{"id":98425,"date":"2025-09-12T10:24:58","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T10:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-404-errors\/"},"modified":"2025-09-12T10:38:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T10:38:27","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-404-errors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/en-in\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-404-errors\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a 404 Error Code? How to Fix Page Not Found Issues on Your Website"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-highlights-nbsp-nbsp\">Key highlights&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Understand what a 404 error is and why it appears on your website or during browsing.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Learn the different types of 404 errors and how they affect user experience and SEO. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discover step-by-step methods to identify and fix 404 errors using tools like Google Search Console and plugins.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Explore how to customize your 404 page to keep users engaged and reduce bounce rates.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fix and prevent 404 errors easily with Bluehost\u2019s built-in redirect tools, plugin support and expert customer service.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re searching for something online and you click a link that looks like it has the answer. But instead of the page you were hoping for, you see a found error message usually something like \u201c404 Page Not Found.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might think:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Was the page permanently removed?&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is the HTTP request incorrect?&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Did the server fail to respond properly?&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While a single 404 error code might be nothing more than a broken link, seeing them repeatedly on your own website can mean trouble. It can confuse visitors, make your site look unreliable and even hurt your search engine rankings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, we\u2019ll break down what 404 errors are, why they matter, what causes them and how to fix them quickly and easily. Let\u2019s dive in!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-404-error-code-nbsp-nbsp\">What is a 404 error code?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A 404 error is an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) status code that tells you the page you&#8217;re trying to visit can\u2019t be found on the website\u2019s server. This means the server is working correctly, but the specific file requested or page no longer exists at the specified URL.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Google-404-error.png\" alt=\"Google\u2019s 404 error page.\" class=\"wp-image-45913\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Google-404-error.png 840w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Google-404-error-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Google-404-error-768x421.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Google-404-error-24x13.png 24w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Google-404-error-36x20.png 36w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Google-404-error-48x26.png 48w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This usually happens when a page has been moved, deleted or never existed at all, often due to a mistyped URL (Uniform Resource Locator).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It typically appears in formats like:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>404 Not Found&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>HTTP 404 Not Found&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>404 Page Not Found&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The requested URL was not found on this server&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>File or directory not found&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Wherever the issue comes from, the underlying meaning is the same: the requested content cannot be found. So, let\u2019s take a closer look at the different types of 404 errors you might come across.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-types-of-404-errors-nbsp-nbsp\">What are the types of 404 errors?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all 404 error messages are the same. They vary based on how they occur and how your website handles them. Some are more harmful than others. Understanding each type helps you diagnose issues more accurately and apply the right fix.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a breakdown of the most common types of 404 errors:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regular\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Types of 404 error<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Description<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Standard 404 error<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>A typical \u201c404 Not Found\u201d results from a broken or outdated link.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Soft 404 error<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>The page shows a &#8220;not found&#8221; message but gives a 200 OK status.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Custom 404 error page<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>A user-designed custom page that improves UX with branding or links.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Hidden\/Restricted 404<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Occurs due to blocked or private file paths.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Broken internal link<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Internal links pointing to deleted or moved pages.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Broken external link<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Links from other websites to pages that no longer exist.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Client-side 404<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Triggered by typos, bookmarks or bad browser cache.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Server-side 404<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Due to configuration errors like bad redirects or routing.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Each type of 404 error points to a different root cause, whether it\u2019s a technical misstep, outdated link or missing redirect. Recognizing which type you\u2019re dealing with makes it easier to keep your site running smoothly and your users happy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, let\u2019s explore what actually causes these 404 errors to happen in the first place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-causes-404-error-code-nbsp-nbsp\">What causes 404 error code?