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20 ways to troubleshoot a 404 error page on your website

404 errors can be a frustrating experience for both website owners and visitors. When users land on a broken or non-existent page, they may leave your site out of frustration. However, there are several ways you can troubleshoot and resolve 404 errors to enhance user experience and improve your site’s performance. In this post, we’ll cover 20 effective troubleshooting steps to help you fix 404 error pages on your website.

1. Check the URL for typos

One of the most common causes of 404 errors is simply a typo in the URL. Double-check the URL to ensure that there are no misspellings or extra characters.

2. Check the page URL structure

Ensure that the URL structure across your website is consistent. If you’ve recently made changes to your permalink structure, this might cause issues with URLs.

3. Ensure the page exists

Verify that the page you’re trying to access actually exists. Sometimes pages are accidentally deleted, unpublished, or moved, leading to 404 errors.

4. Clear cache and cookies

Outdated cache files or cookies can cause the browser to load an old version of the page. Clearing your cache and cookies can help resolve this issue.

5. Check .htaccess file for errors

Sometimes, incorrect rules in the .htaccess file can cause 404 errors. Check this file to ensure that it’s configured correctly for your website.

6. Review permalink settings

Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Settings > Permalinks, and ensure that the correct permalink structure is selected.

7. Revert recent changes

If you made changes to your website recently, such as editing URLs, installing plugins, or modifying settings, reverting those changes can help resolve the 404 error.

8. Check for broken links

Use a broken link checker tool to find and fix any internal or external broken links causing 404 errors.

9. Use redirects for moved pages

If a page has been moved or renamed, use 301 redirects to point the old URL to the new one. This ensures users and search engines are directed to the correct page.

10. Examine server logs

Check your server logs for any 404 error codes to understand the cause of the issue. Server logs can provide valuable information for troubleshooting.

11. Test with different browsers

Test the 404 error page in different browsers to ensure it’s not a browser-specific issue.

12. Check for missing files

Ensure that all necessary files, such as images, CSS files, or JavaScript files, are present and correctly linked.

13. Fix 404 errors in the sitemap

If your sitemap contains links to non-existent pages, remove or update them to prevent users and search engines from encountering 404 errors.

14. Check for plugin conflicts

Deactivate all plugins and check if the 404 error persists. Reactivate plugins one by one to identify which one is causing the issue.

15. Check for theme issues

Switch to the default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-One) and see if the 404 error still occurs. This can help you determine if your theme is the issue.

16. Use Google Search Console

Use Google Search Console to identify crawl errors. It will show you which pages are returning 404 errors and help you pinpoint any issues with indexing.

17. Check for incorrect link formatting

Ensure that all links on your website are correctly formatted. Misformatted URLs, especially relative URLs, can lead to 404 errors.

18. Ensure proper DNS settings

Check your DNS settings to make sure your domain and server are configured correctly. Incorrect DNS settings can lead to 404 errors.

19. Enable custom 404 error pages

Design a custom 404 error page that provides users with helpful navigation options, a search bar, and links to other relevant content on your website.

20. Test with incognito mode

Test the page in incognito mode to rule out any browser-specific issues, such as cached content or extensions that may cause the error.

Conclusion

By following these 20 troubleshooting steps, you can identify and resolve 404 errors on your website, ensuring that users have a seamless experience. Regularly monitoring your site for broken links and implementing proper redirects can also help prevent these errors from affecting your site’s SEO and user engagement.

FAQs

How can I use icons on my 404 error page?

You can use icons to enhance the design of your 404 error page. Icons can make the page more visually appealing and guide users to take action, such as using the search bar or visiting the homepage. Check out icons for WordPress from MaxiBlocks to integrate into your 404 page.

Can I use WordPress block templates for my 404 error page?

Yes! With WordPress block templates, you can quickly create and customise your 404 error page without needing to code. MaxiBlocks offers simple, flexible templates that are perfect for building an engaging 404 page.

Where can I find an icon library for my 404 page?

MaxiBlocks offers a wide range of icons for WordPress, which can be easily added to your 404 page to make it visually appealing and user-friendly.

How can I improve my 404 error page design?

To enhance your 404 error page design, ensure that it aligns with your overall website’s theme. Use the principles of WordPress website design for a consistent, professional look, and incorporate helpful elements like search bars, CTAs, and related content to keep users engaged.

Why is MaxiBlocks better than Elementor for creating 404 error pages?

MaxiBlocks is better than Elementor for creating 404 error pages because it offers a streamlined block-based system that’s faster and more intuitive to use. MaxiBlocks provides greater flexibility for designing custom error pages without the complexity of Elementor.

Can I use WordPress website builders to design a 404 error page?

Yes! With WordPress website builders, you can design and customise a 404 error page that fits your site’s branding and functionality, using a drag-and-drop approach to make the process easier and more efficient.