The Ultimate Guide to Finding and Fixing 404 Errors on Your Website

404 errors are a common problem for website owners, yet they are often overlooked. When users encounter a 404 error, it means they’ve tried to access a page that doesn’t exist or cannot be found. This can frustrate users, damage your website’s SEO, and negatively impact the overall user experience. In this comprehensive guide, we will explain how to find, fix, and optimize 404 errors to ensure your website performs optimally.


1. What Are 404 Errors?

Definition of 404 Errors

A 404 error, also known as a “Page Not Found” error, occurs when a user tries to visit a webpage that doesn’t exist on your server. It indicates that the requested URL couldn’t be found or that the page has been removed or moved.

Hard 404 vs Soft 404

  • Hard 404: A true 404 error that returns a “Page Not Found” message and a 404 status code from the server. This is typically when the page no longer exists or there’s a problem with the URL.
  • Soft 404: A page that appears to exist but returns a 200 status code (a successful response) despite showing a “not found” message. This often happens when websites redirect a non-existent page to a similar URL or a custom error page without proper 404 handling.

Understanding the distinction between hard and soft 404 errors is important because they can impact your site’s search rankings and user experience differently.


2. Why 404 Errors Matter for Your Website

The Impact on User Experience

When visitors land on a 404 page, it disrupts their experience, leading to frustration. Users who can’t find the content they were expecting are more likely to leave your site and visit competitors, increasing your bounce rate.

How 404 Errors Can Affect Your Site’s SEO and Search Rankings

Google and other search engines don’t like broken links. A large number of 404 errors on your website can signal to search engines that your site is not well-maintained, which can negatively affect your rankings. Googlebot might crawl fewer pages, leaving valuable content undiscovered.

The Effect of 404 Errors on Backlinks, Domain Authority, and Trustworthiness

When you have 404 errors on pages that previously had backlinks, those links become broken, which can result in a loss of link equity and domain authority. Pages that return 404 errors will not contribute to your site’s link profile, potentially damaging your site’s trustworthiness.


3. Common Causes of Arising 404 Errors

Broken Links and Outdated URLs

  • Internal Links: Links that point to pages on your website. Over time, if you update or remove pages, internal links may point to non-existent pages.
  • External Links: Links from other websites that point to your content. If these URLs change or the pages are removed, you’ll encounter 404 errors.

Deleted or Moved Pages

If you delete or move a page without redirecting the old URL, users and search engines may encounter a 404 error when trying to access the old URL.

Changes in URL Structure or Site Architecture

Any change in your website’s URL structure (e.g., changing from HTTP to HTTPS or modifying the folder structure) can result in broken links if redirects aren’t set up.

Typing Errors or Incorrect URL Input

Sometimes users simply type the wrong URL. Though you can’t control this, it’s still important to provide a helpful custom 404 page to guide them back to functional content.


4. How to Identify 404 Errors on Your Website

Using Google Search Console to Track 404 Errors

Google Search Console provides a useful tool for identifying crawl errors, including 404 errors. You can view the “Coverage” report to find pages that return 404 errors and take action accordingly.

Tools Like Semrush, Screaming Frog, and Ahrefs for Identifying Broken Links

These SEO tools can scan your website for broken internal and external links, including 404 errors. They’ll give you a list of pages that are returning 404 status codes and help prioritize which errors to fix.

Manual Checks: How to Use Site Audits and Browser Tools

You can also perform manual checks by browsing your site or using browser extensions (like Check My Links) to identify broken links. Running periodic site audits will help catch issues before they become widespread.


5. How to Fix 404 Errors

Setting Up 301 Redirects to Redirect Traffic to Relevant Pages

When a page is deleted or moved, setting up a 301 redirect ensures users and search engines are automatically directed to the new or most relevant page. This helps preserve SEO value and improves the user experience.

Updating and Repairing Broken Internal and External Links

Fix broken links by updating internal links to direct users to active pages. For external links, either reach out to the site owner or remove them. Tools like Broken Link Checker can automate this process.

Restoring Deleted Pages or Creating Equivalent Replacements

If a valuable page has been deleted, consider restoring it or creating a similar replacement page. If the content is outdated, updating it to match current standards could be beneficial for both SEO and user experience.

Managing URL Changes with Proper Redirects

Ensure that URL structure changes (like switching from HTTP to HTTPS) are handled with appropriate redirects. Failure to do so can lead to 404 errors and loss of traffic.


6. Crafting an Effective Custom 404 Page

Importance of a Creative, Helpful, and Engaging 404 Page

A custom 404 page should not just display an error message. It should engage users by providing helpful suggestions, including navigation options and a search bar.

