WordPress Error? 11 Proven Fixes for a Broken Site (2026)

Quick answer: To fix a WordPress 404 error on a page that exists, go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes. This rebuilds the rewrite rules. If the error stays, restore the default .htaccess rules, test for a plugin or theme conflict, and add a 301 redirect for any URL that moved. A 404 on a page you deleted on purpose is normal.

A WordPress 404 error means the server could not find the page a visitor asked for. Sometimes that is correct, because the page was deleted. Other times a page that clearly exists suddenly shows “Page not found,” and that needs a fix.

This guide helps you work out which kind of WordPress 404 error you have, then walks through six fixes in the order that solves most cases fastest.

Table of Contents

1. What Is a WordPress 404 Error?
2. Do 404 Errors Hurt Your SEO?
3. Find Out Which Type of 404 You Have
4. How to Fix a WordPress 404 Error Step by Step
5. How to Find 404 Errors on Your Site
6. Create a Helpful 404 Page
7. How to Prevent a WordPress 404 Error in the Future
8. Frequently Asked Questions
9. Next Steps
10. References

What Is a WordPress 404 Error?

A 404 is an HTTP status code. It tells the browser, and search engines, that the server is working but cannot find the requested URL.

On a WordPress site, a WordPress 404 error usually shows your theme’s “Page not found” template. The cause can be a mistyped link, a deleted page, a changed slug or broken rewrite rules. Knowing which one applies decides how you fix it.

Do 404 Errors Hurt Your SEO?

Quick answer: Not by themselves. Google says 404 errors do not harm a site’s indexing or ranking, so you can leave URLs that should not exist. Fix the ones that point to real content or that you submitted for indexing.

Google’s guidance on 404 errors says you can ignore a missing URL if the page was deleted and has no replacement. A 404 is the correct response in that case. The error report usually clears itself after a while.

The cases worth fixing are different. If a live page returns a WordPress 404 error, if a URL in your sitemap is missing, or if a popular page moved without a redirect, visitors and link value are lost.

Google also warns about soft 404s, such as sending every missing page to the homepage. That confuses visitors and search engines, so redirect a moved page to its real replacement instead. If you want help auditing this across a whole site, see the technical SEO service.

Find Out Which Type of 404 You Have

Do not start changing settings at random. Match the WordPress 404 error you see to the table below, then jump to the right fix.

What you see	Likely cause	Start with
One post or page shows 404	Slug changed, page in trash or draft, or a mistyped link	Fix 4
All posts show 404, homepage works	Broken rewrite rules	Fix 1, then Fix 2
404s began after a migration or domain change	Missing .htaccess, old URLs or server settings	Fix 2, Fix 5, Fix 6
404s began after a plugin or theme change	Plugin or theme conflict	Fix 3
Images or files return 404	Files missing from the uploads folder	Restore from backup or re-upload
Google Search Console lists 404 URLs	Deleted or moved pages	Fix 5

Before you change anything, take a backup of your files and database. If you can, test on a staging copy first.

How to Fix a WordPress 404 Error Step by Step

Work through the fixes below in order. Each one is quick to test, and the earlier ones solve most cases of a WordPress 404 error.

Fix 1: Re-Save Your Permalinks

This is the fastest way to clear a WordPress 404 error when posts and pages fail but the homepage still loads. Saving the permalink settings makes WordPress rebuild its rewrite rules.

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Settings > Permalinks.
3. Do not change anything. Just scroll down and click Save Changes.
4. Open a page that was showing 404 and test it.

If you cannot reach the dashboard, skip to Fix 2. If the error is gone, you are done.

Fix 2: Restore the Default .htaccess Rules

On Apache servers, WordPress uses a file called .htaccess in the site’s root folder to route pretty permalinks. If that file is missing or damaged, every inner page can return a WordPress 404 error.

Connect with your hosting file manager or SFTP. Hidden files may need to be switched on to see .htaccess. Download a copy as a backup, then replace the WordPress block with the default rules from the official WordPress handbook:

# BEGIN WordPress

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

# END WordPress

Keep any custom rules you had outside the # BEGIN WordPress and # END WordPress lines. After saving, go back to Fix 1 and re-save your permalinks.

If your host uses Nginx, there is no .htaccess file. The routing rule lives in the server configuration, so ask your host to check it.

Fix 3: Test for a Plugin or Theme Conflict

A plugin that registers custom post types or rewrite rules can break normal URLs. A theme can do the same. This is a common cause when a WordPress 404 error appears right after an update.

1. Deactivate all plugins from Plugins > Installed Plugins, then test the broken URL.
2. If it works, reactivate the plugins one at a time and test after each one.
3. If it still fails, switch to a default WordPress theme and test again.

Do this on a staging site where possible. On a live store or booking site, deactivating plugins can interrupt customers.

