404 Page Not Found Error in WordPress

The 404 Page Not Found error is a frequent and frustrating issue for WordPress website owners and visitors alike. This error appears when someone tries to access a URL on your website that does not exist or cannot be found by the server. Instead of displaying the expected content, visitors see a “404 Not Found” message, signaling that the requested page is missing.

Although it may seem like a minor problem, repeated 404 errors can harm your website’s user experience and SEO rankings. Visitors encountering many broken links might leave your site, increasing bounce rates, while search engines might reduce your rankings due to crawling dead ends. Therefore, understanding the causes of 404 errors and knowing how to fix them promptly is essential for maintaining a healthy and professional WordPress website.

This article explores the common causes behind 404 errors in WordPress and provides step-by-step solutions to resolve them, ensuring your visitors and search engines always find your content.

Common Causes of 404 Errors in WordPress

  • Permalink Settings Misconfiguration: WordPress relies on permalink settings to generate clean, user-friendly URLs. If the permalink structure is corrupted or misconfigured — due to manual changes, plugin conflicts, or server environment shifts – URLs may not resolve correctly, leading to 404 errors.

  • Corrupted or Missing .htaccess File: The .htaccess file on Apache servers controls how URLs are handled and rewritten. If this file is missing or corrupted, your site’s URLs may stop working properly, resulting in 404 errors.

  • Deleted or Moved Content Without Redirects: If you delete posts or pages or move them to different URLs without setting up proper 301 redirects, visitors and search engines will be directed to non-existent pages. This is a common cause of 404 errors and can be avoided by carefully managing URL changes.

  • Incorrect or Broken URLs: Sometimes external sites, social media posts, or internal links may contain typos, outdated URLs, or incomplete links, causing visitors to land on invalid pages.

  • Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Certain plugins (especially SEO or redirection plugins) or themes might interfere with URL rewriting or routing, causing valid URLs to return 404 errors.

  • Caching Issues: Outdated or aggressive caching  either from WordPress caching plugins or server-level caching – can serve old, invalid URLs to visitors, causing them to see 404 errors even after fixes have been applied.

  • Server Configuration Changes: Hosting providers sometimes change server software or settings (e.g., upgrading from Apache to NGINX or changing PHP versions) that can affect URL rewriting rules and lead to 404s if not properly configured.

How to Fix 404 Errors in WordPress

1. Reset Permalink Settings

One of the simplest yet most effective fixes is resetting the permalink structure. Go to Settings → Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and click Save Changes without modifying any options. This forces WordPress to refresh its rewrite rules and regenerate the .htaccess file if your server supports it. This step often resolves many permalink-related 404 errors immediately.

2. Repair or Regenerate the .htaccess File

If you use an Apache server, the .htaccess file controls URL rewriting. Sometimes, this file can become corrupted or accidentally deleted. Connect to your server via FTP or your hosting control panel’s File Manager, locate the .htaccess file in the WordPress root directory, and rename it to something like .htaccess_backup to disable it. Then, return to Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes to generate a fresh .htaccess file. This can fix URL rewrite issues causing 404 errors.

3. Restore or Redirect Deleted/Moved Pages

If you removed or changed the URL of pages or posts, set up 301 redirects to guide visitors from the old URLs to the new correct locations. Plugins like Redirection or your hosting control panel’s redirect tools make this easy to implement. This maintains SEO value and prevents broken links from causing 404 errors.

4. Identify and Fix Plugin or Theme Conflicts

Temporarily deactivate all plugins and switch to a default WordPress theme such as Twenty Twenty-Three. Check if the 404 errors disappear. If they do, reactivate plugins one by one and switch back to your theme to pinpoint which component causes the problem. Some plugins, especially those handling SEO, caching, or custom URLs, can interfere with proper routing.

5. Clear Cache Thoroughly

Clear any active WordPress caching plugins, server-side caching mechanisms, and your browser cache. Sometimes cached content can serve old URLs or pages that no longer exist, causing visitors to experience 404 errors even after you’ve fixed the root cause. Clearing caches ensures visitors see the most current version of your site.

6. Check External Links and Update Them

Use tools like Google Search Console or broken link checkers to identify external sites linking to invalid URLs on your site. Where possible, contact those site owners to update the links, or create redirects on your site to capture those old URLs and send visitors to the correct pages.

7. Review Server Configuration

If you recently changed hosting providers, upgraded your server software, or modified server settings, verify that your URL rewriting rules (such as .htaccess for Apache or NGINX configuration files) are correctly set up. Incorrect server configs can cause your URLs to break and return 404 errors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What causes a 404 Page Not Found error in WordPress?
A 404 error happens when the URL a visitor tries to access doesn’t match any existing page or post on your site. Common causes include permalink misconfigurations, deleted or moved content without redirects, corrupted .htaccess files, plugin or theme conflicts, and broken links.

How can I find which URLs are causing 404 errors on my site?
You can use Google Search Console’s Coverage report, which lists crawl errors including 404s. Alternatively, WordPress plugins like “Broken Link Checker” scan your site for broken internal and external links that lead to 404 errors.

Does a 404 error harm my SEO rankings?
Yes, excessive 404 errors can negatively impact your SEO because search engines might perceive your site as poorly maintained. Fixing 404 errors and setting up proper redirects helps preserve your SEO authority and provides a better user experience.

Can I customize the appearance of the 404 error page?
Absolutely. Most WordPress themes include a 404.php template file that you can customize. You can create helpful and branded error pages that guide visitors back to your homepage or suggest other relevant content, improving engagement even on error pages.

Will resetting permalinks fix 404 errors?
Resetting permalinks refreshes WordPress’s rewrite rules and often fixes URL-related 404 errors caused by corrupted or misconfigured permalink structures. It’s a simple first step that solves many common 404 issues.

What if a plugin or theme is causing 404 errors?
Temporarily deactivate all plugins and switch to a default WordPress theme to test. If the errors disappear, reactivate plugins one by one and switch back to your theme to identify the culprit. Once found, update, replace, or contact the plugin/theme developer for a fix.

Is clearing cache necessary for fixing 404 errors?
Yes. Sometimes caching plugins or server-level cache serve outdated versions of your site with broken URLs. Clearing all caches ensures visitors see the most current version, which often resolves 404 errors that persist after other fixes.

The 404 Page Not Found error is a common yet easily fixable issue that every WordPress website owner may encounter. While it may seem minor, frequent 404 errors can harm your site’s user experience and SEO rankings by frustrating visitors and confusing search engines. Fortunately, most 404 errors stem from permalink misconfigurations, missing or corrupted .htaccess files, deleted or moved content without redirects, or plugin and theme conflicts issues you can resolve with a few simple steps. By resetting permalinks, repairing or regenerating your .htaccess file, managing redirects properly, and troubleshooting plugins or themes, you can quickly restore your site’s functionality and keep your URLs intact. Clearing caches and ensuring your server is correctly configured also play important roles in preventing recurring 404 errors.

If troubleshooting feels overwhelming or you want professional, hassle-free assistance, you can rely on WPCodex’s expert WordPress support service. For just USD 30, WPCodex will diagnose and fix 404 errors and other common WordPress issues promptly and securely, saving you time and worry.

A smooth, error-free website ensures visitors stay engaged and helps maintain strong search engine rankings. Don’t let 404 errors slow you down take action today to keep your WordPress site healthy, user-friendly, and professional.