How to Fix HTTP 404 Error - Page Not Found

A 404 error means the server cannot find the requested page. This guide provides solutions for both visitors and website owners.

For Website Visitors:

1. Check the URL

Verify the URL for typos. Common mistakes include:

• Incorrect capitalization
• Missing or extra characters
• Wrong domain extension (.com vs .net)

2. Clear Browser Cache

Cached pages can show old 404 errors:

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac)
2. Select "Cached images and files"
3. Choose "All time" for time range
4. Click "Clear data"

3. Try Different Browser

Test with Chrome, Firefox, or Edge to rule out browser-specific issues.

For Website Owners:

1. Check .htaccess File

Incorrect redirect rules can cause 404 errors:

# Correct 301 redirect example
Redirect 301 /old-page.html /new-page.html

2. Verify File Permissions

Set correct permissions for web files:

chmod 644 *.html
chmod 755 directories/

3. Use Google Search Console

Find and fix broken links reported by Google:

1. Go to Google Search Console
2. Navigate to Coverage report
3. Check "Excluded" pages
4. Fix or redirect 404 errors

Prevention Tips

• Implement custom 404 page with navigation
• Use 301 redirects when moving content
• Regularly check for broken links
• Set up monitoring for 404 spikes