How to Fix 404 Error in WordPress

Have you ever clicked on a link only to land on a “404 Page Not Found” message? This error typically indicates that a page or resource cannot be found, and if left unresolved, it can harm your site’s SEO and user experience. If you’re dealing with a WordPress 404 error, don’t worry – it’s a common issue, and there are straightforward solutions.

Whether you’re a seasoned WordPress user or a beginner, understanding how to fix 404 errors is essential for maintaining a smooth and user-friendly website experience.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into the causes of the WordPress 404 error and provide step-by-step solutions to help you resolve it efficiently.

What is a WordPress 404 Error?

A WordPress 404 error occurs when the server can’t find the page or content that a user is trying to access. Instead of displaying the expected content, the user is greeted with a “Page Not Found” message. This issue can happen for several reasons, such as broken links, changes in the URL structure, or incorrect permalink settings. 

The WordPress 404 error is not only frustrating for users but can also impact your site’s SEO. When the WordPress page not found error appears frequently, it’s crucial to address it to prevent user drop-off and maintain a positive user experience on your pages.

What Causes WordPress Page Not Found 404 Error?

A 404 WordPress error can happen for several reasons, and understanding the causes is the first step in learning how to fix 404 errors on your site. Some common reasons include:

1. Deleted or Renamed Pages/Posts:

If you delete or rename a page or post without properly redirecting it, visitors may encounter a 404 WordPress error when trying to access the old URL.

2. Incorrect Permalink Structure:

Permalinks dictate how your WordPress URLs are structured. If there’s a mistake in your permalink settings, it can lead to WordPress page not found errors when users try to visit certain pages.

3. Broken Links:

Links within your website or external websites pointing to outdated or non-existent pages can result in a 404 WordPress error.

4. Plugin Conflicts:

Some WordPress plugins, especially those related to SEO and URL management, can conflict with your site’s structure and cause 404 WordPress errors.

5. .htaccess File Issues:

The .htaccess file controls how URLs are handled on your server. If it’s corrupted or incorrectly configured, it can trigger 404 WordPress errors across your site.

How to Identify a WordPress 404 Error

You can identify a WordPress 404 error when you or your visitors encounter the “Page Not Found” message after clicking a link. Tools like Google Search Console or crawling tools like Screaming Frog can also alert you to any pages on your site that are returning 404 WordPress errors.

Steps Before Fixing 404 WordPress Errors

Before diving into how to fix 404 errors on your WordPress site, it’s important to take a few preliminary steps to ensure a smooth process.

1. Backup Your WordPress Site

Always begin by creating a full backup of your WordPress site. This ensures that if anything goes wrong during troubleshooting, you can restore your site to its previous state without losing any data.

2. Check If the Error Is Consistent Across Different Browsers

Sometimes, a WordPress 404 error may appear in one browser and not in another. To detect where it is working and where it is not, just check the page on different browsers.

3. Clear Your Browser Cache and WordPress Cache

If you’re using a caching plugin, cached versions of your pages might be causing the WordPress 404 error to appear. Clear your browser cache as well as the WordPress cache via your caching plugin to ensure you’re viewing the most up-to-date version of your site.

How to Access the WordPress Admin Panel

To make any changes, you’ll need to log in to your WordPress admin panel. You can do this by visiting yoursite.com/wp-admin and entering your username and password. Once logged in, you’ll have access to all the settings and tools necessary to start resolving the WordPress 404 error.

8 Methods to Fix 404 Errors in WordPress

When dealing with a 404 WordPress error, there are several methods you can try to resolve the issue. Below are eight effective solutions to fix WordPress 404 errors and get your site back to normal.

Method 1: Refreshing Permalink Structure

One of the easiest ways to resolve a WordPress 404 error is by refreshing the permalink settings. Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress admin panel and click the Save Changes button without making any adjustments. This action refreshes your permalink structure, which can often resolve 404 issues.

Steps:

1. Log in to Your WordPress Admin Panel:
   • Open your web browser and go to your WordPress login page (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).
   • Enter your username and password.
   • Click “Log In.”
2. Navigate to Permalink Settings:
   • On the left sidebar, hover over “Settings.”
   • Click on “Permalinks.”
3. Note Your Current Permalink Structure:
   • Take a screenshot or write down your current permalink setting so you can restore it later.
4. Change the Permalink Structure:
   • Select a different permalink option than the one currently selected (e.g., switch from “Post name” to “Plain”).
5. Save Changes:
   • Scroll down and click the “Save Changes” button.
6. Revert to Your Original Permalink Structure:
   • Re-select your original permalink setting that you noted earlier.
7. Save Changes Again:
   • Click “Save Changes” once more.
8. Test Your Website:
   • Visit your site’s pages to see if the errors have been resolved.

Method 2: Checking and Updating .htaccess File

A corrupted or misconfigured .htaccess file can cause a 404 WordPress error. Access your site via FTP, locate the .htaccess file in the root directory, and either regenerate it or update it manually with default WordPress rules.

