Supabase Row-Level Security 403 Forbidden Error
Supabase RLS policies deny access with 403 Forbidden errors even for authenticated users. Data queries fail due to row-level security policies, preventing legitimate data access.
RLS 403 errors happen when policies are too restrictive, don't account for user roles, or authentication context isn't passed to queries.
Error Messages You Might See
Common Causes
- RLS policy checking wrong user ID or role field
- Auth context not properly passed from client to Supabase queries
- Policy using user_id that doesn't match session user
- Service role key used in client code instead of anon/user key
- Public read policy missing or disabled when needed
How to Fix It
Check auth session: Ensure Supabase session available before querying: const { data: { session } } = await supabase.auth.getSession()
Test RLS policy: In Supabase dashboard, check Policy editor. Manually test with different user roles to verify policy logic.
Simple policy to start: Create permissive read policy: CREATE POLICY "allow_read" ON table FOR SELECT TO authenticated USING (true); to test connectivity.
Verify user context: Policies see auth.uid() as current user. Ensure your policy checks against correct field matching this user.
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Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
How do RLS policies work?
Written in SQL, policies filter rows based on current user (auth.uid()). SELECT policy returns only rows user can see. INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE check ownership or role.
How do I test RLS policies?
In Supabase dashboard > SQL Editor, run SELECT * with different users via auth context. Or use RLS Policy editor test feature.
Can I disable RLS for testing?
Yes in dashboard, but never in production. To fully bypass, use service_role key (server-only, never client). Regular key respects RLS.