Design Tips: Adding a Search Bar, Navigation Links, and Call-to-Action Buttons

  • Search Bar: Allow users to quickly find content on your site.
  • Navigation Links: Provide links to important pages such as the homepage, contact page, or blog.
  • Call-to-Action Buttons: Encourage visitors to explore more content, sign up for a newsletter, or contact support.

Examples of Well-Crafted 404 Pages from Top Brands

Check out how brands like Airbnb or Netflix design their 404 pages. They use humour, creativity, and simplicity to maintain user engagement even in the face of an error.


7. Regular Monitoring: How Often Should You Check for 404 Errors?

Best Practices for Regular Site Audits and 404 Error Checks

Conduct site audits at least once a month to ensure no 404 errors are impacting your user experience. Regular monitoring helps you catch errors early before they negatively affect your SEO or traffic.

Tools and Plugins to Automate 404 Error Detection

Tools like Screaming Frog and SEMrush can automate site crawling to detect 404 errors. WordPress plugins such as Broken Link Checker can also help you stay on top of link health without manual checks.

Setting Up Alerts and Notifications to Catch Errors Early

You can set up email alerts in Google Search Console or use third-party tools like Uptime Robot to notify you when a 404 error occurs.


8. Additional Tools and Resources for Managing 404 Errors

Recommended Tools: Dead Link Checker, MonsterInsights, and Broken Link Checker

These tools are designed to help you identify broken links and 404 errors across your website. Use them to continuously monitor and manage site errors.

How to Leverage Your Website’s CMS (e.g., WordPress Plugins) for Error Monitoring

For WordPress users, plugins like Redirection or Link Checker can be integrated into your site to automatically detect and resolve 404 errors.

How to Integrate Tools for Real-Time Error Tracking

Advanced tools like Google Analytics can also track user behaviour when they encounter 404 pages, providing insight into how 404 errors affect user flow and conversions.


9. Addressing the SEO Impact of 404 Errors

How 404 Errors Affect Crawl Budget and Search Engine Indexing

Google allocates a crawl budget or the number of pages it will crawl on your site, and 404 errors can reduce this budget. When Googlebot encounters too many 404s, it may crawl fewer pages, resulting in missed opportunities for indexing new content.

The Importance of Managing 404 Errors to Maintain SEO Rankings

404 errors can cause page authority loss if they impact backlinks. Redirecting these URLs appropriately helps preserve link equity and keeps your rankings intact.

Best Practices for Keeping Your Site’s SEO Performance Strong in Light of 404 Issues

  • Monitor broken links and fix them promptly.
  • Set up 301 redirects to preserve the SEO value of moved or deleted pages.
  • Use a custom 404 page to keep users engaged rather than leaving them to bounce.

10. Advanced Strategies for Fixing 404 Errors on Dynamic Websites

Dealing with 404 Errors on E-Commerce Sites and Large-Scale Platforms

E-commerce websites and large platforms are more prone to 404 errors due to the frequent addition, removal, or updating of product pages. Use dynamic redirects and regularly audit product pages to avoid broken links.

Handling 404 Errors on Pages with User-Generated Content or Frequent Updates

Pages like forums, blogs, or user-generated content sections often undergo frequent changes. Ensure that URL management and redirection processes are in place to avoid orphaned pages and broken links.

Optimizing 404 Error Resolution in Multi-Language or Multi-Region Websites

For multilingual or multi-regional websites, ensure that 404 errors are handled properly in all languages and regions. Setting up redirects and maintaining an organized URL structure is key to minimizing errors.


11. Additional Considerations for Optimizing Your Site’s 404 Handling

The Role of Custom Error Pages in Brand Consistency and User Trust

Your custom 404 page should align with your brand’s tone and design, ensuring consistency throughout the site. A well-designed 404 page enhances trust and reassures visitors that they’re still on a professional website.

Addressing Mobile and Responsive Issues Related to 404 Errors

404 errors can affect mobile users, particularly if your site isn’t responsive. Ensure your 404 page is mobile-friendly and doesn’t disrupt users on smaller screens.

Best Practices for 404 Error Handling in Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and Single-Page Applications (SPAs)

PWAs and SPAs often have unique routing issues that can lead to 404 errors. Implement client-side routing and proper error handling to ensure users don’t encounter dead links or missing pages in these environments.


By regularly monitoring, identifying, and fixing 404 errors, you’ll ensure a better user experience, improved SEO performance, and a smoother, more reliable website overall.