How to Fix 404 Not Found Errors in WordPress

How to Fix 404 Not Found Errors in WordPress

Seeing a “404 Not Found” error on your WordPress site? This means the requested page couldn’t be found on your server—either because the URL is broken, the permalink structure is incorrect, or the content no longer exists.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to finding and fixing 404 errors in WordPress using cPanel and admin tools.

What Causes 404 Errors in WordPress?

- Broken or outdated URLs
- Changed permalinks or slugs
- Deleted or unpublished content
- Corrupt .htaccess file
- Migration issues or directory changes

Step-by-Step: How to Fix 404 Errors in WordPress

1. Refresh Permalinks

Sometimes the permalink structure needs to be refreshed.

- Go to WordPress Dashboard > Settings > Permalinks
- Click “Save Changes” (no need to modify anything)
- This regenerates the .htaccess file and often fixes the issue

2. Check and Restore the .htaccess File

If your .htaccess file is missing or corrupted:

- Go to cPanel > File Manager > public_html
- Locate the .htaccess file (make sure hidden files are visible)
- Replace it with this default content:

```
# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>
# END WordPress
```

3. Check the Page or Post URL

Verify that the content still exists:

- Go to Pages or Posts in your WordPress dashboard
- Check the “Slug” and match it with the URL structure
- Update internal links or menus if they’re pointing to incorrect URLs

4. Set Up 301 Redirects

If you’ve changed URLs or moved pages, redirect the old ones:

- Install the **Redirection** plugin
- Create a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one

Example:
```
Source URL: /old-page/
Target URL: /new-page/
```

5. Check Custom Post Types or Plugins

Some plugins or themes create custom URLs that can break:

- Re-save permalinks after activating a new theme or plugin
- Ensure CPTs (Custom Post Types) are registered properly

6. Use a Broken Link Checker

Use a plugin like:

- **Broken Link Checker**
- **WP Broken Link Status Checker**

Or external tools like:

- https://www.deadlinkchecker.com/
- https://www.brokenlinkcheck.com/

7. Create a Custom 404 Page

Even if the link is broken, a helpful 404 page improves user experience.

- Add links to the homepage, blog, and contact page
- Suggest other popular posts or categories

8. Restore Deleted Content (Optional)

If users are frequently hitting a 404 on a deleted post:

- Recreate the post using the same slug
- Or redirect it to the most relevant page

Final Thoughts

404 errors are common—but they’re also easy to fix. With the right tools and redirects, you can patch broken links, guide users to the right pages, and keep your WordPress site error-free.

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