The "Forbidden" error indicates that there might be permission issues with the phpMyAdmin directory or that Apache is not configured correctly to serve the phpMyAdmin application. Here's how you can troubleshoot and fix this issue:

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Check Apache Configuration

Ensure that the phpMyAdmin configuration is correctly included in Apache's configuration file.

sudo nano /etc/apache2/apache2.conf

Ensure the following line is present at the end of the file:

apache

Include /etc/phpmyadmin/apache.conf

Save and close the file (Ctrl+X, Y, Enter).

Set Correct Permissions

Ensure that the phpMyAdmin directory has the correct permissions.

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /usr/share/phpmyadmin

sudo chmod -R 755 /usr/share/phpmyadmin

Enable Required Apache Modules

Ensure that the necessary Apache modules are enabled.

sudo a2enmod rewrite

sudo a2enmod php7.4

Restart Apache

Restart the Apache service to apply the changes.

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Check Apache Error Logs

If you still encounter issues, check the Apache error logs for more information about the "Forbidden" error.

sudo tail -f /var/log/apache2/error.log

Additional Apache Configuration

If the issue persists, you may need to add a specific configuration block for phpMyAdmin in your Apache configuration file:

Edit Apache Configuration File

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/000-default.conf

Add Directory Block for phpMyAdmin

Add the following block within the <VirtualHost> block:

apache

<Directory /usr/share/phpmyadmin>

   Options Indexes FollowSymLinks

   DirectoryIndex index.php

   AllowOverride All

   Require all granted

</Directory>

Save and close the file (Ctrl+X, Y, Enter).

Restart Apache Again

sudo systemctl restart apache2