{"id":254,"date":"2023-10-06T08:39:39","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T08:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/?p=254"},"modified":"2025-12-26T13:29:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T13:29:25","slug":"how-to-find-fix-all-404-errors-on-your-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/254\/How-to-Find-and-Fix-All-404-Errors-on-Your-Website.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Find &#038; Fix All 404 Errors on Your Website?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As a normal user, you try accessing a webpage out of excitement or necessity and land up on a 404 error. The only thing you end up with is frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Have you faced a similar situation?<\/em><\/strong><br><strong><em>If yes, then you are not alone.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, as the owner of a website, if you get to see 404 errors on a few of your web pages during a routine check, what would be your immediate reaction? You would want your technical team to look into it at the earliest because you understand the damage a 404 error can cause to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In both the above scenarios, there are reasons why you see this error. What is this error, its reason, does it adversely impact the website\u2019s SEO, and how does one resolve it? These are a few of the most significant questions this knowledgebase will address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, stay tuned till the end to fully understand \u201c<strong>How to find &amp; Fix All 404 errors on your website?<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><hr><p><strong>Also Read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/264\/fix-localhost-sent-an-invalid-response-err-ssl_protocol_error.html\"><strong>Easily Fix Website sent invalid response ERR SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR<\/strong><\/a><\/p><hr><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is a 404 Error on a Website?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A 404 error code (referred to as HTTP 404 or 404 code) gets generated and is sent to the user in response to his request for accessing a specific website\/webpage &#8211;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>That does not exist,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That has been moved (elsewhere) OR<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That has a dead or broken link.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s understand it technically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a page loads in a browser, it contains a response status code in the HTTP header section. Unfortunately, the users can\u2019t see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>We can segregate these response status codes into 5 categories:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Informational Responses<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">100 to 199.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Success Responses<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">200 to 299<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Redirection Responses<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">300 to 399<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Client Error Responses<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">400 to 499<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Server Error Responses<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">500 to 599<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><hr><p><strong>Also Read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/241\/a-simple-guide-to-connect-your-cpanel-email-to-gmail.html\"><strong>A Simple Guide To Connect Your cPanel Email to Gmail<\/strong><\/a><\/p><hr><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hard vs. Soft 404 Errors &#8211; The Difference.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A normal user doesn\u2019t know that there are 2 kinds of 404 errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Hard 404 Error &#8211; The Real<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Soft 404 Error &#8211; The False signal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The server returns a <strong>Hard 404 Error<\/strong> code to both the user and the search engine, indicating that the page linked to that URL does not exist in reality, has been deleted, or the current link is dead or broken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <strong>Soft 404 Error<\/strong>, like a regular 404, informs the visitor that the page he requests exists no more and simultaneously returns a 200 OK status code to the search engine. This 200 status code is a false signal which suggests to the search engine that the page loaded properly with all its attributes, but its content was missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contrary to the Hard 404 error, a soft 404 means the page still exists but has no content to display. It is important to understand that search engines are smart and aware of this false signal. Hence, they place such pages under the real 404 error type and notify the webpage owner about the non-compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Let\u2019s understand both these errors with an example.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suppose you own a website bearing dedicated pages and details of the product you sell. You don\u2019t manufacture these products but buy them from a distributor or a manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For some reason, your distributor or manufacturer discontinues a specific product, and you have exhausted its stock. In that case, you can do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you completely remove the product page, a hard 404 error code will be returned.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you remove the product images, description, price, buy button, and other product-related details from the page but keep the page on your website, it will return a soft 404 error code (false signal with 200 OK to the search engine) to the user.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you must understand that a hard 404 error doesn&#8217;t harm your SEO ranking as much as a soft 404 error. If your website has several pages returning (hard &amp; soft) 404 errors to the user, Google, and other search engines will mark such pages as duplicates. Because they don&#8217;t have any content to display, this state of your website will harm your SEO ranking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always maintain your website&#8217;s pages with all its content in the best possible condition. For some reason, if you wish to modify a page, take it down completely so that it returns a genuine hard 404 error code without harming your credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><hr><p><strong>Also Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/244\/Differences-to-Know-Between-SSL-and-TLS-Certificates.html\"><strong>Differences to Know Between SSL &amp; TLS Certificates<\/strong><\/a><\/p><hr><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do 404 Errors Hurt your SEO &amp; Why is it Important to Remove them?