How to Find & Fix 404 Pages Quickly

A 404 error (Page Not Found) is one of the most common issues visitors encounter. A few 404s won’t break your site, but many can harm user experience and SEO. This guide shows how to identify and fix 404 errors effectively so visitors stay and search engines index correctly.

404 error page indicating a broken link — fix server redirects and internal links
Example 404 page — ensure redirects and navigation guide users back.

What Causes 404 Errors?

Common reasons:

  • Page deleted or moved without a redirect.
  • Users mistype a URL.
  • Broken internal or external links.
  • Problems with permalink / URL structure.

How to Identify 404 Errors

Find 404s using these tools:

  • Google Search Console: Check the Coverage report for pages returning 404.
  • Site crawlers: Use tools such as Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to scan for broken links.
  • Server logs: Review logs to pinpoint missing pages requested by users or bots.

Effective Ways to Fix 404 Errors

1. Redirect the Page

When a URL changes or a page is removed, implement a 301 redirect to the most relevant page to preserve SEO value and user flow.

2. Fix Broken Links

Audit internal links regularly and update or remove broken links. See our post on The Importance of Link Building in SEO for link best practices.

3. Restore Deleted Pages

If a page was removed accidentally or still provides value, restore it with updated content and correct metadata.

4. Improve the 404 Page Experience

Create a helpful custom 404 page: add site navigation, a search input, and suggested popular pages so users can continue browsing.

5. Monitor and Maintain Your Site

Set up scheduled crawls and alerts for broken links. Regular maintenance prevents recurring 404 issues.

Understanding HTTP Status Codes

404 is one of many HTTP status codes that affect SEO and user experience. For a full overview, read Understanding HTTP Status Codes.

Fixing 404s improves user retention, site navigation, and search rankings. Start with a crawl, apply redirects, and improve your 404 page to keep visitors engaged.