Step-by-step guide to fix 404 errors on WordPress sites.

step-by-step guide to fix 404 errors on WordPress sites. These errors usually happen when WordPress cannot locate the requested page, often due to permalink issues, .htaccess problems, or plugin conflicts.

Step 1: Check Your Permalink Settings

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.

2. Go to Settings → Permalinks.

3. Note your current structure (e.g., Post name, Day and name, etc.).

4. Click Save Changes without making any modifications.

   • This forces WordPress to refresh the permalink rules.

5. Check your site to see if the 404 error is resolved.

This often fixes the issue immediately.

Step 2: Regenerate the .htaccess File

The .htaccess file in WordPress controls URL rewriting. If it’s missing or corrupted, 404 errors can occur.

1. Access your site via FTP or cPanel File Manager.

2. Locate the .htaccess file in your WordPress root directory.

   • If you can’t see it, make sure “Show Hidden Files” is enabled.

3. Backup the file (download a copy to your computer).

4. Open .htaccess and ensure it has the default WordPress code:

5. Save changes and test your site.

6. If the file is missing, create a new .htaccess file with the above content.

Step 3: Check for Plugin Conflicts

Sometimes plugins that handle redirects or caching can cause 404 errors.

1. Deactivate all plugins from Dashboard → Plugins.

2. Check if the 404 error disappears.

3. If resolved, reactivate plugins one by one to identify the culprit.

Step 4: Verify Theme Issues

A broken or misconfigured theme may also cause 404 errors.

1. Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Three).

2. Check your site.

3. If the 404 disappears, the issue may be with your theme’s custom code.

Step 5: Flush Your Cache

1. If you use a caching plugin (like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache), clear its cache.

2. If your server uses caching (like LiteSpeed Cache or Cloudflare), clear server-side cache as well.

Step 6: Check Server Configuration

1. Ensure mod_rewrite is enabled on your Apache server.

2. Make sure the server allows .htaccess overrides:

   • In Apache config: AllowOverride All

3. Restart Apache if any changes are made.

Step 7: Check URL

• Confirm that the requested URL exists in WordPress.

• Sometimes 404 errors occur because the page or post was deleted or moved.

✅ Extra Tip:
If all else fails, try re-saving your permalinks after checking all above steps—this often resolves hidden issues.