How to Fix the “Sorry, you are not allowed to preview drafts” Error in WordPress

Running into the “Sorry, you are not allowed to preview drafts” error can be a major roadblock when you’re trying to review your content before it goes live. This frustrating notification usually pops up suddenly, preventing you from seeing how your latest edits look on the frontend of your site.

Fortunately, this is a common WordPress permission glitch, and it is entirely fixable. In this guide, we will walk you through the most effective methods to troubleshoot and resolve this issue so you can get back to publishing with confidence.

Why Does This Error Happen?

Before jumping into the solutions, it helps to understand the root cause. This error typically occurs due to a mismatch in user permissions, a corrupted .htaccess file, browser cookie issues, or conflicts with caching plugins and recently installed themes or plugins.

How to Fix the WordPress Draft Preview Error

1. Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies

Often, the simplest fix is the right one. Your browser might be holding onto outdated session data or cookie information regarding your WordPress login session.

• Clear your browser’s cache and cookies completely.
• Try opening your WordPress dashboard in an Incognito or Private Browsing window.
• Log back in and attempt to preview your draft again.

2. Check and Reset File Permissions

Incorrect file permissions on your hosting server can restrict WordPress from executing necessary functions, including post previews. Using an FTP client or your host’s File Manager, ensure your core directories are set to 755 and files are set to 644.

3. Regenerate Your Permalinks

Sometimes, corrupted rewrite rules can trigger permission errors in WordPress.

• Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Settings > Permalinks.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes (you don’t need to change anything; simply clicking save forces WordPress to flush and regenerate your permalink structure).
• Test your draft preview again.

4. Temporarily Deactivate Plugins

Security plugins, caching tools, or recently updated plugins can sometimes interfere with the preview mechanism. To test this:

• Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
• Temporarily deactivate all of your plugins (especially security and caching plugins).
• Check if the preview error is resolved. If it is, reactivate your plugins one by one to identify the exact culprit.

5. Check Your Site URL Settings

A mismatch between your WordPress Address and Site Address can cause authentication errors during previews. Go to Settings > General and ensure that both the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) match precisely, including the correct use of HTTP or HTTPS and ‘www’.

Need Expert Help?

Persistent WordPress errors can sometimes point to deeper server configuration issues or database inconsistencies. If you’ve tried these steps and are still stuck, you don’t have to tackle it alone.

At SiteSuraksha, we provide comprehensive WordPress security and maintenance solutions to keep your website running smoothly, securely, and error-free 24/7. Contact our expert team today to let us handle the technical heavy lifting while you focus on growing your business.