404 Not Found - What does it mean & How to Fix it?

Seeing a "404 Not Found" message is frustrating for visitors, and a long list of 404s in Google Search Console can worry site owners. The good news is that not every 404 is a problem.

In this article, we explain what a 404 error is, what a soft 404 is, how 404s really affect SEO and user experience, and how to find and fix the ones that matter.

What is a 404 Not Found Error?

1. Definition:

• A "404 Not Found" is an HTTP status code. It means the server is reachable, but it can't find the specific page or file that was requested.
• A related code, 410 Gone, says the page was removed on purpose and won't come back. Google treats 404 and 410 in a similar way for indexing.

2. Common Causes:

• Moved or Deleted Pages: Pages that have been removed or relocated without setting up proper redirects.
• Incorrect URL: Typos in the URL, either in your own links or in links from other sites.
• Changes in URL Structure: Changing permalinks, switching CMS or platform, or restructuring categories without updating links and adding redirects.
• Discontinued Products: Online stores removing product pages when items are no longer sold.
• External Links: Links on your site to external pages that no longer exist or have changed their URLs.

3. What is a Soft 404?:

• A soft 404 happens when a page shows a "not found" or empty message to visitors, but the server returns a 200 OK status code instead of 404. Search engines are told the page exists, even though it has no useful content.
• Common examples include empty category pages, "no results found" pages, out-of-stock pages with nothing else on them, and "not found" messages served from a normal page template.
• According to Google's Page indexing report help, if a page really no longer exists, it should return a proper 404 (or 410). If the page is valid, add enough content so it isn't mistaken for an error page.

Why 404 Errors Matter

1. Negative User Experience: A visitor who hits a dead end may leave instead of looking for what they wanted. This matters most when the broken URL is in your menu, in an ad, or in a link you shared on WhatsApp or social media.

2. Impact on SEO: 404s are a normal part of the web, and they don't count as a penalty. Google's documentation says URLs that return a 4xx code aren't indexed, and already indexed ones are removed, and that 4xx errors (other than 429) don't affect your crawl rate. The Page indexing report help adds that a 404 isn't necessarily a problem if you removed the page on purpose.

The real SEO cost is specific: if a page that had traffic or backlinks now returns 404, that page drops out of search and the value of those links is lost. That is why moved pages should be redirected.

3. Loss of Credibility: Broken links inside your own site, especially on key pages, look careless and can reduce trust. Fixing internal links is quick and worth doing.

How to Find 404 Errors

1. Use Online Tools:

• Google Search Console: The old "Crawl errors" report no longer exists. Open the Page indexing report and look for "Not found (404)" and "Soft 404" in the list of reasons pages aren't indexed. Click a reason to see example URLs, and use URL Inspection to check where Google found each link.
• Screaming Frog SEO Spider: A desktop crawler that finds broken internal and external links, and shows which pages link to them.
• Online Broken Link Checkers: Tools like Ahrefs, Semrush and Dead Link Checker can help find 404 errors on your site and broken backlinks pointing to it.
• Analytics: In Google Analytics 4, filter page views by your 404 page title to see which missing URLs real visitors are hitting.
• Server Logs: Your hosting logs show every 404 request, including those from bots, which is useful on larger sites.

2. Manual Checking:

• Regularly review your key pages, menus and footer, and test links manually after any site update.

3. Browser Extensions:

• Extensions like Check My Links for Chrome can quickly scan a page and highlight broken links, including 404 errors.

Which 404s Should You Fix First?

Not every 404 needs action. Prioritize like this:

• Fix first: 404s linked from your own pages, menus, sitemaps or ads, and old URLs that have backlinks or used to get traffic.
• Fix if useful: Mistyped URLs that real visitors keep hitting. A redirect to the right page helps them.
• Safe to leave: URLs that never existed, spam links from other sites, and pages you deleted on purpose with no replacement. A 404 or 410 is the correct response for these.

How to Fix 404 Errors

1. Set Up 301 Redirects: If the content moved, redirect the old URL to the new, relevant page using 301 redirects. This sends visitors to the right place and tells Google the new URL replaces the old one.

2. Don't Redirect Everything to the Homepage: Redirecting unrelated deleted pages to your homepage confuses visitors, and search engines may not treat an unrelated page as a real replacement. If there is no relevant replacement, let the URL return 404 or 410.

3. Correct URL Errors: Fix any typos or outdated URLs in your internal links, menus and sitemap.

4. Create Custom 404 Pages: Design a helpful 404 page with a friendly message, a search bar, and links to your main services, popular products or contact page. Make sure it still returns a real 404 status code.

5. Fix Soft 404s: For pages flagged as soft 404, either return a real 404/410 if the page is gone, or add meaningful content if the page should exist.

6. Remove or Replace Dead Links: If a page no longer exists and there’s no relevant replacement, remove the link or find an alternative resource to link to.

7. Regular Site Audits: Crawl your site regularly, and always after a redesign, migration or platform change, to catch new 404 errors early.

8. Monitor External Links: Keep track of external links and update or remove them if the linked content is no longer available or relevant.

Conclusion

404 errors are a normal part of running a website. They don't trigger a penalty, but broken internal links and lost pages that used to earn traffic do cost you visitors and link value.

Use the Page indexing report to find them, redirect what has moved, return honest 404s for what is gone, fix soft 404s, and give visitors a helpful custom 404 page.

Keep Your Website Running Smoothly!

Seeing a growing list of 404 errors after a redesign or migration? Softhat IT Solutions builds and maintains reliable websites for businesses across Pakistan, with redirects and error handling done properly. Explore our web development services, or book a free strategy call to get your site checked.