How to Find and Fix 404 Errors on a WordPress Website

Introduction

Few things are more frustrating for a website visitor than clicking a link and seeing “404 Page Not Found.”

For WordPress websites, 404 errors can occur for many reasons. A page may have been deleted, a blog post URL may have changed, an article may have been moved, a permalink structure may have been modified, or another page may still contain a link to a URL that no longer exists.

For bloggers, content creators and news publishers, broken URLs can create an unnecessary barrier between readers and valuable content.

However, there is an important distinction: not every 404 error needs to be fixed. Google explains that a 404 response is appropriate when a page has genuinely been removed and has no suitable replacement. Problems arise when important pages have moved, internal links point to missing URLs, or your sitemap contains URLs that return 404 responses.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to find and fix 404 errors on a WordPress website, how to decide which ones require attention, and how to prevent broken URLs from becoming a recurring problem.

What Is a 404 Error?

A 404 error is an HTTP response indicating that the requested page could not be found.

For example, a visitor may click:

yourwebsite.com/how-to-start-blogging/

but the page no longer exists at that URL.

Instead of displaying the article, WordPress may display a page saying:

404 – Page Not Found

This can happen when:

• A page has been deleted
• A post URL has changed
• A permalink has been modified
• A category or tag URL has changed
• A website has been migrated
• A page was moved without a redirect
• An internal link contains a typing error
• An external website links to an old URL
• A plugin or theme has generated an incorrect URL

Are 404 Errors Bad for SEO?

A common misconception is that every 404 error will automatically damage your Google rankings.

That’s not the case.

Google states that 404 errors generally do not hurt a site’s search performance when the URL genuinely should not exist. A permanently removed page with no replacement can appropriately return a 404 or 410 response.

The more important question is:

Should this URL exist?

If the answer is yes, investigate and fix it.

For example, if you deleted an old article that has no replacement, leaving it as a 404 may be perfectly appropriate.

But if you changed:

/wordpress-seo-tips/

to:

/wordpress-seo-guide/

you should consider redirecting the old URL to the new, relevant page.

Common Causes of 404 Errors in WordPress

1. Deleted Posts or Pages

Deleting content automatically makes its previous URL unavailable.

If other pages still link to that content, visitors may encounter a 404 error.

2. Changed Permalinks

Changing your WordPress permalink structure can create many broken URLs.

For example:

example.com/2025/09/wordpress-seo/

could become:

example.com/wordpress-seo/

Old links may continue pointing to the previous URL.

3. Renamed Posts

Changing the slug of a post can also change its URL.

For example:

/best-wordpress-plugins/

might become:

/best-wordpress-plugins-for-bloggers/

Without an appropriate redirect, the old URL may return 404.

4. Website Migration

Moving a website from one domain, hosting provider or platform to another can result in missing URLs if the migration is not properly planned.

News websites with thousands of articles should pay particular attention to this issue.

5. Broken Internal Links

You may accidentally link to:

/wordpress-seo-guide

when the actual page is:

/wordpress-seo-guides

That small difference can produce a 404.

How to Find 404 Errors on a WordPress Website

There are several ways to identify broken URLs.

Method 1: Use Google Search Console

Google Search Console is one of the most useful tools for identifying indexing and URL problems.

Open the Page Indexing report and look for URLs reported as “Not found (404).”

Google explains that this report shows indexing problems for URLs Google knows about. It also recommends fixing 404 URLs that you link to yourself or include in your sitemap, while genuinely removed pages can remain 404.

This makes Search Console particularly useful for bloggers and publishers who want to understand which missing URLs Google has discovered.

Method 2: Use the URL Inspection Tool

If you have a specific URL you want to investigate, use Google’s URL Inspection Tool.

Enter the URL into Search Console and inspect its current status.

The tool can help you determine whether Google can access the URL and whether there are indexing problems. After fixing an issue, you can test the live URL and, where appropriate, request indexing.

This is especially useful when you have fixed an important article URL and want to verify that Google can access the corrected page.

Method 3: Check Your WordPress Website for Broken Links

You can also use website-crawling and broken-link-checking tools to identify:

• Broken internal links
• Missing images
• Broken external links
• Incorrect URLs
• Redirect chains
• Missing pages

For a large news website, regularly crawling the website can reveal problems that would otherwise be difficult to find manually.

Method 4: Check Your Website Analytics

Analytics data can sometimes reveal visitors landing on missing URLs.

If you notice visitors repeatedly attempting to access an old article URL, investigate where that URL came from.

It could be:

• An old social media post
• An external website
• A Google result
• An internal link
• An old newsletter
• A bookmarked page

This information can help you determine whether the URL deserves a redirect or simply should remain unavailable.

How to Fix 404 Errors in WordPress

Once you’ve identified a 404 error, don’t automatically redirect every missing URL to your homepage.

Instead, determine what happened to the original content.

Fix 1: Restore the Missing Page

If the page was deleted accidentally, restore it.

Once the original URL works again, test it from another browser or device.

Fix 2: Correct the Internal Link

If the page exists but another page links to the wrong URL, update the link.

For example:

Broken:

example.com/wordpress-seo-guide

Correct:

example.com/wordpress-seo-guides

This is one of the simplest 404 fixes.

Fix 3: Create a 301 Redirect

If a page has permanently moved to a new, relevant URL, a 301 redirect can send visitors and crawlers from the old URL to the new location.