Not sure which plugin triggers the WordPress 404 error? You can log WordPress errors with the debug log to see which file reports a problem.

Fix 4: Check the Page Status and Its URL

If only one page shows a WordPress 404 error, the problem may be small. Open Pages or Posts and look for the item.

• Trash: restore the page if it was deleted by mistake.
• Draft or private: publish it if visitors should see it.
• Changed slug: compare the current permalink with the link people are using.
• Mistyped links: correct any internal link that points to the wrong address.

If you find that an old URL is still being used and the page now lives somewhere else, move on to Fix 5.

Fix 5: Redirect Moved or Changed URLs

When a page has a new address, send the old address to the new one with a 301 redirect. That keeps visitors on track and passes the old URL’s signals to the new page.

If you use Rank Math, you can do it without extra code:

1. Go to Rank Math SEO > Dashboard > Modules and turn on Redirections. This option appears in Advanced mode.
2. Open Rank Math SEO > Redirections and click Add New.
3. Enter the old URL as the source and the new page as the destination.
4. Choose 301 for a permanent move and save.

If a page was removed for good and has no replacement, a 410 code tells search engines it is gone on purpose. Google currently treats 404 and 410 the same way, so either is fine.

Do not redirect every missing URL to the homepage. As explained earlier, that creates soft 404s and rarely helps visitors.

Fix 6: Check Server Settings and Clear Caches

If the earlier fixes failed, the WordPress 404 error may come from the server. Apache needs URL rewriting switched on and has to allow .htaccess files to apply. These are common causes after moving to a new host.

Ask your hosting support to confirm two things: that rewrite rules are enabled for your site, and that the server configuration matches your WordPress setup.

Also purge any caching layer. Clear your caching plugin, your server cache and any CDN, then test the URL in a private browser window. An old cached 404 can keep showing after the real problem is solved.

How to Find 404 Errors on Your Site

You cannot fix what you cannot see. Use these two methods to catch a WordPress 404 error before visitors report it.

Rank Math 404 Monitor

In Rank Math SEO > General Settings > 404 Monitor, choose a mode and save. Simple mode records the missing URL and when it was requested. Advanced mode also stores the referrer and user agent, so you can see where the broken link came from.

View the results under Rank Math SEO > 404 Monitor. You can then redirect the important ones using Fix 5.

Google Search Console

The page indexing report in Google Search Console lists URLs Google found but could not index, including not-found pages. Check whether any of them are in your sitemap or have real internal links. Those are the ones worth fixing first.

Create a Helpful 404 Page

Every site will have a WordPress 404 error somewhere, so make the page useful. A good 404 page keeps visitors on your site instead of losing them.

• Say clearly that the page was not found.
• Add a search box and links to your main sections.
• Keep your normal header and footer.
• Make sure the page still returns a real 404 status, not a redirect.

Your theme, or the Theme Builder in Elementor Pro if you use it, usually controls this template.

How to Prevent a WordPress 404 Error in the Future

1. Avoid changing permalink structures on a live site unless you plan redirects first.
2. Set up a 301 redirect whenever you change a slug or delete a page that had traffic.
3. Update internal links after you move or rename content.
4. Check the 404 Monitor or Search Console every month.
5. Keep a recent backup, including your .htaccess file.

If you would rather have someone watch for these issues, a website care and maintenance package covers regular checks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes a WordPress 404 error?

The most common causes are broken rewrite rules, a changed or deleted URL, a plugin or theme conflict and server settings after a migration. A mistyped link can also trigger it.

Why do all my posts show 404 but the homepage works?

That pattern usually points to your rewrite rules. Re-save your permalinks first, then restore the default .htaccess rules if the error stays.

Do 404 errors hurt SEO?

Google says they do not harm your site’s indexing or ranking. Still, fix 404s that affect real pages, sitemap URLs or valuable links.

Should I redirect all 404 errors to the homepage?

No. Mass redirects to the homepage create soft 404s. Redirect each moved page to its closest replacement and let genuinely deleted pages return 404 or 410.

How do I fix a 404 error after changing permalinks?

Re-save the permalink settings and clear your caches. Then add 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones, because WordPress does not redirect every old address on its own.

Next Steps

Start with the quick fixes: re-save permalinks, then check .htaccess. Most cases of a WordPress 404 error are solved before you reach the server settings.

If your site shows a WordPress 404 error on many URLs after a redesign or migration, a structured review saves time. See the technical SEO audit and fix package, or ask for help through the WordPress error fix service if the site is down.

References

• 404 (Page Not Found) errors, Google Search Console Help
• Apache HTTPD and .htaccess, WordPress Advanced Administration Handbook
• Permalinks, WordPress Documentation
• 404 Monitor, Rank Math Knowledge Base
• Setting Up Redirections, Rank Math Knowledge Base