How to Fix the 404 Page Not Found Error in WordPress?

Welcome, WordPress enthusiasts!

You are here; it indicates you have encountered a 404 Page Not Found error on your WordPress site. No Worries! Cyfuture Cloud is always available to help you.

We have drafted steps to resolve the 404 Page Not Found error. So, why wait?

Let’s get started!

404 Page Not Found Error: Definition & Reasons

Do you know what the 404 error signifies? Let’s understand quickly!

When a visitor requests a page on your website that doesn't exist. Then WordPress returns a 404 Page Not Found Error.

This can happen due to various reasons. The reasons may include:

• Broken links

• Incorrect permalinks

• Server misconfigurations
  
  

Now, scroll down to explore troubleshooting steps.

Step 1: Check Permalinks

• Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard.

• Make sure your permalink structure is placed correctly. 

• Try changing it to default. 
  
  

This step restores the permalink settings and often resolves the issue.

Step 2: Update .htaccess File

• Access your website's root directory via FTP.

• Locate the .htaccess file and rename it.

• Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and click "Save Changes" again. 
  
  

This step generates a new .htaccess file.

Step 3: Check for Broken Links

• Utilize plugins like "Broken Link Checker" to scan your site.

• Once identified, update the links or remove them altogether.

Broken links often lead to 404 Page Not Found Error and negatively impact user experience.

Step 4: Examine Plugins & Themes

Deactivate all plugins and switch to a default WordPress theme.

Test your website to see if the 404 error persists.

If not, reactivate plugins and themes one by one.

Step 5: Redirect Missing Pages

• Install and activate the "Redirection" plugin.

• Create 301 redirects for any missing pages to relevant content on your site.

This step ensures that visitors are directed to the appropriate page.

Step 6: Clear Cache

The last step is to clear your cache after each edit. Sometime after problems have been rectified-error persists. So, clear webpages cache.

That’s It!

We covered six procedures for resolving the 404 Page Not Found problem. To determine the 404 page not found issue, follow the above procedures. 

Meanwhile, verify your website for broken links and watch for any potential issues.

For more knowledge related to WordPress error, cloud service, and server solution-Cyfuture, the Cloud is always available.