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An obvious answer to this question is \u201c<strong>YES<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us consider 2 aspects of this question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<strong>\u27a2<\/strong> <strong>From the user\u2019s viewpoint,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your visitor\/user gets to see a 404 error off and on, you are irritating and offering him an experience that he isn\u2019t ready for. Such a horrifying experience can compel your user to leave your brand. Consider he is your regular and loyal customer who often faces 404 errors. Can your business afford to lose such a customer?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<strong>\u27a2<\/strong> <strong>From an SEO viewpoint<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even from the SEO\u2019s viewpoint, 404 errors are no good. It becomes worse when you lose your dedicated customer and also face a drop in your SEO rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In general cases, 404 errors are not considered a part of the ranking criteria. Still, the repercussions on your SEO can be huge, decreasing your page rank and increasing your <strong>Website Bounce Rate<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Experts don\u2019t suggest having broken or dead links to your web pages. A 404 error might not impact your page rank, but bounce rates do. Hence, if your website bounce rate exceeds the acceptable limit, Google could penalize your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><hr><p><strong>Also Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/246\/What-is-HSTS-and-How-to-Implement-on-your-website.html\"><strong>What is HSTS &amp; How to Implement on your website?<\/strong><\/a><\/p><hr><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Find 404 Error on Your Website?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we have understood the severity of a 404 error, let\u2019s learn to identify and eliminate such errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Users who call to inform that the pages on your website are returning 404 errors don\u2019t exist practically. No customer will take up the pain, instead would love to leave your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So then, is there a way to catch such notorious 404 errors?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The answer is <strong>YES<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are presenting you with 4 methods to find the 404 errors on your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can identify the 404 error with the help of &#8211;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Google Webmasters<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Google Analytics<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Screaming Frog<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SEMrush<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s begin!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><hr><p><strong>Also Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/248\/A-Brief-Guide-to-Understanding-MX-Record.html\"><strong>A Brief Guide to Understanding MX Record<\/strong><\/a><\/p><hr><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Google Webmasters Tool OR Google Search Console<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We are beginning this section with the free <a href=\"https:\/\/search.google.com\/search-console\/about\"><strong>Google Webmaster Tool<\/strong><\/a> because of its usability and simplicity. This tool helps you track the 404 Error with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here are the steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Log in to your Google search console &amp; Go to the website\u2019s dashboard<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"437\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Google-search-console.webp\" alt=\"Google-search-console\" class=\"wp-image-3926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Google-search-console.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Google-search-console-300x128.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Google-search-console-768x328.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>2. <strong>Pages<\/strong> present under the <strong>Indexing<\/strong> is available in the dashboard\u2019s left panel.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"253\" height=\"222\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Pages.png\" alt=\"Indexing pages\" class=\"wp-image-3076\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>3. You will see \u201c<strong>Not found (404)<\/strong>\u201d under the error.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"847\" height=\"210\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Not-found-404.png\" alt=\"Why pages aren't indexed\" class=\"wp-image-3077\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Not-found-404.png 847w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Not-found-404-300x74.png 300w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Not-found-404-768x190.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 847px) 100vw, 847px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>4. When you click on it, it will display all pages that return the 404 errors.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"912\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/404-errors.png\" alt=\"404 error's pages list\" class=\"wp-image-3078\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/404-errors.png 912w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/404-errors-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/404-errors-768x364.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>5. Click on any URL from the list display, and you will see all the pages that have broken links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may see broken links from external sources arising from misspelled words or errors. In that case, you can always set a 301 redirection on that page, inform the owner of that external link and request a fix for the link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Google Analytics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/analytics.google.com\/analytics\/web\/\"><strong>Google Analytics<\/strong><\/a> is a free tool that helps you understand your customer&#8217;s web journey and improves your marketing ROI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google Analytics is a very simple web analytical tool that helps you track and report 404 errors on your website. Despite Google Analytics being a very useful reporting tool, tracking down 404 errors can be tricky. hence you must be more familiar with and accustomed to using this process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most 404 Error pages contain a title displaying the message &#8220;Page not found&#8221; or something similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. To begin with, open Google Analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2. Click on the &#8220;Behavior&#8221; tab.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"257\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Behavior.png\" alt=\"Click on the &quot;Behavior&quot; tab\" class=\"wp-image-3079\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>3. Select &#8220;Site Content&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"248\" height=\"255\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Site-Content.png\" alt=\"Select &quot;Site Content&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-3080\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>4. Now Select &#8220;All Pages.