For example:

/old-wordpress-guide/

↓

/wordpress-seo-guide/

A 301 redirect is particularly useful when:

• Changing post slugs
• Restructuring a website
• Migrating content
• Consolidating articles
• Changing permalink structures

Google’s guidance specifically recommends a redirect when content has moved to a new location.

Fix 4: Update Your Sitemap

If a URL has been permanently removed, make sure it is not unnecessarily listed in your XML sitemap.

Your sitemap should help search engines discover URLs you actually want them to crawl.

Google recommends ensuring that submitted URLs are valid and updating the sitemap when URLs are removed or changed.

Fix 5: Update Internal Links

After changing a URL, search through your website for links pointing to the old address.

Update those links to the correct destination.

This is particularly important for:

• News websites
• Large blogs
• Educational websites
• Business websites
• Websites with extensive archives

A single old URL can sometimes appear in dozens of articles.

Should You Redirect Every 404 Error to the Homepage?

No.

This is a common mistake.

If a visitor requests a URL that does not exist and there is no relevant replacement, the appropriate response can be a genuine 404 page.

Redirecting every unrelated missing URL to the homepage can create a poor user experience and may make it harder for search engines to understand what happened to the original content.

Google specifically warns against redirecting permanently missing pages to an unrelated destination such as the homepage simply to avoid a 404.

The redirect should point to the most relevant replacement, when one exists.

Create a Helpful WordPress 404 Page

Even after fixing important broken URLs, some visitors will inevitably reach a nonexistent page.

That’s why your WordPress 404 page should be useful.

Consider including:

• A clear “Page Not Found” message
• A search box
• Link to the homepage
• Popular articles
• Recent posts
• Important categories
• Contact information
• Suggested related content

For a news website, a helpful 404 page might display:

“The story you’re looking for is unavailable. Try searching our latest news or browse these popular stories.”

This gives the visitor somewhere useful to go instead of simply ending their session.

How News Publishers Can Reduce 404 Errors

News websites frequently publish and update large numbers of articles.

To reduce broken URLs:

1. Avoid unnecessary URL changes

Once an article is published, avoid changing its slug unless there is a good reason.

2. Use redirects during website redesigns

If your website structure changes, create a redirect map before launching the new design.

3. Keep internal links updated

When articles are removed or consolidated, review related stories.

4. Monitor Google Search Console

Check the Page Indexing report periodically.

5. Maintain your sitemap

Make sure your sitemap contains valid URLs.

Google recommends monitoring indexing reports regularly, particularly after major website changes.

How Bloggers Can Prevent 404 Errors

Bloggers can reduce broken links by following a few simple practices:

• Avoid changing URLs unnecessarily
• Check links before publishing
• Use descriptive and stable slugs
• Redirect old URLs when content moves
• Review old articles periodically
• Monitor Search Console
• Remove broken internal links
• Keep plugins and themes updated
• Maintain regular website backups

A simple monthly website audit can identify problems before they become widespread.

404 Errors vs 301 Redirects: What’s the Difference?

The key is to use the response that accurately represents what happened to the URL.

404 Error Prevention Checklist

Before publishing or changing your WordPress website, check:

• ✅ Test important URLs
• ✅ Check internal links
• ✅ Avoid unnecessary slug changes
• ✅ Create redirects for moved content
• ✅ Update your sitemap
• ✅ Monitor Google Search Console
• ✅ Check broken links periodically
• ✅ Maintain a useful 404 page
• ✅ Test website migrations carefully
• ✅ Keep WordPress and plugins updated

Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress 404 Errors

What causes a 404 error in WordPress?

Common causes include deleted pages, changed URLs, modified permalink structures, broken internal links, website migrations and incorrect URLs.

Do 404 errors hurt Google rankings?

Not necessarily. Google says 404 errors generally do not harm search performance when the URL genuinely should not exist. The important issue is fixing valuable URLs that have moved or are incorrectly linked.

How do I find 404 errors in WordPress?

You can use Google Search Console’s Page Indexing report, URL Inspection, website crawlers, broken-link checkers and website analytics.

How do I fix a 404 error in WordPress?

Depending on the cause, you can restore the page, correct a broken internal link, create a relevant 301 redirect, update your sitemap or leave the URL as a proper 404 when the content has genuinely been removed.

Should I redirect 404 pages to my homepage?

Generally, no. Only redirect an old URL when there is a relevant replacement. A permanently removed page with no replacement can appropriately return a 404 or 410 response.

How often should I check my WordPress website for broken links?

For an active blog or news website, checking regularly is recommended. Large publishers and websites undergoing frequent changes should monitor their URLs more closely.

Final Thoughts

404 errors are a normal part of managing a website, especially when content is frequently published, updated, moved or deleted.

The goal is not to eliminate every 404 URL on the internet.

Instead, focus on the 404 errors that matter.

If an important article has moved, redirect it.

If an internal link is broken, correct it.

If a deleted page has a suitable replacement, point visitors to the new page.

If content has genuinely disappeared and has no replacement, allowing the URL to return a proper 404 can be the correct solution.

For WordPress bloggers, content creators and news publishers, regularly monitoring broken URLs can improve website usability, maintain cleaner site architecture and help ensure that valuable content remains accessible.

A healthy website is not just one that publishes new content. It is also one that maintains the content it already has.