Error 406 while importing Starter Templates on your WordPress website

Introduction

Sometime, users may come across Error 406 while importing starter templates on WordPress website. In this document, we will explain the reason behind this error and also the steps to fix it.

The reason:

The main reason for receiving error 406 while importing the starter templates is because of the firewall system on the hosting account which is blocking the starter template websites to access the templates. When you try to import a template on your website, there are multiple communications that happen in the background between the starter template website and your website.

However, we have noticed that when your hosting provider puts up a firewall to safeguard your website, it also blocks the starter template website from communicating with the hosting server. This results in the failure of the import of the templates.

Solution

As this is an error created by the firewall system of the hosting provider, you can directly approach the hosting provider and request them to disable the firewall temporarily so that you can complete the import process of the templates.

Another option is to edit the htaccess file of your website and force the firewall to be disabled temporarily.

Editing HTACCESS file

Before you start to follow the steps below, we would highly recommend that you should take a  backup of your website. If you are not sure how to take a backup of your website, here is an article that can guide you through.

In order to edit the htaccess file, you will need to download and install the plugin called WP File Manager. This is a free plugin that allows you to access the internal files of your website including htaccess. Once you have downloaded, installed and activated the plugin, you will need to click on the plugging and select WP file manager option.

This will open the access to the backend files including htaccess file. Right click on the htaccess file and select the option called code editor.

Once the htaccess file is open, you can add the following code to it. Click on save and close to make the changes permanent.

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>

<IfModule mod_substitute.c>
SubstituteMaxLineLength 10m
</IfModule>

This should update the firewall settings on your website and allow the starter templates to be imported without an issue.