A 404 error in WordPress typically means that the server could not find the page or post that was requested. This error often occurs when the URL is misspelled, the page or post has been deleted, or if there’s an issue with the site’s permalink structure.
Causes
- Permalink structure error: The settings for how URLs are structured on your site might be misconfigured.
- Redirection and rewriting rules by plugins: Some plugins can interfere with the way URLs are handled, leading to 404 errors.
- Migrations: If a site has been moved or restructured, some URLs might no longer point to valid pages or posts.
While this sounds like a complex error there is actually a simple, painless fix!
To fix a 404 error in WordPress, you can try the following:
Fix 1
Inside WordPress, go to Settings > Permalinks, and click Save Changes. This can often reset your permalink structure and fix the issue.
Fix 2
Replace the .htaccess file code with a new one with the Basic WP in https://wordpress.org/support/article/htaccess/
Like all technical areas, errors will happen. It’s important to note a few things regarding using the fixes in this article:
- Check DNS & make sure everything is proper before resorting to changing files.
- When handling any files, make sure to follow this guide: How to handle WordPress files