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"283\" height=\"332\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-Pages.png\" alt=\"Now Select All Pages\" class=\"wp-image-3081\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-Pages.png 283w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-Pages-256x300.png 256w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 283px) 100vw, 283px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>5. Next, change the Primary Dimension to &#8220;Page Title.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"298\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Page-Title.png\" alt=\"change the Primary Dimension to &quot;Page Title&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-3082\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Page-Title.png 298w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Page-Title-264x300.png 264w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 298px) 100vw, 298px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Towards the end, type the title of your 404 page into the search box; click on the result.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"186\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/search-box-1024x186.png\" alt=\"type the title of your 404 page into the search box\" class=\"wp-image-3083\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/search-box-1024x186.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/search-box-300x55.png 300w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/search-box-768x140.png 768w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/search-box.png 1302w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Congratulations! You now have your Google Analytics 404 report ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tip: To see the most frequently occurring errors, sort pages by the number of views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Screaming Frog<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.screamingfrog.co.uk\/seo-spider\/\">Screaming Frog SEO Spider<\/a> is an awesome audit tool (site crawler) for your website to track down broken links that return 404 errors. Screaming Frog offers both the Free version and Paid version. Screaming Frog is free if your website houses less than 500 URLs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can start by auditing your website using Screaming Frog. Once the audit process ends, click on the <strong>Response Codes<\/strong> tab, and from the <strong>Filter<\/strong> dropdown, select <strong>Client Error (4XX).<\/strong> As the site crawler displays only the broken links, you won&#8217;t get a full list of 404 errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>SEMrush<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Site Audit Tool by<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/\"><strong>SEMrush<\/strong><\/a> is essential for finding broken links (404 Errors) and fixing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have created a new project to access the site audit tool, go to Management, present in the main toolbar. Click on Projects and \u201cAdd a New Project.\u201d The Dashboard will display several cards. Select the Site Audit Card and click Setup. You will need to configure the basic settings before you can begin auditing your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here are the steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Create a new project to access the site audit tool.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"294\" height=\"110\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Create-a-new-project.png\" alt=\"Create new project\" class=\"wp-image-3084\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>2. The Dashboard will display several cards. From these, select the Site Audit Card and click on Setup.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"662\" height=\"369\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Site-Audit.png\" alt=\"Select the Site Audit Card\" class=\"wp-image-3085\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Site-Audit.png 662w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Site-Audit-300x167.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 662px) 100vw, 662px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>4. You will need to configure the basic settings before you can begin auditing your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Provide basic information like the number of pages to audit, pages to ignore, and other information to the panel for the crawlers to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the crawler analyzes the task, the tool will display the number of issues. Go to input search space to search for broken links or link issues. You can resolve the broken links by modifying them or removing them completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><hr><p><strong>Also Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/68\/move-an-email-account-from-one-cPanel-server-to-another.html\"><strong>move an email account from one cPanel server to another<\/strong><\/a><\/p><hr><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Fix 404 Error on Your Website?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s learn the magic of fixing these 404 errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are 4 methods to easily resolve the broken link error and prevent your users from leaving your website. It is essential to check your website, perform regular audits and keep improving the site\u2019s performance to increase your brand value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. 404 Error Redirection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Experts recommend 404 error redirection as one of the best ways to resolve the broken link issue. You must redirect users to another relevant or similar page on your website. Redirecting your users back to your homepage is not a good idea. No one loves to go back to square one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In most cases, page redirection has proved the most effective way to resolve the broken link issue. It would be best to redirect users to another relevant or similar page on your website. Hence, they see useful information rather than a 404 error message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally speaking, there are 2 types of page redirections viz. 301 (permanent redirection) and 302 (temporary redirection). It is solely upon the website owner to decide if the new (redirected page) isn\u2019t going to reverse. The owner can implement a 301 redirection. Alternatively, he can ask his team to set 302 redirections if the redirection is for a short time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Let\u2019s understand this concept with an example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suppose you own a web development company where you have created a dedicated support page. Now you have shifted all the information from your support page to your Contact Us page. Additionally, you have removed the Support Page. When your user