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A 404 error code can happen for a variety of reasons, both on the visitor\u2019s end and the website owner\u2019s side. These errors typically occur when a user attempts to access a page that the server can\u2019t find. Let\u2019s break down the most common causes:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-broken-or-mistyped-urls-nbsp\">1. Broken or mistyped URLs&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, the issue is as simple as a typo in the URL. If a user enters the wrong web address or clicks a link with an incorrect path, the browser won\u2019t be able to find the intended page. This results in a 404 error.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-deleted-or-moved-pages-without-redirects-nbsp\">2. Deleted or moved pages without redirects&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If a page has been deleted or moved to a new URL and no 301 redirect is set up, users will hit a dead end.  Notably, this is one of the most common causes of a 404 error message on active websites.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-changing-domain-names-or-folder-structures-nbsp\">3. Changing domain names or folder structures&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rebranding your site or reorganizing your content without updating external and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/internal-linking-guide\/\">internal links<\/a> may lead users to 404 pages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-hosting-or-server-misconfiguration-nbsp\">4. Hosting or server misconfiguration&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, the page exists, but your server isn\u2019t set up correctly to deliver it. Misconfigured <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/htaccess-tutorial\">.htaccess files<\/a>, permission errors or outdated server-side caching rules can prevent users from accessing the content, even when it\u2019s there.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-dns-misconfigurations-nbsp\">5. DNS misconfigurations&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your domain\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/what-is-dns-domain-name-system\/\">DNS (Domain Name System)<\/a> settings are incorrect, users might not be directed to the correct server, triggering 404 errors. This often happens during site migrations or domain name changes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each of these issues can contribute to a poor user experience and negatively impact your SEO if left unresolved. Up next, let&#8217;s explore what you should do when you encounter a 404 error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to do when you see a 404 error?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A 404 error page can appear for many reasons from spelling mistakes in the requested URL to missing pages on the web server. For web users, this can be frustrating, while for website owners, it can negatively impact search engines and user experience. The table below outlines quick solutions for both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>For web users<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>For website owners<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Check the URL<\/strong> \u2013 Double-check the requested URL. Typos, extra characters or incorrect directory levels often trigger this error message.<\/td><td><strong>Implement redirects<\/strong> \u2013 If a page has been moved, renamed or deleted, set up a 301 redirect to a new URL to avoid broken or dead links.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Refresh the page<\/strong> \u2013 A temporary server error may prevent a page from loading properly. Refresh to see if it resolves.<\/td><td><strong>Check for broken links<\/strong> \u2013 Use Google Search Console or tools like Ahrefs to find and fix missing pages, dead links or outdated external links.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Use the search function<\/strong> \u2013 Most websites have a search bar to help you find the requested resource or related content.<\/td><td><strong>Customize your 404 page<\/strong> \u2013 Add a homepage link, search bar or popular pages to reduce poor user experience.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Go back to the homepage<\/strong> \u2013 If the requested page is missing, return to the site\u2019s homepage to browse categories.<\/td><td><strong>Fix server misconfigurations<\/strong> \u2013 Check your hosting server and .htaccess file to ensure URLs are set up correctly.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Try a different device or browser<\/strong> \u2013 Clearing cache or testing on another device may help.<\/td><td><strong>Maintain clean URLs<\/strong> \u2013 Follow web development best practices to improve site visibility and search engine crawling.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you know how to handle 404 errors, the next step is understanding why fixing them matters. In either case, ignoring broken or dead links can reduce site performance, frustrate users and harm your visibility in search engine results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-should-you-fix-404-errors-nbsp-nbsp\">Why should you fix 404 errors?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The occasional 404 error code page is nothing to be concerned about. And more often than not, they can be resolved by simply ensuring that the URL you typed is correct.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/why-fix-404-errors-1024x683.png\" alt=\"why fix 404 errors\" class=\"wp-image-202052\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/why-fix-404-errors-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/why-fix-404-errors-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/why-fix-404-errors-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/why-fix-404-errors-270x180.png 270w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/why-fix-404-errors-770x515.png 770w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there are several reasons why you may still want to fix them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-poor-user-experience-nbsp-nbsp\">1. Poor user experience&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When users land on a 404 error page, they\u2019re often frustrated by the inability to find the content they were looking for, which compromises a positive user experience. Eventually, this frustration can lead to a poor user experience, higher bounce rates with users abandoning your site in search of other websites.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-seo-ranking-and-crawl-issues-nbsp\">2. SEO ranking and crawl issues&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Search engines like Google rely on efficient crawling of your website to index pages and rank them appropriately. However, when a crawler hits a 404 error repeatedly, it reduces crawl efficiency and may prevent other pages on your website from being indexed.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While a few 404s are normal, too many broken links or inaccessible pages can confuse search engine bots. This might lead to crawl errors, wasted crawl budget and missed indexing opportunities, hurting your site\u2019s visibility over time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-lost-traffic-and-conversions-nbsp\">3. Lost traffic and conversions&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If key pages like product listings, landing pages or blog posts return 404 errors, you could be losing potential customers or leads. In addition, broken links disrupt user journeys, which means missed opportunities to convert visitors into buyers, subscribers or followers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if 404 error codes aren\u2019t always critical, fixing them shows that you care about your visitors and your site&#8217;s performance.