Have you ever tried to open one of your WordPress posts only to be greeted by a 404 error? At times, we experience that when we’re working on our own WordPress sites or helping our users
This error occurs when you can access your WordPress admin area and blog, but when you try to open a specific post, you’re met with a “404 Not Found” message.
It can be frustrating to see your content seemingly disappear, but we’ve found some workarounds to fix this issue. In this complete guide, we’ll show you how to fix WordPress posts returning 404 errors.
Why Are My WordPress Posts Returning a 404 Error?
There are several reasons why your posts might be showing a 404 “Page Not Found” error in WordPress. These can include:
- Plugin or theme conflicts: Sometimes, plugins or themes you’ve installed on your site can interfere with how WordPress handles permalinks. This can lead to broken links and 404 errors.
- Custom code issues: If you’ve added custom code to your website, there might be errors in the code that are affecting permalinks or causing other conflicts, resulting in 404 errors for your posts.
- Issues with your .htaccess file: The .htaccess file plays a role in how WordPress structures URLs. If this file is corrupted or missing, it can lead to 404 errors for your posts or pages.
How to Find All WordPress Posts With 404 Errors
Before we get to the solutions, it’d be good to figure out if this error is just happening to one or two posts or multiple posts. This way, you can determine the scope of the problem and choose the most appropriate solution.
One easy way to figure this out is to use Google Search Console. If you haven’t submitted your site to Google Search Console already, then read our guide on how to add your WordPress site to Google Search Console.
Once the Google bot has crawled and indexed your site, Google Search Console will then provide you with detailed information about your site’s performance, including any 404 errors it encounters.
To find out which posts are returning 404 errors, you can log in to the Search Console dashboard. Then, navigate to the ‘Pages’ report, and you will see a detailed list of all the errors.
For more information, you can read our list of tips for using Google Search Console to grow website traffic, which includes some tips on how to fix 404 errors with the tool.
That being said, let’s look at how to fix WordPress posts returning 404 errors. You can use the links below to jump straight to different solutions:
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Method 1: Check for Plugin or Theme Conflicts and Custom Code Issues
Sometimes, plugins, themes, or custom code you’ve added to your WordPress website can interfere with permalinks or cause conflicts, leading to 404 errors. We’ve even experienced it ourselves when we’re testing tools on our demo site.
One way to solve this problem is to temporarily deactivate plugins. Plugins can sometimes disrupt how WordPress handles links.
Once you’ve deactivated the plugins, you can reactivate them one by one while checking if the 404 error reappears after activating each plugin. If the error shows up after activating a specific plugin, that might be the culprit.
You can then do a quick Google search for solutions related to that plugin or contact the plugin developer for support.
Similarly, your WordPress theme might be causing the conflict.
To check, you can temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three or Twenty Twenty-Four. All you need to do is go to Appearance » Themes and click ‘Activate’ on a default theme.
If the 404 error disappears with the default theme, it indicates a potential conflict with your current theme. You can then try troubleshooting the theme or consider using a different theme.
You can check out our expert pick of the most popular WordPress themes for recommendations.
If you’ve recently inserted code snippets to your website, there might be errors in the code causing the 404 errors. Take a close look at the code you added and see if you can identify any mistakes.
The safest way to add code snippets to WordPress is with the WPCode plugin. This plugin lets you insert custom code without directly working with the theme files, reducing the risk of breaking your website.
Plus, whenever WPCode spots an error in your code, it will automatically deactivate the snippet and ask you to check it. You can also use the testing mode to check if your code works before pushing it to your live website.
If none of these solutions work, move on to the next method where we’ll troubleshoot your permalink settings.
Method 2: Fix Your Permalink Settings
WordPress posts can return 404 errors because of problems with rewrite rules in your .htaccess file. In most cases, you can fix the problem by updating your permalink settings.
Simply go to Settings » Permalinks in your WordPress admin, and click on the ‘Save Changes’ button.
There is no need to make changes to the permalink settings themselves. This will update your permalink settings and flush the rewrite rules.
