose the Command Prompt application.
  • After that, enter or type ipconfig /flushdns.
  • Then, hit Enter. You could see the Successfully flushed DNS Resolver Cache message after the process is completed.

On macOS X

  • First, tap the F4 key to open Launchpad and type Terminal to open the command terminal.
  • Next, run the following command if you use macOS Sierra, X Mavericks, X El Capitan, X Mountain Lion, or X Lion:

           sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.

On Google Chrome

  • First, enter chrome://net-internals/#dns on Google Chrome’s address bar and hit Enter:
  • Now, tap Clear host cache.

6) Check the File Size

An HTTP status 400 bad request error may occur if you try to upload a file that exceeds the server's file size limit. Most websites have different file upload limits, so it's essential to check whether the file you want to upload fits within the limit.

  • If the website doesn't provide information on file limits, upload a small file to see if that's the cause of the error. If it works, then you should resize the original file you intended to upload.
  • However, keep in mind that compressing files may reduce their quality. For example, PDF or image files may become blurry and unreadable after compression. Hence, it's important to check the quality of the file after compression and make sure that it's still acceptable.
  • Luckily, there are many free online compression tools available, so there's no need to install additional software on your computer.

7) Restart Your PC and Other Hardware

  • One way to resolve the HTTP error 400 bad request is by restarting your computer and other network hardware, such as your router and modem.
  • Restarting your PC can often resolve a range of issues, including the 400 bad request error, as it clears the Random Access Memory (RAM) and flushes the temporary cache that builds up as you use various programs.
  • Additionally, restarting your network hardware can help to reset your internet connection and potentially resolve any connectivity issues that may be causing the error.

8) Contact the Site Owner

If you have exhausted all the options to fix the 400 bad request error and the problem persists, it may be a misconfiguration on the website owner's end that needs to be fixed. In such a situation, you can try to visit the website's contact page and fill out a contact form, if available. Alternatively, you can try to find the website owner's email address or social media accounts and send them a message explaining the issue you're encountering. It's essential to be polite and provide as much information as possible about the error, including any steps you have taken to try to fix it. The website owner may not be aware of the problem, so reporting it can help them fix it for other users as well.

Cause of 400 Bad Request Error Code

The 400 bad request error code is typically caused by an issue with the client's request sent to the server. Specifically, the server is unable to understand and process the request due to invalid syntax, incomplete information, or conflicting headers.

This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as

  • submitting a form with missing or incorrect data and exceeding the maximum file upload size.
  • attempting to access a restricted page without proper authentication. Additionally, server misconfigurations,
  • outdated browsers, or software.
  • network issues.
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What is 400 Bad Request Error Code - FAQs

1. What is 400 Bad Request Error Code?

The 400 Bad Request error code is an HTTP status code that indicates that the server cannot process the client's request due to malformed syntax

2. Mention the cause of the 400 Bad Request Error Code.

In some cases, network issues lead to 400 Bad Request Error Codes.

3. What is Microsoft Office?

Microsoft Office, or simply Office, is a discontinued family of client software, server software, and services developed by Microsoft. 

4. Who is the manufacturer of Microsoft Office?

Microsoft Corporation is the manufacturer of Microsoft Office.