How to Fix WordPress 404 Not Found Error: Step-by-Step

Let’s be real—running into a 404 Not Found error on your WordPress site can be incredibly frustrating. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned webmaster, this pesky error can disrupt your visitors’ experience and even hurt your SEO rankings if left unresolved.

But don’t worry—you’re in the right place. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to fix the WordPress 404 error, why it happens, and how you can prevent it from popping up again in the future.

Let’s dive in!

🔍 What is a 404 Not Found Error in WordPress?

A 404 error means the browser was able to connect to the server, but the specific page requested couldn’t be found. In simple terms, your website is live, but that particular URL doesn’t exist (at least from WordPress’s point of view).

Visitors typically see a message like:

404 Not Found – The requested URL was not found on this server.

Sometimes it’s a default server error message, and other times it’s a custom page designed to match your website’s theme.

🤔 Why Am I Seeing the 404 Error?

Here are the most common reasons this error shows up in WordPress:

• 🔁 Broken permalinks or corrupted .htaccess file
• 🧱 Deleted or renamed pages/posts
• 🚧 Theme or plugin conflicts
• 📦 Migration or URL structure changes
• 💡 Incorrect URL typed manually

Now, let’s walk through the actual steps to fix it.

✅ How to Fix the WordPress 404 Not Found Error (Step-by-Step)

🛠️ Step 1: Reset Your Permalinks

The quickest fix is to flush and reset your permalinks. This tells WordPress to regenerate your .htaccess rules.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
2. Navigate to Settings → Permalinks
3. Without changing anything, click the Save Changes button

This simple action can resolve most 404 errors caused by broken permalink structures.

Tip: After clicking Save, try visiting the page again in a new tab or clear your browser cache.

🧾 Step 2: Manually Edit or Replace the .htaccess File

Sometimes the .htaccess file gets corrupted, especially if you’re using plugins that modify it.

Here’s how to manually fix it:

Option A: Use cPanel File Manager (if you’re not using FTP)

1. Log in to your hosting control panel
2. Open File Manager
3. Navigate to the root directory (usually public_html)
4. Locate the .htaccess File
   • If the .htaccess file is not visible, click on Settings in the top-right corner and enable Show Hidden Files (dotfiles).
   • If the .htaccess file is still missing, re-create a new one.
5. Edit the .htaccess File
   • Open the .htaccess file in a text editor.
   • Replace its contents with the default WordPress code below:

# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>
# END WordPress

6. Save and close the file
7. Visit your website to see if the error is gone

Option B: Use FTP

If you’re comfortable with FTP clients like FileZilla:

1. Connect to your server via FTP
2. Locate .htaccess in your root directory
3. Download a backup first (just in case!)
4. Edit and replace with the code above
5. Re-upload and test your site

🔍 Step 3: Check If the Page/Post Exists

It might sound obvious, but make sure the URL you’re trying to visit is actually valid:

• Go to Pages or Posts in your WordPress dashboard
• Use the search feature to locate the content
• If it’s missing, it might’ve been deleted or not published yet
• If you renamed the URL slug, the old link will throw a 404

Pro tip: Always redirect old URLs to new ones using a redirection plugin (more on that below).

🔌 Step 4: Deactivate Plugins and Switch Themes Temporarily

Sometimes, plugins or even your theme can interfere with how WordPress handles permalinks.

Here’s how to test it:

1. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
2. Deactivate all plugins
3. Check if the 404 error still appears
4. If it’s fixed, reactivate each plugin one-by-one to find the culprit

To rule out the theme:

1. Go to Appearance → Themes
2. Switch to a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four
3. Test the page again

If switching themes solves the problem, it may be a bug in your active theme’s functions.php or custom permalink settings.

🌐 Step 5: Clear Cache and Browser Data

Sometimes the 404 error is a cached version of your page.

• Clear your WordPress cache using plugins like:
  • LiteSpeed Cache
  • W3 Total Cache
  • WP Super Cache
• Clear your browser cache
• If you use a CDN (like Cloudflare), purge the cache from the dashboard

🔄 Step 6: Set Up Redirects for Changed URLs

If you’ve renamed or deleted pages, always set up a redirect to guide users (and Google) to the correct location.

Use a plugin like:

• Redirection
• Rank Math SEO

Set up a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one.

Example:

From: /old-page
To: /new-page

This helps preserve your SEO rankings and provides a seamless experience for visitors.

🧰 Step 7: Check Server Settings and Rewrite Modules

If none of the above worked, your server might not have mod_rewrite enabled (required for pretty permalinks).

• If you’re on Apache, make sure the mod_rewrite module is enabled
• If you’re using NGINX, you may need to update the server’s rewrite rules in nginx.conf

Ask your hosting provider to check if URL rewriting is enabled—they can help if you don’t have access.

🧪 Optional: Enable Debug Mode in WordPress

If you’re still stuck, enable debugging to see what’s happening behind the scenes.

1. Edit your wp-config.php file
2. Add or update the following lines:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

3. Check the wp-content/debug.log file for error messages

🧼 How to Prevent WordPress 404 Errors in the Future

• 🧭 Avoid changing URLs without setting redirects
• 🧰 Use SEO plugins that monitor 404s (like Rank Math)
• 📦 Always back up your .htaccess file before making changes
• 🔄 Use a redirection plugin to manage broken links
• 🧪 Regularly test your site with tool like Google Search Console

🚀 Wrapping It Up

404 errors can be annoying, but with a little troubleshooting, they’re usually easy to fix. Whether it’s resetting your permalinks, fixing your .htaccess file, or setting up redirects, you now have a step-by-step plan to get things back on track.

And hey—don’t be too hard on yourself. Even major websites deal with broken links and missing pages. What matters is how quickly and effectively you fix them.

If you’re still stuck or want help resolving WordPress issues like these, consider reaching out to Aveshost support.

💬 Got Questions?

Still seeing the 404 Not Found error? Drop your issue in the comments below, and let’s figure it out together.

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• 7 Best WordPress Security Plugins 2025
• How to Redirect HTTP to HTTPS: Ultimate Guide to Secure Site
• Web Hosting for Bloggers: Optimizing Your Platform for Success
• Non-Profits & Web Hosting: Affordable Solutions for Your Cause
• How to Choose the Right Web Hosting Plan for Your Business
• How to Speed Up Your WordPress Site in 2025

❓ FAQs About Fixing WordPress 404 Errors