How to Fix 404 Errors in WordPress? [Step-by-Step Guide]

So your WordPress site is showing 404 errors on most of your pages. Some blog posts won’t load. Product pages are broken. Maybe your homepage looks fine, but everything else is gone. This kind of mess is frustrating and way more common than you’d think.

Here’s the upside. You can fix it. Whether it’s just a few broken links or your entire site feels like a puzzle with missing pieces, there’s a clean way to sort it out.

Here’s how you do it step by step.

What Exactly Is a 404 Error?

A 404 error happens when someone tries to visit a page on your site that doesn’t exist. It’s basically your server saying, “Sorry, I can’t find the file or page you’re asking for.” In easy wordings, you can assume that, sending a visitor to a house that’s been knocked down or never built in the first place. That’s what it feels like.

On WordPress, this usually happens when:

• URLs are changed (intentionally or by mistake)
• A plugin messes with your permalink structure
• You move your site or import content
• Pages or posts are deleted but still linked elsewhere

This is where most site owners start losing traffic, leads, and trust. Sometimes without even realizing it. The longer you let those 404s pile up, the harder it gets to bounce back.

That’s exactly why Pure Website Design offers more than just fixes with our bespoke websites. We create strong, SEO-friendly WordPress structures from the start so you don’t run into issues like this later. No mess, no patchwork, just clean and reliable site performance.

How 404 Errors Slowly Break Your Website

A few broken links might seem harmless. But let too many pile up and things start slipping. Rankings drop. Traffic disappears. Trust fades. And it doesn’t happen all at once. It’s slow, silent, and costly.

Here’s a breakdown of what really goes wrong:

Issue	What Happens
Ruins User Experience	Visitors land on a broken link. They get annoyed, lose trust, and leave. If it’s a high-traffic page, that’s a lot of potential gone.
Triggers Google Penalties	Too many 404s raise red flags for search engines. It looks like your site isn’t maintained, which can lead to drops in rankings.
Stops Pages from Getting Indexed	Search engines skip over 404 pages. If you wanted that page to rank, it never will.
Wastes Your SEO and Backlink Efforts	External sites may link to your broken pages. That traffic and link equity? Gone in an instant.

What Causes 404 Errors and How Can You Fix Them?

404 errors don’t just show up for fun. Something behind the scenes is broken or missing, and your site is the one paying the price.

Here’s a look at the usual suspects—and how to sort them out.

1. Broken Permalinks Permalinks are the structure of your URLs. Sometimes they get corrupted or misconfigured.

Fix: Go to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard. Without changing anything, click Save Changes. This refreshes your .htaccess file and often clears up the issue.

1. Deleted or Renamed Pages If you delete a post or page — or change its URL — any links to it will now lead to a 404.

Fix:

• Restore the deleted page (if needed)
• Or redirect the old URL to a new one using a plugin like Redirection

1. .htaccess File Issues Your .htaccess file tells the server how to handle URLs. If it’s missing or messed up, pages might not load.

Fix:

• Back up your site
• Open your root directory via FTP
• Make sure .htaccess exists
• If not, create one with the default WordPress rules (you can copy from the WordPress Codex)

1. Plugin or Theme Conflicts Some plugins or themes interfere with how URLs are handled, especially if you’re trying to create your own WordPress theme or customize one heavily.

Fix:

• Deactivate all plugins, then reactivate one by one
• Switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four temporarily
• Check if the error still happens

1. Moved or Migrated Site Moved from one domain to another? Switched hosting? You might’ve broken internal links or missed updating your site URLs.

Fix:

• Use a plugin like Better Search Replace to update all old links in your database
• Make sure your WordPress Address and Site Address are correct under Settings > General

1. Missing Media Files If your images or downloads are 404ing, it’s likely they weren’t uploaded correctly — or were deleted.

Fix:

• Reupload the missing media
• Check your uploads folder for permissions issues

What Are the Common Messages for a 404 Error?

404 errors don’t always look the same. Depending on the browser or server setup, the message might change. But they all mean the same thing. The page is missing.

Here are some different phrases you might see:

• “Page Not Found”
• “404 Not Found”
• “The page cannot be found”
• “HTTP Error 404”
• “We can’t find the page you’re looking for.”
• “Error 404”
• “The requested URL was not found on this server.”
• “The requested URL /~ was not found on this server. That’s all we know.”

These messages vary, but the problem is the same: something isn’t loading. If your site is also throwing errors like a 502 Bad Gateway issue, it may point to deeper hosting or configuration problems that need a closer look.

How to Find All 404 Errors on Your WordPress Site

Waiting for users to report broken links wastes time and traffic. Spot 404 errors early and fix them before they hurt your rankings or frustrate visitors.

Here’s how:

• Google Search Console: Shows 404 errors that Google has found.
• Broken Link Checker Plugin: Scans your site for links that don’t work.
• Ahrefs/Semrush: If you use SEO tools, they often flag broken pages.
• Your site logs: Check your server logs or use a tool like Log Viewer to spot repeated 404 hits.

What’s the Best Way to Redirect 404 Errors

When a page is permanently removed or no longer relevant, it’s best practice to implement a redirect that sends users to a related, active URL. Leaving users at a dead end disrupts the experience and hurts your site’s SEO performance.

Use 301 redirects. These tell browsers and search engines: “This page moved here permanently.”

Plugins like Redirection, Yoast SEO, or Rank Math make it easy to manage redirects without touching code.

Best Practices for Preventing Future 404s

1. Stick to a clean URL structure Avoid renaming URLs unless absolutely necessary.
2. Use a redirect plugin If you change a URL, redirect the old one immediately.
3. Check for broken links monthly Add this to your WordPress website maintenance checklist. It only takes a few minutes.
4. Avoid cheap or unreliable plugins Plugins from shady sources can mess with your permalink structure. Choose wisely.
5. Don’t delete content — repurpose it If a blog post isn’t performing, update it or merge it with another. Avoid removing it entirely unless you have a redirect ready.

What Should You Include in a Custom 404 Page?

Even if you fix most 404s, some will still slip through. A well-designed 404 page can keep visitors engaged.

What to include:

• A helpful message (“Oops, this page doesn’t exist”)
• A search bar
• Links to key pages (Home, Contact, Blog)

At Pure Website Design, we build custom 404 pages that look sharp, keep users engaged, and guide them to the content they’re after. We also offer regular website maintenance to make sure your theme stays flexible, your layout remains modern, and your site structure is always SEO-ready.

Why Expert Help Changes Everything

At Pure Website Design, we specialize in building SEO-friendly, properly structured WordPress sites. Whether you need a full rebuild or just want someone to fix the mess, we’ve got you covered with full website maintenance and long-term support.

Our bespoke websites aren’t just fast and beautiful. They’re designed to prevent issues like 404s, slow speeds, or broken layouts before they even start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t Let Broken Pages Break Your Site

It’s easy to ignore a few 404s. Until your traffic dips. Your rankings slide. Your users bounce.

Fixing them now is the smartest move you can make. Whether you handle it yourself or call in backup from an affordable WordPress website design company like Pure Website Design, make sure your site structure is solid and future-proof.