Steps:

1. Backup Your Website:
   • Before making changes, back up your website files and database.
2. Access Your Website Files:
   • Use an FTP client like FileZilla or your web host’s File Manager (e.g., cPanel).
3. Navigate to the Root Directory:
   • Locate the root folder of your WordPress installation (usually named public_html or www).
4. Locate the .htaccess File:
   • Look for a file named .htaccess. If you can’t see it, enable the option to view hidden files.
5. Download a Backup of the .htaccess File:
   • Right-click the file and select “Download” to save a copy to your computer.
6. Open the .htaccess File:
   • Use a text editor like Notepad to open the file.
7. Check for Errors:
   • The default WordPress .htaccess content should look like this:

8. Replace Corrupted Content:
   • If your file is different, replace its contents with the default code above.
9. Save the .htaccess File:
   • Save the changes in your text editor.
10. Upload the Updated .htaccess File:
    • Upload the modified file back to your server, overwriting the existing one.
11. Set Correct File Permissions:
    • Right-click the .htaccess file on the server.
    • Choose “File Permissions” and set it to 644.
12. Test Your Website:
    • Visit your site to see if the errors are fixed.

Caution:

• Always back up your original .htaccess file before making changes.

Method3: Investigating Plugin Conflicts

Plugins, especially those related to URL redirection or SEO, may cause WordPress 404 errors. Deactivate all plugins and reactivate them one by one to identify the problematic plugin. Once found, either disable or update the plugin to avoid future conflicts.

Steps:

1. Backup Your Website:
   • Perform a full backup of your site.
2. Log in to Your WordPress Admin Panel.
3. Navigate to Installed Plugins:
   • Click “Plugins” > “Installed Plugins.”
4. Deactivate All Plugins:
   • Check the box at the top to select all plugins.
   • Choose “Deactivate” from the “Bulk Actions” dropdown.
   • Click “Apply.”
5. Check Your Website:
   • Visit your site to see if the 404 errors persist.
6. Reactivate Plugins One by One:
   • Activate one plugin at a time.
   • After activating each plugin, check your website.
   • If the 404 error reappears, the last plugin activated may be the cause.
7. Identify Problematic Plugins:
   • Note any plugins that cause errors.
   • Deactivate or delete problematic plugins.
8. Update or Replace Plugins:
   • Check for updates for any problematic plugins.
   • If issues persist, find alternatives or contact the developer.
9. Reactivate Remaining Plugins:
   • Continue this process until all plugins are tested.

Caution:

• Deactivating plugins may affect your site’s features temporarily.

• Method 4: Restoring Missing Content

If a page or post has been deleted or renamed, it can lead to a 404 WordPress error. Review your content to see if the missing page needs to be restored, or consider setting up a 301 redirect to guide users to the correct URL.

Steps:

1. Log in to Your WordPress Admin Panel.
2. Navigate to Posts or Pages:
   • Click “Posts” or “Pages” on the left sidebar.
3. Check the Trash Folder:
   • Click on “Trash” to view deleted items.
4. Restore Deleted Content:
   • Find the missing post or page.
   • Hover over it and click “Restore.”
5. Verify Restoration:
   • Go back to “All Posts” or “All Pages” to confirm it’s restored.
6. If Content Is Not in Trash:
   • Use a Backup:
     • Access your website backup via your hosting provider or backup plugin.
     • Restore the missing content.
   • Manually Recreate Content:
     • Create a new post or page.
     • Enter the content manually.
     • Set the permalink to match the original URL.
7. Update Internal Links:
   • Ensure links within your site pointing to the restored content are correct.
8. Test Your Website:
   • Visit the restored pages to confirm the 404 errors are resolved.

Method 5: Fixing Broken Links

Broken internal or external links can result in a 404 error. Use tools like Google Search Console or a broken link checker plugin to identify and fix broken links on your website to prevent 404 WordPress errors from occurring.

Steps:

1. Install a Broken Link Checker Plugin:
   • Go to “Plugins” > “Add New.”
   • Search for “Broken Link Checker.”
   • Click “Install Now” and “Activate.”
2. Access Plugin Settings:
   • Navigate to “Tools” > “Broken Links.”
3. Configure Settings:
   • Set how often to check for broken links.
   • Choose content types to scan.
4. Run a Site Scan:
   • Start a scan to find broken links.
5. Review Broken Links:
   • After the scan, review the list of broken links.
6. Fix Internal Broken Links:
   • Correct the link URL if the content exists.
   • Remove or update the link if the content doesn’t exist.
7. Fix External Broken Links:
   • Update or replace the link with a valid resource.
   • Remove the link if no replacement is available.
8. Use Plugin Tools:
   • Edit or unlink directly from the plugin dashboard.
9. Rescan Your Site:
   • Run another scan to ensure all broken links are fixed.
10. Monitor Regularly:
    • Schedule regular checks to maintain link integrity.

Caution:

• Scanning can be resource-intensive; schedule scans during low-traffic times.

Method 6: Re-installing Core WordPress Files

If none of the above methods resolve the issue, try re-installing the core WordPress files. This can help fix any file corruption causing WordPress 404 errors. You can do this from the Dashboard > Updates section of your WordPress admin panel.