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you want to get to the root of the problem, you\u2019ll need to learn how to spot and fix 404 code errors when you encounter them.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-fix-the-404-error-code-step-by-step-nbsp\">How to fix the 404 error code, step by step?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Fixing 404 error code is usually a simple process. Broken or dead links can be fixed by implementing redirects. If the problem isn\u2019t localized to your machine, then various simple server fixes should do the trick.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/How-to-fix-404-errors.png\" alt=\"You can fix 404 errors in several ways.\" class=\"wp-image-45924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/How-to-fix-404-errors.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/How-to-fix-404-errors-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/How-to-fix-404-errors-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/How-to-fix-404-errors-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/How-to-fix-404-errors-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/How-to-fix-404-errors-24x14.png 24w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/How-to-fix-404-errors-36x20.png 36w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/How-to-fix-404-errors-48x27.png 48w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To fix a 404 error, follow these methods:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Identify broken URLs (via Google Search Console or Analytics)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/en-in\/301-redirect-wordpress\/\">301 redirects<\/a> to correct pages&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disable plugins and themes&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restore or recreate missing pages (if needed) <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Update internal links or navigation menus&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Configure .htaccess file&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fix file permissions&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check the domain and DNS settings&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-identify-broken-urls-via-google-search-console-or-analytics-nbsp\">1. Identify broken URLs (via Google Search Console or Analytics) &nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use tools like Google Search Console or Google Analytics to quickly find and troubleshoot 404 errors on your site.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few simple ways to do that:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Google Search Console<\/strong>: Use Google Search Console\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/webmasters\/answer\/7440203?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Page Indexing Report<\/a> to identify 404 errors on your website.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"418\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/page-indexing-report-1024x418.png\" alt=\"Google Search Console Page Indexing Report\" class=\"wp-image-202069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/page-indexing-report-1024x418.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/page-indexing-report-300x122.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/page-indexing-report-768x313.png 768w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>SEO tools<\/strong>: Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to crawl your site and detect broken links.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Log file analysis<\/strong>: Look for 404 status codes in your website\u2019s server log files.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plugins<\/strong>: WordPress plugins like <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/broken-link-checker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Broken Link Checker<\/a> can quickly scan for broken links.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Manual testing<\/strong>: Click through your site to spot broken links, especially after deleting or moving pages.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-set-up-301-redirects-to-correct-pages-nbsp-nbsp\">2. Set up 301 redirects to correct pages&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If a page no longer exists or the URL is incorrect, set up a redirect to send users to the right page on the web server. At Bluehost, we make this process easy with built-in redirect tools in your control panel so you can fix 404 errors quickly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use 301 redirects for permanent changes.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use 302 redirects for temporary moves.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also read<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/how-to-redirect-website-url\/\">How to Redirect a URL (301, 302 &amp; More) \u2013 Beginner\u2019s Guide to URL Redirects<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ways-to-set-up-redirects-nbsp\">Ways to set up redirects:&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>With a plugin<\/strong>: Use a plugin like <a href=\"https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yoast SEO Premium<\/a>. Go to Redirects, enter the old and new URLs and save.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/set-up-redirects-using-Yoast-1024x416.png\" alt=\"Setup redirects using Yoast SEO Premium \" class=\"wp-image-202090\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/set-up-redirects-using-Yoast-1024x416.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/set-up-redirects-using-Yoast-300x122.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/set-up-redirects-using-Yoast-768x312.png 768w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>With Bluehost<\/strong>:&nbsp;\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to your control panel.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click Domains &gt; Manage &gt; Redirects.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enter the old and new URLs.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click Add Redirect.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test to make sure it works.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio  is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper video-seo-youtube-embed-wrapper\"><div class=\"video-seo-youtube-player\" data-id=\"GKltlNWFFl4\"><\/div><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Redirects help you fix 404 errors quickly while keeping your users and SEO happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-disable-plugins-and-themes-nbsp-nbsp\">3. Disable plugins and themes&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you see unexpected 404 errors on your WordPress site, a faulty plugin or theme might be the cause.