A 404 Error (“Page Not Found”) means someone tried to visit a URL that doesn’t exist on your site. These errors reduce user satisfaction and can hurt SEO. Here’s how to find them, fix them, and prevent them.

• URLs changed without setup of redirects (page renamed or moved)
• Internal links or menus pointing to pages that have been deleted or renamed
• Typographical errors in links (wrong case, missing characters, wrong slashes)
• External links from other sites pointing to non-existent content
• Missing or misconfigured routing rules (especially with dynamic sites or CMSs)

• Use Google Search Console → Coverage report to see “Not Found” URLs
• Use site crawlers like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to scan for broken links
• Manually click through site menus, footer links, or content that references old pages/images
• Monitor server logs or 404 logs to see which URLs visitors are hitting

• For pages you moved/renamed: create a 301 redirect from the old URL → new URL
• Fix any internal links or navigation pointing to the wrong URL
• If content was deleted intentionally but has inbound links, consider creating alternate content or redirect to a relevant page
• Ensure consistency in URL structure (lowercase, consistent use of trailing slash)
• Use a custom 404 page that helps users find related content or site navigation so they find what they were looking for

• Maintain a regular link audit (monthly or quarterly) using tools or plugins
• Before deleting or renaming pages, plan the redirects
• Use CMS functions for redirect management if available
• Avoid changing page slugs unless necessary
• Keep sitemaps updated to reflect current live URLs

If you suddenly get many 404 reports:

• Investigate recent changes (migration, URL structure change, new theme or plugin affecting routing)
• Check external links (partners, ad campaigns) to ensure their links are updated
• Batch-create redirects if many URLs need adjustment
• Inform stakeholders if important pages are affected

Submit a ticket if:

• The homepage, contact page, or other key pages are returning 404s
• Redirect rules are not working or causing redirect loops
• You’re unable to locate the source of broken links
• SEO visibility drops due to missing pages

• Troubleshooting
• Contact & Resources