Fixing 404 Errors in WordPress: Redirects and Permalinks

Encountering 404 errors on a WordPress website can be frustrating for both users and site owners. These “Page Not Found” errors can damage your site’s user experience, hurt search engine rankings, and negatively impact your brand’s credibility. Thankfully, with a deep understanding of how WordPress handles URLs and some effective tools, most 404 issues are easily fixable. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to identify, fix, and prevent 404 errors using redirects and permalink settings in WordPress.

TL;DR

404 errors in WordPress often occur due to broken links, deleted content, or improperly configured permalinks. The fastest way to fix them is by using 301 redirects and checking your permalink structure. WordPress plugins like Redirection or Rank Math can help manage these errors easily. Ensuring your .htaccess file is properly configured is also crucial for permalink functionality.

Understanding 404 Errors in WordPress

A 404 error indicates that the browser was able to communicate with the server, but the server could not find the requested page. In WordPress, this typically occurs due to:

• Changed or deleted URLs
• Incorrect permalink setup
• Theme or plugin conflicts
• Server-side issues or accidental changes to the .htaccess file

While these errors are common, they’re not something you can afford to ignore. A poorly maintained website full of 404 errors can deter visitors and diminish your SEO performance over time.

Step 1: Identify the 404 Errors

Before fixing a 404 error, you need to identify where it exists. Here are some reliable methods to do that:

Use Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free tool that helps you monitor your website’s presence in Google Search results. If Google encounters 404 errors while crawling your site, it will notify you under the Coverage or Crawl Errors section. Regularly checking this dashboard can help you catch issues early.

Use a Broken Link Checker

Online tools like Broken Link Checker or Screaming Frog can crawl your WordPress site to find broken URLs. Some WordPress plugins also offer similar functionality. This method is particularly useful for large websites with hundreds or thousands of pages.

Monitor Server Logs

Access logs on your server or with your hosting provider can reveal 404 errors that visitors encounter. Though this method requires technical knowledge, it’s often the most accurate way to discover all broken links.

Step 2: Fixing 404 Errors with Redirects

A redirect tells browsers (and search engines) that a URL has permanently moved to a different location. The most common form is the 301 redirect, which preserves SEO authority. Here’s how to implement them in WordPress:

Option 1: Use a Plugin

Several popular WordPress plugins can help you manage redirects without touching code:

• Redirection: One of the most trusted plugins for managing 301 redirects and tracking 404 errors.
• Rank Math or Yoast SEO: These all-in-one SEO plugins offer built-in redirect modules with logs and rules.

To create a redirect using the Redirection plugin:

1. Install and activate the plugin from the WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Tools → Redirection.
3. Input the Source URL (broken URL) and the Target URL (correct location).
4. Choose the appropriate redirect type — usually 301 for permanent moves.

Option 2: Edit the .htaccess File

If you’re comfortable working directly with your server files, you can create redirects by modifying the .htaccess file located in your WordPress root directory:

Redirect 301 /old-page-url https://yourdomain.com/new-page-url

This approach is lightweight but requires caution. A syntax error in .htaccess can cause server errors or bring down your entire site.

Step 3: Adjusting and Repairing Permalinks

Sometimes, 404 errors result from an incorrect or corrupted permalink structure. WordPress lets you customize URLs for better SEO and usability, but misconfigurations can break existing links.

Reset Permalinks

To easily fix permalink-related 404 errors:

1. Go to Settings → Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Note your current structure, then temporarily switch to a different one (e.g., “Plain”) and click Save Changes.
3. Now revert to your original structure and click Save Changes again.

This process forces WordPress to flush rewrite rules, which often resolves basic 404 issues.

Rebuild the .htaccess File

Occasionally, the .htaccess file becomes corrupted or overwritten. You can manually replace its contents with the default WordPress code:

# 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

Save the file and upload it to your root directory if editing locally. Be cautious and back up your site beforehand.

Step 4: Preventing Future 404 Errors

Mitigating future 404 errors is key to preserving your site’s integrity. Here are best practices that can reduce the recurrence of broken URLs:

• Plan URL Changes: If you must change page URLs, always set up redirects in advance.
• Update Internal Links: Regularly audit and update links within your posts, menus, and widgets.
• Use Link Monitoring Tools: Plugins or services can alert you when a link breaks or content is moved.
• Backup Regularly: In case of a plugin malfunction or accidental deletion, backups allow you to restore quickly.

Adding a custom 404 page can also help. Instead of frustrating your visitors, a well-designed 404 page can direct them back to popular sections of your website.

Advanced Tips: Diagnosing Plugin or Theme Conflicts

If standard fixes don’t work, the 404 error might be caused by a conflict with your theme or plugins. To test:

1. Switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-One.
2. Deactivate all plugins and then reactivate them one by one to identify the culprit.

Sometimes, poorly coded plugins alter permalink structures or register custom post types incorrectly. Once the conflicting component is identified, report the problem to the plugin or theme developer.

Conclusion

Fixing 404 errors is not just about improving user experience — it’s essential for maintaining SEO value and website credibility. By using a combination of logging tools, redirect strategies, and permalink inspections, you can resolve most 404 issues in a matter of minutes. WordPress plugins make this process even simpler, and a proactive approach will save you from many headaches down the road.

Don’t let broken pages derail the trust you’ve built with your audience. Take a methodical, careful approach, and your WordPress site will stay healthy, accessible, and search-engine friendly.