404 Error: What It Means and How to Fix It

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Problem Statement (Clear & Direct)

You tried to open a webpage, but instead you see a 404 error saying the page can’t be found.

This usually means the page exists somewhere, but your browser can’t locate it.

Common Symptoms

  • “404 Page Not Found” message

  • Broken links when clicking menus or buttons

  • A page that worked before now shows an error

  • Search results lead to missing pages

  • Images or files return a 404 error

What a 404 Error Means

A 404 error means the server is reachable, but the specific page you requested is not.

This can happen when:

  • A page was deleted or moved

  • The URL was typed incorrectly

  • A link points to an outdated location

  • Website structure or permalinks were changed

A 404 error is not a server outage — it’s a path problem.

If you’re unsure whether this is a page issue or part of a larger website problem, see Common Website Problems and What They Usually Mean.

Step-by-Step Fixes

Step 1: Check the URL

Before changing anything:

  • Look for spelling mistakes

  • Remove extra characters

  • Try opening the page from the site’s navigation menu

If the page opens elsewhere, the link itself is wrong.

Step 2: Refresh Permalinks (WordPress Sites)

If you’re using WordPress:

  1. Go to Settings → Permalinks

  2. Click Save Changes (no need to change anything)

  3. Reload the page

This often fixes broken links after updates or migrations.

Step 3: Verify the Page Exists

Check if:

  • The page was deleted

  • The page slug (URL name) changed

  • The page is set to “Draft” or “Private”

If needed, restore or republish the page.

Step 4: Fix Broken Internal Links

If visitors hit 404 errors from your site:

  • Update menus

  • Fix old blog links

  • Remove links pointing to removed pages

Broken links confuse both users and search engines.

Step 5: Set Up a 404 Redirect

If a page was permanently moved:

  • Redirect the old URL to the new one

  • This preserves traffic and SEO value

Redirects are especially important for pages that ranked in search results.

When a 404 Error Is a Bigger Problem

A few 404 errors are normal.
It becomes a problem if:

  • Many pages return 404 errors

  • Important pages are missing

  • Search engines can’t index your site properly

In those cases, link cleanup and redirects are necessary.

Final Tip

A 404 error doesn’t mean your website is broken — it means something moved or changed.

Fixing 404 errors improves:

  • User experience

  • Search visibility

  • Website credibility

Address them early before they pile up.

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