What to do when your wordpress website gets a 404 error

Introduction

A 404 error on your WordPress site can be frustrating for both you and your visitors. It means the page they’re trying to access doesn’t exist — at least as far as your server is concerned. But don’t worry! This is a common issue and can usually be resolved with a few simple steps.

What Is a 404 Error?

A 404 error means the server couldn’t find the requested page. This often happens after moving or deleting pages, changing permalink settings, or migrating your site.

Common Causes of WordPress 404 Errors

Broken or outdated links
Incorrect permalink settings
Deleted or moved pages/posts
.htaccess file issues
Plugin conflicts
Theme compatibility problems

Step-by-Step Fixes for 404 Errors

1. Reset Your Permalinks

Go to your WordPress Dashboard → Settings → Permalinks
Without making changes, click Save Changes
This refreshes your .htaccess file and often fixes 404 issues

2. Manually Edit the .htaccess File

If resetting permalinks didn’t help, try this:

Access your site via FTP or File Manager in cPanel
Locate the .htaccess file in the root directory
Replace the content with the default WordPress rules:

# 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. Clear Your Cache

Clear your browser cache
Clear any WordPress caching plugin (e.g., W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache)

4. Deactivate Plugins

Deactivate all plugins and check if the error resolves
Reactivate them one by one to identify the problematic one

5. Check for Theme Conflicts

Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four
If the issue is resolved, your theme may be the cause

6. Restore Deleted Pages

Check if the page was deleted by mistake
Go to Pages → Trash to restore it

7. Use a Redirection Plugin

If you’ve permanently moved or renamed a page:

Install a plugin like Redirection
Set up 301 redirects from the old URL to the new one

Pro Tip: Monitor 404 Errors

Use Google Search Console or a plugin like 404 Monitor by Rank Math to keep track of URLs triggering 404s and take quick action.

Final Thoughts

404 errors are annoying but rarely fatal. By following the steps above, you can quickly diagnose and fix the issue — and prevent it from affecting your visitors’ experience.

If you’re not comfortable editing files or troubleshooting yourself, it’s wise to get help from a WordPress developer.