HTTP Error 403.14 - Forbidden - The Web server is configured to not list the contents of this directory.

HTTP Error 403.14 - Forbidden

The Web server is configured to not list the contents of this directory.

Most likely causes:

• A default document is not configured for the requested URL, and directory browsing is not enabled on the server

Things you can try:

• If you do not want to enable directory browsing, ensure that a default document is configured and that the file exists.
• Enable directory browsing using IIS Manager.
  1. Open IIS Manager.
  2. In the Features view, double-click Directory Browsing.
  3. On the Directory Browsing page, in the Actions pane, click Enable.
• Verify that the configuration/system.webServer/directoryBrowse@enabled attribute is set to true in the site or application configuration file.

More Information:

This error occurs when a document is not specified in the URL, no default document is specified for the Web site or application, and directory listing is not enabled for the Web site or application. This setting may be disabled on purpose to secure the contents of the server.

View more information »

This problem occurs because the Web site does not have the Directory Browsing feature enabled, and the default document is not configured. To resolve this problem, use one of the following methods. To resolve this problem, I followed the steps in Method 1 as mentioned in the MS Support page and its the recommended method.

Method 1: Enable the Directory Browsing feature in IIS (Recommended)

1. Start IIS Manager. To do this, click Start, click Run, type inetmgr.exe, and then click OK.

2. In IIS Manager, expand server name, expand Web sites, and then click the website that you want to modify.

3. In the Features view, double-click Directory Browsing.

4. In the Actions pane, click Enable.

If that does not work for, you might be having different problem than just a Directory listing issue. So follow the below step,

Method 2: Add a default document

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

• Start IIS Manager. To do this, click Start, click Run, type inetmgr.exe, and then click OK.
• In IIS Manager, expand server name, expand Web sites, and then click the website that you want to modify.
• In the Features view, double-click Default Document.
• In the Actions pane, click Enable.
• In the File Name box, type the name of the default document, and then click OK.

Method 3: Enable the Directory Browsing feature in IIS Express

_{Note This method is for the web developers who experience the issue when they use IIS Express.}

Follow these steps:

• Open a command prompt, and then go to the IIS Express folder on your computer. For example, go to the following folder in a command prompt: C:\Program Files\IIS Express

• Type the following command, and then press Enter:

  appcmd set config /section:system.webServer/directoryBrowse /enabled:true

There could be other reasons for the issue. Below are the another method on IIS 8.5 worth trying.

1. Type "turn windows features on or off" in search.
2. Click on "Add Roles and features" in Server Manager.
3. In Wizard scroll down to the Web server and select : Web Server -> Application Development. Select all except CGI from the list as shown in the screen shot

4. Finally hit next and Install.
5. Restart IIS