404 - Page Not Found (2024)

FAQs

How do I fix 404 page not found? ›

Understand the Error

A 404 error means that the server cannot find the requested URL. A 410 error means that the resource requested is no longer available. Essentially, the page has been deleted. A 429 error means the user has sent too many requests in a specific timeframe.

The HTTP 404 Not Found response status code indicates that the server cannot find the requested resource. Links that lead to a 404 page are often called broken or dead links and can be subject to link rot. A 404 status code only indicates that the resource is missing: not whether the absence is temporary or permanent.

404 error codes are generated when a user attempts to access a webpage that does not exist, has been moved, or has a dead or broken link. The 404 error code is one of the most frequent errors a web user encounters. Servers are required to respond to client requests, such as when a user attempts to visit a webpage.

A 404 error message means that a resource (webpage) no longer exists. If you see a 404 error for a specific URL in your Google Search Console account, it is because the URL is redirecting to a page that no longer exists. This may occur if the page was deleted, or the page URL was changed.

Once there is content on the page, the 404 error will go away. Because the website server can now locate resources at that URL for serving to users. You might be able to populate content on the page by restoring backup content. Or you can always create new content by adding to the page.

The 404 Not Found error might appear for several reasons even though no real issue exists, so sometimes a simple refresh will often load the page you were looking for. Check for errors in the URL. Often times this error appears because the URL was typed wrong or the link selected points to the wrong URL.

The typical trigger for an error 404 message is when website content has been removed or moved to another URL. There are also other reasons why an error message could appear. These include: The URL or its content (such as files or images) was either deleted or moved (without adjusting any internal links accordingly)

Why does the website say page not found? ›

Error 404 not found is one of the most common issues you may encounter while browsing. This HTTP status code means the requested page can't be found on the website server. It may indicate a flaw with a hosting service or your domain name system (DNS) configuration settings.

The first documented case of a 404 error appearing on a web page was in 1993, when a user tried to access a page about the Mosaic web browser on the NCSA website. The page had been moved to a different location, but the link had not been updated.

Recheck the URL to ensure you entered the correct website address in the search bar. Use another device. Access the website using another web browser or machine. If it works, try clearing the previous device's cache and cookies one more time.

Request Removal in Google Search Console: After implementing 301 redirects or fixing URLs, return to Google Search Console to request the removal of 404 error pages from Google's index. In the “Coverage” report, select the specific URLs that have been addressed and click on the “Validate Fix” button.