Cannot access XML file via Multilingual Tools

This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem:
The client needs to export the WPML configuration and is encountering a 403 Forbidden error when trying to access the XML file via Multilingual Tools. This error typically indicates that the server understands the request but refuses to authorize access, possibly due to server permissions, security settings, or firewall rules.
Solution:
If you're experiencing this issue, we recommend you try the following steps:
1. Temporarily disable all non-essential plugins, keeping only the required WPML plugins active.
2. Switch to a default theme, such as Twenty Twenty-One, to rule out any theme-related issues.
3. If the problem persists, consider installing your site on a local server (e.g., using LocalWP or XAMPP) to determine if it’s a hosting-related problem.
Please ensure to back up your database before making any changes.

This solution might be irrelevant if it's outdated or not applicable to your case. We highly recommend checking related known issues at https://wpml.org/known-issues/, verifying the version of the permanent fix, and confirming that you have installed the latest versions of themes and plugins. If the issue persists, please open a new support ticket at WPML support forum.

This is the technical support forum for WPML - the multilingual WordPress plugin.

Everyone can read, but only WPML clients can post here. WPML team is replying on the forum 6 days per week, 22 hours per day.

Tagged: Exception, Not WPML issue

This topic contains 1 reply, has 0 voices.

Last updated by Andrey 2 weeks ago.

Assisted by: Andrey.

Author	Posts
May 30, 2025 at 10:51 am #17091717
chrisM-79	Background of the issue: I need to export the current WPML configuration to back up my options and deploy changes at scale. The website uses ACF, and we have added the Multilingual Tools add-on to obtain the configuration file in XML format. Symptoms: When attempting to access the advanced-custom-fields-pro file, I receive a 403 error message indicating that access is forbidden or blocked by a firewall. Questions: How can I resolve the 403 error when accessing the XML file via Multilingual Tools? Is there a way to export the WPML configuration without encountering this error?
May 30, 2025 at 11:05 am #17091768
Andrey WPML Supporter since 06/2013 Languages: English (English ) Russian (Русский ) Timezone: Europe/Kyiv (GMT+03:00)	Thank you for contacting WPML support. A 403 Forbidden error typically occurs when the server understands the request but refuses to authorize access to the requested resource. This usually indicates that access is restricted due to server permissions, security settings, or firewall rules. As a first step, please try the following: 1. Temporarily disable all non-essential plugins, keeping only the required WPML plugins active. 2. Switch to a default theme, such as Twenty Twenty-One, to rule out theme-related issues. 3. If the issue persists, try installing your site on a local server (e.g., using LocalWP or XAMPP) to check whether server restrictions on your live environment are causing the issue. This can help determine if it’s a hosting-related problem. Before making any changes, please ensure that you back up your database first.