Vortex Error 403 How to Fix

A Vortex Error 403 (Forbidden) occurs when the Vortex mod manager is blocked from accessing a resource it needs, almost always a download link from Nexus Mods.

This error is essentially the Nexus Mods server telling Vortex, “You do not have permission to access that link.”

Here are the most common and effective ways to fix the Vortex Error 403:

1. Re-Authenticate and Restart (The Easiest Fix)

The most frequent cause is a lost or expired connection token between Vortex and Nexus Mods.

• Log Out of Vortex: Go to the Settings or Profile section in Vortex and choose to log out of Nexus Mods.
• Log In Again: Log back into your Nexus Mods account through Vortex. This will generate a new authentication token.
• Restart Vortex: Completely close the Vortex application and then restart it.

2. Check Antivirus/Firewall (External Block)

A 403 error often indicates that an external security program is blocking the connection, even if the Nexus website itself loads fine in your browser.

• Add Exceptions: Go into your Antivirus or Firewall program (including Windows Defender/Security) and add Vortex (and potentially your game’s executable file) to the list of allowed/whitelisted applications.

• Temporary Disable: Temporarily disable your antivirus/firewall to see if the download works. If it does, then the security software is definitely the problem, and you need to keep the exception in place.

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3. Connection and IP-Related Issues

In rare cases, the issue is on your network side, especially with how Nexus Mods’ content delivery network (CDN) sees your connection.

• Restart Router/Modem: Power cycle your router and modem. This will often assign your device a new public IP address, which has been reported to resolve the issue if a previous IP was somehow being blocked or flagged by the Nexus Mods CDN.

• Try a VPN (If Available): If you have access to a Virtual Private Network (VPN), temporarily connecting through it can confirm if your local network or IP address is the root cause. If the download works with the VPN, the issue is external to Vortex.

4. Check Your Nexus Mods Premium Status (For Download Speed)

If you are a non-Premium user and are running into the error while trying a “Mod Manager Download”:

• Nexus Mods has restrictions on using the API for downloading, which sometimes incorrectly triggers a 403 for non-Premium users, especially when trying to bypass the “slow download” option.

• The Fix: Go to the mod page in your browser and use the Manual Download option, then drag the downloaded file into Vortex’s Downloads tab to install it manually. This bypasses the API error entirely.