How to Fix 404 Errors on Your WordPress Site

Encountering 404 errors (Page Not Found) is a common issue in WordPress, usually caused by broken links, changed URLs, or permalink issues. This guide provides steps to identify and fix 404 errors on your WordPress site.

Step 1: Reset Permalinks

If all pages on your site are displaying 404 errors, resetting permalinks is often an effective solution.

1. Log into WordPress

   • Access your WordPress Dashboard by using the Login to Admin button in the Shared Hosting Control Panel or by visiting yourdomain.com/wp-admin.

2. Go to Permalinks Settings

   • Navigate to Settings > Permalinks in the Dashboard.

3. Click Save Changes

   • Click Save Changes to refresh permalink settings, even if you don’t make any changes to the structure. This action regenerates your .htaccess file, which can resolve 404 errors.

Step 2: Regenerate .htaccess File

If resetting permalinks doesn’t resolve the 404 error, try manually updating your .htaccess file.

1. Access .htaccess in File Manager

   • In the Shared Hosting Control Panel, open File Manager and locate the .htaccess file in the root directory of your WordPress installation.

2. Rename .htaccess

   • Rename .htaccess to .htaccess_old to disable it.

3. Regenerate .htaccess via WordPress

   • Go back to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress Dashboard and click Save Changes to create a new .htaccess file.

4. Check Your Site

   • Visit your site to see if the 404 error is resolved.

Note: If the new .htaccess file doesn’t fix the issue, review the file contents and compare them with default WordPress .htaccess rules to ensure they’re correct.

Step 3: Use a Redirection Plugin for Broken Links

If individual pages or posts are displaying 404 errors, it’s possible the URLs have changed. A redirection plugin can help manage broken links.

1. Install Redirection Plugin

   • Go to Plugins > Add New in your Dashboard, search for Redirection, then click Install Now and Activate.

2. Set Up Redirects

   • Go to Tools > Redirection and add the old URL (broken link) and the new URL where the content now resides.

3. Save and Test

   • Test the redirection by visiting the old URL to ensure it’s pointing correctly to the new page.

Step 4: Clear Cache

Sometimes, cached data can cause 404 errors to persist even after the issue is fixed.

1. Clear WordPress Cache

   • If you’re using a caching plugin, go to the plugin settings and clear the cache.

2. Clear Browser Cache

   • Refresh your browser cache by pressing Ctrl+F5 (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac).

Step 5: Verify External Links

If external links to your site are leading to 404 errors, check if the URLs have changed.

1. Use Google Search Console
   • Log into Google Search Console and look for crawl errors in the Coverage section.
2. Update Links as Needed
   • If certain URLs have changed, consider setting up redirects or updating any prominent external sources to prevent 404 errors from broken links.

Step 6: Contact Support

If 404 errors persist after trying these solutions, contact our support team for further assistance. We can help investigate server settings or more advanced troubleshooting needs.

Tips for Preventing 404 Errors

• Use SEO-Friendly Permalinks: A structure like “Post name” makes URLs more stable and easy to remember.
• Regularly Check for Broken Links: Periodically check and update internal and external links on your site.
• Back Up Your Site: Regular backups make it easier to restore old content if URLs are accidentally changed or deleted.

By following these steps, you can resolve and prevent 404 errors on your WordPress site. For further help, feel free to reach out to our support team.