Steps:

1. Backup Your Website:
   • Perform a full backup of your files and database.
2. Download WordPress:
   • Go to wordpress.org and download the latest version.
3. Extract Files:
   • Unzip the downloaded file on your computer.
4. Connect via FTP:
   • Use an FTP client to access your website files.
5. Navigate to Root Directory:
   • Go to where WordPress is installed (e.g., public_html).
6. Avoid Deleting Files:
   • Do not delete any files or folders from your server.
7. Upload Fresh Files:
   • From the extracted WordPress folder, upload:
     • wp-admin folder
     • wp-includes folder
     • All files in the root directory (except wp-content folder and wp-config.php file)
8. Overwrite Existing Files:
   • When prompted, choose to “Overwrite” existing files.
9. Preserve Important Files:
   • Do not overwrite:
     • wp-config.php
     • wp-content folder
     • Any custom files or folders
10. Complete the Upload:
    • Wait until all files are uploaded.
11. Update Database if Prompted:
    • Log in to your admin panel.
    • Follow any on-screen instructions to update.
12. Test Your Website:
    • Visit your site to see if the 404 errors are resolved.

Caution:

• A full backup is essential before proceeding.
• Only overwrite specified files to avoid data loss.

Method 7: Checking Server Logs

Server errors can also lead to 404 errors on your WordPress site. Check your server logs via your hosting provider to identify any issues causing the error.

Steps:

1. Access Hosting Control Panel:
   • Log in to your hosting account (e.g., cPanel).
2. Locate Logs Section:
   • Look for “Logs” or “Raw Access Logs.”
3. Download Access Logs:
   • Select and download the most recent log file.
4. Open Log File:
   • Use a text editor to open it.
5. Search for 404 Errors:
   • Use the search function to find “404” status codes.
6. Identify Problematic URLs:
   • Note the URLs causing errors.
7. Analyze Patterns:
   • Look for common issues like missing pages or incorrect file paths.
8. Resolve Issues:
   • Restore missing content.
   • Correct incorrect URLs.
   • Set up redirects for external links.
9. Check Themes and Plugins:
   • Ensure they are updated and functioning properly.
10. Monitor Logs:
    • Regularly check logs to fix new issues promptly.

Caution:

• Interpreting logs can be complex; seek help if needed.
• Handle logs securely as they may contain sensitive information.

Method 8: Verifying File Permissions

Incorrect file permissions may cause a WordPress 404 error. Access your files via FTP and ensure that your file permissions are set correctly (typically 644 for files and 755 for directories). Adjust them as needed to resolve any 404 error.

Steps:

1. Backup Your Website:
   • Back up files and database before changes.
2. Connect via FTP:
   • Access your website files using an FTP client.
3. Navigate to Root Directory:
   • Go to where WordPress is installed.
4. Set Directory Permissions:
   • Right-click on wp-content, wp-includes, and wp-admin folders.
   • Choose “File Permissions.”
   • Set permissions to 755.
5. Set File Permissions:
   • Inside each folder, select all files.
   • Right-click and choose “File Permissions.”
   • Set permissions to 644.
6. Apply Changes Recursively:
   • Apply permissions to all subdirectories and files.
7. Check Special Files:
   • .htaccess: Set to 644.
   • wp-config.php: Set to 600 or 640 for added security.
8. Consider Server Requirements:
   • Consult your hosting provider for specific permission settings.
9. Test Your Website:
   • Visit your site to see if errors are resolved.
10. Seek Professional Help if Needed:
    • Contact hosting support if issues arise.

Caution:

• Incorrect permissions can cause site malfunctions.
• Always align with your hosting provider’s recommendations.

Preventing Future 404 WordPress Errors

Once you’ve learned how to fix 404 error in WordPress, it’s essential to take proactive steps to prevent them from occurring again in the future. Here are some tips to help you maintain a healthy website and avoid frustration.

1. Regularly Update WordPress, Themes, and Plugins

Outdated core files, themes, or plugins can lead to conflicts that cause 404 errors. Make sure you keep everything updated to avoid WordPress potential issues.

2. Use a Reliable Hosting Provider

A trustworthy hosting provider can help prevent server-related issues that may lead to 404 errors. Reliable hosting ensures optimal performance and fewer errors.

3. Implement Proper Redirects

When you change or move content, always set up 301 redirects to avoid 404 errors. This ensures visitors are directed to the correct URL, preventing broken links.

4. Regularly Back Up Your Website

Frequent backups allow you to quickly restore your site if content is accidentally deleted or corrupted, helping you fix 404 errors more easily.

A Proactive Approach to Website Maintenance

Addressing 404 errors promptly is essential to maintaining a smooth user experience and protecting your site’s SEO. By learning how to fix 404 errors, you can quickly resolve these issues and prevent visitors from encountering broken pages. Implementing preventive measures, such as keeping your site updated, setting up proper redirects, and backing up your site regularly, will help you avoid future problems.

If 404 errors persist or become overwhelming, seeking professional help is always a good idea. At White Label Agency, we specialize in fixing 404 errors and offer comprehensive website maintenance services to ensure your WordPress site remains error-free and fully optimized.

Contact us and let our experts handle the technical details to ensure your website remains optimized for performance and search engine visibility.