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

I just created a new empty website in Visual Studio 2012 and clicked on run (i.e view in browser) and I get this error :

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

I went into IIS and clicked on Directory browsing and then ensured that Directory browsing was enabled but I still get this error. I can't figure it out ?

The website project I just created is not listed in Default web sites in IIS Manager which I thought was odd.

How do I get rid of this error ?

Solution 1:

keep this into your web config file then rename the add value="yourwebformname.aspx"

<system.webServer>
    <defaultDocument>
       <files>
          <add value="insertion.aspx" />
       </files>
    </defaultDocument>
    <directoryBrowse enabled="false" />
</system.webServer>

else

<system.webServer>
    <directoryBrowse enabled="true" />
</system.webServer>

Solution 2:

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