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-steps-to-troubleshoot-nbsp\">Steps to troubleshoot:&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Switch your theme:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Appearance &gt; Themes in your WordPress dashboard.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check if the 404 errors disappear.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Activate a default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Activating-new-theme-WordPress-1024x533.webp\" alt=\"Activate new theme on WordPress\" class=\"wp-image-202111\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Activating-new-theme-WordPress-1024x533.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Activating-new-theme-WordPress-300x156.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Activating-new-theme-WordPress-768x400.webp 768w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If they do, consider using a different theme.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deactivate all plugins:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Plugins &gt; Installed Plugins. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Select all plugins, choose Deactivate from the Bulk Actions menu and click Apply.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Test your site.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;If the 404s are gone, re-enable plugins one at a time to find the cause.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Deactivating-plugins-WordPress-1024x600.png\" alt=\"Deactivate plugins on WordPress\" class=\"wp-image-202118\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Deactivating-plugins-WordPress-1024x600.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Deactivating-plugins-WordPress-300x176.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Deactivating-plugins-WordPress-768x450.png 768w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also manage plugins and themes directly from your Bluehost dashboard for easier access.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: Always <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/how-to-backup-your-wordpress-site\/\">back up your site<\/a> before making changes.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-restore-or-recreate-missing-pages-nbsp\">4. Restore or recreate missing pages&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If an important page was accidentally deleted or moved, restoring or recreating it can resolve 404 errors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-do-it-nbsp\">How to do it:&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check if you have a backup and restore the missing page. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If no backup is available, recreate the page manually.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use the same URL as the original if possible.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Test the page to confirm it loads correctly.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-update-internal-links-or-navigation-menus-nbsp\">5. Update internal links or navigation menus&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Broken links within your website can lead to 404 errors. Updating them ensures a smooth user experience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-fix-it-nbsp\">How to fix it:&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to your WordPress dashboard.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Navigate to Pages, Posts or Menus.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check for links pointing to missing or incorrect URLs.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Update the links with the correct URLs&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Save changes and test the links.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"568\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Update-internal-and-external-links.png\" alt=\"Update internal and external links on WordPress\" class=\"wp-image-202132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Update-internal-and-external-links.png 684w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Update-internal-and-external-links-300x249.png 300w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Keeping your site\u2019s internal structure up to date helps avoid unnecessary 404 errors and improves site navigation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-configure-htaccess-file-nbsp-nbsp\">6.Configure .htaccess file&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Misconfigured <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/htaccess-tutorial\">.htaccess files<\/a> or errors in a proxy server configuration can block access even when a user attempts to reach a valid page.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-option-1-reset-via-wordpress-nbsp\">Option 1: Reset via WordPress&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Settings &gt; Permalinks in your dashboard.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click Save Changes without editing anything.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;These regenerates the .htaccess file automatically&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"537\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Updating-permalinks-WordPress-1024x537.webp\" alt=\"Updating Permalinks in WordPress\" class=\"wp-image-202146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Updating-permalinks-WordPress-1024x537.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Updating-permalinks-WordPress-300x157.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Updating-permalinks-WordPress-768x403.webp 768w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also read<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/how-to-customize-your-wordpress-permalink-settings\/\">How to Change Permalink in WordPress<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-option-2-reset-via-ftp-nbsp\">Option 2: Reset via FTP&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Access your site via FTP (use FileZilla or similar).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Locate the .htaccess file in the root directory.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Back it up, then delete it.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check if the 404 error is resolved.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If fixed, regenerate it by going to Settings &gt; Permalinks and clicking Save Changes.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Always back up your site before making changes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-fix-file-permissions-nbsp-nbsp\">7.Fix file permissions&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, a 404 page not found error can occur not because the page is missing. It can be because essential files like images, CSS or JavaScript are being blocked due to incorrect file permissions. This causes the server to return a 404 response code when trying to load those assets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-fix-it-nbsp-0\">How to fix it:&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/cpanel-access\">Bluehost control panel.<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Advanced &gt; Files &gt; File Manager.