visits the support page to request support, he will see a 404 error on the support page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here you can avoid showing him the 404 error by implementing 301 redirection of the support page to the contact us page. All his support information is already present on contact us, and the user can easily raise a support ticket from this (new) page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Restore the Page to the Original<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Suppose you deleted a specific page with a purpose, but the reports suggest that the page is still in high demand. Not having the page present on your website might harm it as well. To curb this situation, restore the original page from a backup OR recreate it in the interest of your visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suppose you deleted a specific page with a purpose. In most of the cases restoration of the page might not be possible. Hence, you will have to resort to redirection. But if you can restore the deleted page in the interest of your users, please proceed because it will save you the labor of setting up the page redirection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Link Correction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>A Stitch In Time Saves Nine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is always advisable to mend a ripped cloth in time than to continue in the same situation. The same applies to broken links on your web pages. Despite having limited usage, you must always try rectifying your site&#8217;s broken links to help them point to the correct and existing URLs. The only drawback of this method is you cannot apply this solution to links from external sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Fix 404 Error on WordPress Website<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you can fix the 404 errors on your WordPress website, you must identify them. Use the above steps to find them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Solution &#8211;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you see this error throughout your WordPress website, the core issue is with the site\u2019s permalinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So go to \u201cSettings \u2192 Permalinks to update your settings. Make the necessary changes and click on the \u201cSave Changes\u201d button present at the bottom of the page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A 301 redirect will help you fix recurrent 404 errors on specific pages. Generally, WordPress fixes such errors automatically, but if this doesn&#8217;t work, you may have to update or reinstall your Redirection plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"569\" height=\"246\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Redirection.png\" alt=\"Redirection plugin\" class=\"wp-image-3086\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Redirection.png 569w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Redirection-300x130.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Once the plugin is installed and activated, proceed to Tools \u2192 Redirection.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"315\" height=\"204\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Tools.png\" alt=\"Tools - Redirection\" class=\"wp-image-3087\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Tools.png 315w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Tools-300x194.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 315px) 100vw, 315px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Answer a set of questions to configure the tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you complete this process, redirection of any URL on your WordPress website is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here are the simple steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>In the Source URL Field<\/strong> &#8211; Type the URL you want to redirect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Query Parameters<\/strong> &#8211; Exact match all parameters in any order.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In the Target URL Field<\/strong> &#8211; Type the URL to which you wish to redirect the page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Group <\/strong>&#8211; Redirections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"462\" height=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Group.png\" alt=\"Add new redirection\" class=\"wp-image-3088\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Group.png 462w, https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Group-300x138.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Just enter the URL you want to redirect in the Source URL field and the URL you want to redirect the page to in the Target URL field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then click Add Redirect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><hr><p><strong>Also Read: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/manage\/knowledgebase\/247\/How-to-Upload-HTML-files-to-Your-WordPress-Website.html\"><strong>How to Upload HTML files to Your WordPress Website?<\/strong><\/a><\/p><hr><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tips for 404 Pages<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At which frequencies should you check your site for 404 errors would be a major question for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A generic answer:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smaller sites with less than 50 pages can be checked monthly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Medium to large-sized sites can schedule checks on a weekly or fortnightly basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Larger sites cannot take chances. Schedule the 404 error check twice or thrice a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is mandatory to consider 404 Errors as a serious issue regarding your business and brand credibility. Such errors don\u2019t take you anywhere, so ignoring them can cost your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Precaution is always better than cure. Similarly, being vigilant and regularly performing site audits will safeguard your site from probable harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We would love to hear from you. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostitsmart.com\/\"><strong>Host IT Smart<\/strong><\/a> welcomes queries for domains, web hosting, SSL certificates, and allied products. You may drop a line at info@hostitsmart.com, and one of our experts will be happy to help you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a normal user, you try accessing a webpage out of excitement or necessity and land up on a 404 error. The only thing you end up with is frustration. Have you faced a similar situation?If yes, then you are not alone. Similarly, as the owner of a website, if you get to see 404 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-website"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Find &amp; Fix All 404 Errors on Your Website?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"404 Error can affect your website adversely. Know the quick ways to find all 404 Errors on your website &amp; fix it before it gets late. 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