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A “404 Not Found” error frustrates visitors when they try to access a page that doesn’t exist, potentially driving them away. This client-side HTTP status code often results from broken links, misconfigured permalink settings, or missing files. It is a common error that can affect any website including sites built with WordPress, Joomla, or a custom framework. This guide provides step-by-step solutions using your hosting control panel, File Manager, or SSH to help you diagnose and fix this error. Let’s eliminate those 404 errors now!

What Causes a 404 Not Found Error?

A 404 Not Found error occurs when a web server receives a request for a resource (like a webpage or file) that doesn’t exist at the specified URL. Common causes include:

Broken Permalinks: URL structures in content management systems like WordPress change, but links aren’t updated.
Misconfigured .htaccess: Faulty rewrite rules (e.g., missing WordPress rules) or syntax errors.
Missing Files: Deleted or moved pages/files (e.g., /about-us.php renamed to /about.php).
Incorrect Redirects: Faulty 301/302 redirects in .htaccess or plugins (e.g., redirecting to a non-existent page).
Server Misconfiguration: Apache/Nginx rules blocking valid URLs or missing index files.
Domain Issues: Recent domain migrations or DNS changes causing unresolved URLs.
Plugin Conflicts: CMS plugins (e.g., Yoast SEO) generating invalid URLs or redirects.
Case Sensitivity: URLs failing on case-sensitive servers (e.g., /Page.php vs. /page.php).

Step-by-Step Fix

Follow these steps to resolve 404 errors, starting with common causes:

1. Check the URL and Permalinks

Verify the URL for typos (e.g., yourdomain.com/abuot vs. yourdomain.com/about).
In WordPress, go to Settings > Permalinks and re-select your structure (e.g., “Post name”), then click Save Changes to regenerate .htaccess rules.

Wordpress permalinks settings

Test the affected page. If wp-admin is inaccessible, proceed to .htaccess fixes.

Wordpress permalinks settings

If permalinks don’t resolve the issue, check .htaccess.

2. Fix .htaccess File

In cPanel’s File Manager, navigate to public_html.
Locate .htaccess. Rename it to .htaccess_old to disable it temporarily.

For WordPress: Create a new .htaccess file with the following rules:

# BEGIN WordPress
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
# END WordPress

Set permissions to 644 (right-click > Change Permissions).
Alternatively, via SSH: Run nano .htaccess, paste the rules, save it using Ctrl/Cmd + O, and use chmod 644 .htaccess to set correct file permissions.
Test your site.

3. Check for Missing Files or Redirects

In File Manager, verify the requested file/page exists (e.g., public_html/about.php).
If missing, restore from backups via your control panel’s Backup tool or create a fresh one.
Check .htaccess or plugins (e.g., Redirection) for faulty redirects (e.g., redirecting /old-page to /non-existent-page-or-path).
Paste redirect rules into a Generative AI tool like Grok, ChatGPT, etc. to identify errors.

4. Resolve Server or Plugin Issues

Review error logs in your control panel (e.g., Logs > Errors in cPanel) for clues.

Web server error logs messages

To disable problematic plugins: Navigate to wp-content/plugins. Then rename the suspected plugin folder (e.g., yoast-seo to yoast-seo_old).
Contact your hosting provider to verify server configurations (e.g., Apache’s DirectoryIndex).

Web server error logs messages

5. Verify Domain and Case Sensitivity

If recently migrated, check DNS settings in your registrar or DNS provider (e.g., Cloudflare) for correct A records.
Ensure URLs match server case sensitivity (e.g., rename Page.php to page.php if needed).

6. Verify and Finalize

Reload your site to confirm the error is resolved.
If persistent, contact your hosting provider for server-side issues.

Preventing Future 404 Errors

Test Links: Use tools like Broken Link Checker to verify URLs.
Backup Regularly: Save site backups via your control panel.
Validate .htaccess: Test rules with htaccesscheck.com or Grok.
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Conclusion

Fixing 404 Not Found errors is achievable with this guide. By correcting permalinks, .htaccess, and server settings, your site will be accessible again. VeeroTech’s managed hosting, with 24/7/365 support, proactive monitoring, and free migration services, ensures reliability. Ready to run your site on autopilot? Migrate to VeeroTech today for a Free WordPress Performance Evaluation and Free Migration Service!

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