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Find the folder with the file (image, script, etc.) causing the issue.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Select the file and click the Permissions icon at the top.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ensure Read permission is enabled.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"6\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click Change Permissions, then test the page.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If it doesn\u2019t fix the issue, revert the permissions&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Changing-permissions-image-file-cPanel.jpg\" alt=\"Changing file permissions on WordPress\" class=\"wp-image-202167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Changing-permissions-image-file-cPanel.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Changing-permissions-image-file-cPanel-300x222.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Changing-permissions-image-file-cPanel-768x568.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-check-the-domain-and-dns-settings-nbsp\">8. Check the domain and DNS settings&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you recently changed your hosting provider or domain settings, your site may show 404 errors during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/what-is-dns-propagation\">DNS propagation<\/a> (which can take 24\u201348 hours).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-check-dns-settings-in-bluehost-nbsp\">How to check DNS settings in Bluehost:&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to your Bluehost control panel.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click Domains and ensure Name Servers are set to:&nbsp;\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>ns1.bluehost.com&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ns2.bluehost.com&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Manage &gt; DNS to open the DNS Zone Editor.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check for incorrect IP addresses or records.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/mxtoolbox.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MxToolbox<\/a> to validate DNS setup.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"656\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DNS-settings-Bluehost-control-panel.jpg\" alt=\"Check DNS Settings\" class=\"wp-image-202181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DNS-settings-Bluehost-control-panel.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DNS-settings-Bluehost-control-panel-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DNS-settings-Bluehost-control-panel-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DNS-settings-Bluehost-control-panel-870x570.jpg 870w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re unsure, contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/contacting-support\">Bluehost support<\/a> for help.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve fixed the technical causes of 404 errors there\u2019s still one more important step to consider: what your users see when things go wrong.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even with the best maintenance, some 404 errors are unavoidable. That\u2019s why creating a custom error page can make a big difference in how users experience your site.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/guide-dns-troubleshooting\">Common DNS Issues and How to Solve Them<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-customize-your-404-page-for-a-better-user-experience-nbsp-nbsp\">How to customize your 404 page for a better user experience?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all 404 error pages have to lead to dead ends. With a bit of thoughtful design, you can turn a frustrating moment into a helpful and even engaging experience. A well-crafted 404 page keeps users on your site and gently guides them toward the content they\u2019re looking for.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1157\" height=\"725\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bluehost-404-error.png\" alt=\"example of a 404 error page.\" class=\"wp-image-45914\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bluehost-404-error.png 1157w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bluehost-404-error-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bluehost-404-error-1024x642.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bluehost-404-error-768x481.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bluehost-404-error-24x15.png 24w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bluehost-404-error-36x23.png 36w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bluehost-404-error-48x30.png 48w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Above is an example of a customized Bluehost 404 error page. Considering this, here are a few ways to customize your 404 page for maximum impact:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-add-helpful-navigation-or-search-bar-nbsp\">1. Add helpful navigation or search bar&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Give users a quick way to continue browsing your site. A simple menu or search function can help them find the requested resource they were originally looking for or discover something even better.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-include-a-friendly-message-humor-optional-nbsp\">2. Include a friendly message (humor optional)&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A warm, human tone can make a difference. Whether you go with a sincere apology or a playful joke, a personal touch can soften the blow of a broken link. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spotify\u2019s<\/a> 404 error page often uses playful, music-inspired messaging such as: \u201cThis page is out of tune.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"583\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Spotify-404-error-1024x583.png\" alt=\"Spotify 404 error page\" class=\"wp-image-202202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Spotify-404-error-1024x583.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Spotify-404-error-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Spotify-404-error-768x437.png 768w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-link-to-popular-or-recent-content-nbsp\">3. Link to popular or recent content&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t leave users at a dead end. Add links to your top blog posts, trending products or recently updated pages to re-engage their interest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Customizing your 404 page isn\u2019t just about design, it\u2019s about keeping your visitors engaged and guiding them back to useful content. A thoughtful 404 page shows users that you care about their experience, even when things go wrong.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But of course, the best approach is to prevent those 404 errors from happening in the first place and that\u2019s where reliable hosting comes in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-bluehost-help-to-prevent-and-fix-404-errors-nbsp\">How does Bluehost help to prevent and fix 404 errors?