How to fix 404 Errors: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide

The “404 Not Found” error is a common issue for website owners, often leading to a poor user experience and negatively impacting SEO. A fix 404 error occurs when a requested page is missing or unavailable on the server. Resolving these errors is crucial for improving your site’s performance and user retention. Below is a detailed guide on how to systematically fix 404 errors.

1. Identify fix 404 Errors

The first step in fixing a 404 error is to locate the broken pages on your website. Here are two methods to identify them:

• Google Search Console: This free tool from Google allows you to monitor your website’s health, including 404 errors. Under the “Coverage” section, you’ll find a list of pages returning the 404 error, which need immediate attention.
• Website Crawlers: Tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or Semrush can scan your site for broken links, missing pages, and fix 404 errors. These tools offer reports that make it easy to identify the exact locations of the issues.

Once you have identified the broken URLs, you can move to the next step.

2. Redirect Broken URLs

If a page is missing or has been deleted, you can implement a 301 redirect. This type of redirect ensures users and search engines are automatically taken to a new, relevant page instead of hitting the dead 404 page. A 301 redirect also passes SEO value from the old page to the new one.

• How to Implement a 301 Redirect: If you deleted example.com/old-page, set up a 301 redirect to example.com/new-page. This tells search engines that the old page is permanently moved to a new location.

• WordPress Plugins: For WordPress users, plugins like Redirection or Yoast SEO can make setting up 301 redirects simple. These plugins allow you to manage and automate redirects without needing technical knowledge.

By implementing 301 redirects, you can avoid 404 errors and keep your visitors on your site.

3. Correct Broken Links

After addressing missing pages, it’s important to correct any broken links that lead users to these fix 404 errors.

• Fix Internal Links: Ensure that all internal links within your website point to valid pages. If your site has been reorganized or pages deleted, broken links may still exist. Updating these links will provide a seamless experience for visitors.
• Update Backlinks: If other websites link to a page on your site that no longer exists, you may want to reach out to the site owners and ask them to update their links. This helps improve user experience and maintain your site’s link equity.

By fixing broken links, you ensure users are directed to the correct pages, preventing frustration.

4. Restore Deleted Content (if necessary)

Sometimes, a page that was deleted may still be relevant. In this case, restoring the content can be an effective way to eliminate 404 errors.

• Recreate the Page: If the content is still valuable, you can recreate the page using the same URL. This is particularly useful if the page had good SEO performance or received substantial traffic.
• Create a New Page and Redirect: If the content no longer fits your current strategy but is still valuable to some users, create a new page with updated information and use a 301 redirect from the old URL.

By restoring or repurposing deleted content, you can prevent unnecessary fix 404 errors and retain visitors.

5. Customize fix 404 error Page

Sometimes, it’s impossible to fix all 404 errors, especially if users type incorrect URLs or navigate to a page that no longer exists. In this case, having a well-designed custom 404 page can enhance the user experience.

• Include Navigation Links: A good 404 page should help users navigate back to the main sections of your website, such as the homepage or popular blog posts. This will keep users engaged, even when they land on an error page.
• Use Friendly Messaging: Rather than just displaying “404 Not Found,” use a friendly message like, “Oops! The page you’re looking for doesn’t exist. Try searching or return to the homepage.” This softens the frustration of a broken link and encourages users to stay on your site.

A user-friendly 404 page helps mitigate the negative impact of these errors on your website.

6. Fix 404 error Typos or URL Mistakes

Sometimes, fix 404 errors are caused by simple typos in URLs. For example, missing elements like “https” or “www” can result in an error.

• Check Spelling and Formatting: Ensure that all URLs are spelled correctly and follow a consistent format. Small mistakes like a missing slash or an extra character can lead to a 404 page.
• URL Consistency: Always maintain a consistent URL structure across your site. This helps search engines and users easily navigate your pages without encountering errors.

7. Update Sitemap and Robots.txt

To help search engines index your site correctly, it’s essential to keep your sitemap and robots.txt file up-to-date.

• Sitemap: Make sure that all valid URLs are listed in your sitemap. Submit an updated version of your sitemap to Google using Search Console. This ensures search engines can crawl and index all important pages.
• Robots.txt: Verify that no important pages are accidentally blocked from being crawled by search engines via the robots.txt file. Sometimes pages may be marked as “noindex,” which could prevent them from being indexed.

8. Submit for Reindexing

After fixing the 404 errors, use Google Search Console’s URL Inspection tool to submit the corrected pages for reindexing. This accelerates the process of getting your pages indexed again by Google, ensuring they are included in search results.

9. Monitor Regularly

Even after fix 404 errors, it’s important to regularly monitor your site for new fix 404 errors. Use automated tools or perform manual checks to ensure that no new broken links or pages have appeared over time.

10. Check Server Settings

Sometimes, fix 404 errors can occur due to server-side issues. If you’re unable to identify the cause of persistent 404 errors, it may be due to a misconfiguration on your server.

• Server Logs: Check your server logs to see if the error is being triggered due to misconfigurations, permissions, or issues related to hosting.
• Contact Hosting Provider: If you’re unsure, contact your hosting provider for assistance to ensure the server is functioning correctly.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you can systematically identify and fix 404 errors on your website. Properly managing broken links, setting up redirects, and maintaining your site structure ensures a smooth user experience, better SEO performance, and improved website functionality.