How to Fix a 404 Error in WordPress

1. Reset Permalinks
Go to your WordPress dashboard.

Navigate to Settings > Permalinks.

Without changing anything, click Save Changes.

This will refresh your permalink structure and often fixes 404 errors.

2. Check .htaccess File
Connect to your site via FTP or File Manager.

Find the .htaccess file in the root directory.

Backup and delete it.

Then, go to Settings > Permalinks in WordPress and click Save Changes to regenerate it.

3. Check for Deleted or Moved Pages
Make sure the page/post you’re trying to access still exists.

Go to Pages > All Pages or Posts > All Posts in your dashboard.

If it’s missing, you’ll need to restore or recreate it.

4. Clear Browser and Server Cache
Clear your browser cache.

If you’re using a caching plugin (like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache), clear the site cache.

Also clear CDN cache (e.g., Cloudflare) if applicable.

5. Disable Plugins
A plugin (like a redirection plugin) might be misrouting URLs.

Temporarily deactivate all plugins and check if the 404 error resolves.

Reactivate one by one to find the culprit.

6. Check Theme’s functions.php
Custom code in the functions.php file might affect routing.

If you recently edited it, review the changes or restore the backup.

7. Re-upload Missing Files
If specific files (like images or PDFs) are giving 404s, they may have been deleted.

Re-upload them to the correct folder (typically /wp-content/uploads/).

8. Check Server or Domain Configuration
If the entire site is showing 404 errors, ensure your domain is pointed correctly to the server.

Contact your hosting provider to check for server-level routing issues.

Prevent Future 404 Errors

Avoid changing permalinks frequently.

Use a redirection plugin like Redirection to handle changed URLs.

Regularly audit your site for broken links (tools like Screaming Frog or Broken Link Checker can help).