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At Bluehost, we know that maintaining a healthy website is key to delivering a great user experience and strong SEO performance. That\u2019s why we offer several built-in features and tools to help you easily detect, fix and prevent 404 errors.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-free-tools-for-redirects-nbsp\">1. Free tools for redirects&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We make it simple to set up 301 or 302 redirects directly from your Bluehost control panel. Just log in, head to the Domains &gt; Redirects section and enter your old and new URLs, no coding needed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-plugin-support-nbsp\">2. Plugin support&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re using WordPress, we support powerful plugins like Yoast SEO Premium and Redirection. This makes it easy to manage broken links and redirects right from your dashboard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-support-when-you-need-it-nbsp\">3. Support when you need it&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>And if something still doesn\u2019t work as expected, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/contact\">friendly support team<\/a> is available 24\/7. We\u2019ll help you troubleshoot and fix any 404 issues quickly, so your visitors always find what they\u2019re looking for.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Bluehost-Support-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-202223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Bluehost-Support-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Bluehost-Support-1-300x129.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Bluehost-Support-1-768x331.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts-nbsp\">Final thoughts &nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>404 errors are a common issue for any website owner, but they don\u2019t have to be a major problem. When managed properly, they\u2019re easy to fix and even easier to prevent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The key is to be proactive: monitor your site regularly, set up proper redirects and keep your content structure clean.&nbsp;&nbsp;That\u2019s where Bluehost comes in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Bluehost, we make it simple to stay ahead of 404 errors with built-in redirect tools, plugin support and reliable hosting performance. Whether you&#8217;re just getting started or running a growing site, our tools are designed to help you fix issues fast and prevent them in the future.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start now! Fix 404 errors fast with Bluehost WordPress hosting and keep your visitors on the right track.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" viewBox=\"0 0 1001 300\">\n  <image width=\"1001\" height=\"300\" xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/WordPress-Hosting-9.jpg\"><\/image> <a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/wordpress\/wordpress-hosting\">\n    <rect x=\"86\" y=\"210\" fill=\"#fff\" opacity=\"0\" width=\"122\" height=\"50\"><\/rect>\n  <\/a>\n<\/svg>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs-nbsp-nbsp\">FAQs&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1748011580530\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is a 404 error code?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A 404 error is an HTTP client error status code that appears when a requested URL or specific page cannot be found on the web server. It\u2019s the most common error message when a non-existent page or file is requested.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1748011592567\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Does a 404 error mean I was blocked?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, a 404 error page doesn\u2019t mean you were blocked from a particular website. It simply shows the requested resource or requested domain name no longer exists or cannot load properly, often due to broken or dead links.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1748011603872\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What causes a 404 error on a website?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Most websites display 404 error pages when a requested page is deleted, the URL has spelling mistakes or directory levels change without redirects. Broken links, missing pages or incorrect .htaccess file settings can also trigger the error code.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1748011615216\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Are 404 errors bad for SEO?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, too many 404 error pages can negatively impact a site\u2019s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). Search engines may waste crawl budget on dead links, reducing the website\u2019s performance and hurting how well users find pages or linked content.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1757671347075\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What impact do 404 errors have on user experience?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Encountering a 404 error page creates poor user experience. When a web user attempts to access missing pages or external links that no longer exist, they may leave the website quickly instead of searching for requested content through the search function.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1757671360307\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can my website benefit from a custom 404 error page?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. Website owners can design a helpful error page with a homepage link, search bar or popular web page suggestions. This improves web development best practices, keeps users browsing and prevents frustration when the requested content no longer exists.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover what a 404 error means and learn step-by-step ways to fix and prevent broken pages on your website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":150,"featured_media":98429,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_title":"What Is a 404 Error Code and How to Fix Page Not Found Issues","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Learn what a 404 error code means, common causes and effective ways to fix 404 errors to improve your website\u2019s user experience and SEO.","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3267,2232],"tags":[3437,3441,3444,3454,3457],"ppma_author":[941],"class_list":["post-98425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-performance","category-website","tag-core-web-vitals","tag-faqs","tag-how-to-guides","tag-tips-tricks","tag-tutorials"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is a 404 Error Code and How to Fix Page Not Found Issues<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn what a 404 error code means, common causes and effective ways to fix 404 errors to improve your website\u2019s user experience and SEO.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/en-in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98425\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_IN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is a 404 Error Code? 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