In most cases, this solution fixes the WordPress posts 404 error. However, if it does not work for you, then you probably need to update your .htaccess file manually.
Method 3: Update the WordPress .htaccess File
Before you start, make sure to back up your WordPress .htaccess file first. If something goes wrong, you can easily restore the original file.
Now, you will need to connect to your server using an FTP client like FileZilla or the File Manager app in your WordPress hosting dashboard.
Next, you will need to find and edit the .htaccess file, which is located in the same location as folders like /wp-content/ and /wp-includes/.
Simply right-click on the file and select ‘File permissions.’
You can make the file writeable by changing its permissions to 666.
Simply enter ‘666’ into the ‘Numeric value’ box and then click on ‘OK’.
Then, you need to repeat the steps in the first method of our tutorial. Once you have done this, don’t forget to change the permissions back to 660.
You can also edit the file and add code to it.
Once you have opened the .htaccess file with a text editor, simply insert this 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
Method 4: Contact Your Hosting Provider
If neither of the solutions above has fixed the WordPress posts returning 404 error, then we recommend contacting your WordPress hosting provider. There may be an error on their end, or they might be able to help you troubleshoot the problem.
Please also see our guide on how to properly ask for WordPress support and get it.
Method 5: Enable mod-rewrite (Local WordPress Installation)
If you are using a local server for testing purposes, then you will need to enable mod_rewrite in the Apache configuration of your MAMP, WAMP, or XAMPP site.
This will allow WordPress to generate clean URLs and prevent the 404 error for posts and pages on your local server.
How you do this will differ by the platform you use. People using XAMPP can open their control panel and click the ‘Config’ button within Actions. Then, select ‘Apache (httpd.conf).’
Next, you will need to find this line #LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so and remove the ‘#’ to uncomment it.
This will load the mod_rewrite.
Then, find all instances of AllowOverride None and change them to AllowOverride All.
The ‘All’ value means that all directives can be overridden.
Once done, you can save the httpd.conf file and close it. After that, in the XAMPP control panel, click ‘Stop’ on the Apache module and ‘Start’ again to restart it.
Then, go back to your admin dashboard to see if your permalinks are working.
Video Tutorial
If you need visual instructions, then just watch the video below.
We hope this article helped you resolve the posts returning 404 errors in WordPress. You may also want to see our guide to the most common WordPress errors and how to fix them, along with our expert picks for the best WordPress plugins to grow your site.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
Mario Nwolisah
Thank you! It worked. I really appreciate.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our article was helpful!
Admin
Jess
Thank you – this saved me!
WPBeginner Support
Happy to hear our guide could help!
Admin
Cristian
Thank you, it works for me!!!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our recommendations were able to assist!
Admin
Samir K Al Busaidy
I was panicking and thinking that my website was hacked or had malware. As I read your writing and you wrote not to worry, I began to relax. The first option (permalink) worked for me immediately…
Thanks
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was able to help
Admin
Udaykumar Posia
This worked. Thank you so much.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide could help
Admin
Max Legault
On IIS there is no .htaccess file but the key is still the permalink settings. Just hitting Save didn’t fix it but changing the Custom Structure to Plain worked like a charm. Thanks for the push in the right direction.
WPBeginner Support
Glad you were able to find the solution for your issue
Admin
Jonathan
Thanks, Max, none of the solutions here worked and I’m on IIS as well. I changed my permalinks from post name to plain and it worked.
Collin
I love you for this! This was an easy fix. I was in full panic mode!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was able to help
Admin
Zack
Thank you so much. It worked!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Steve Barnard
Dang! Can’t thank you enough for this – super simple fix worked perfectly – just hit save changes on the permalinks settings page and viola’ – my pages are back. Thank you!!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide could help
Admin
A.S.M. Arifur Rahman
Thanks a lot, settings saved method works, Now my post open fine.
kris
honestly thank you so much! without fail your site always comes thru with answers that work. thank you so much!
(now I just wish I knew what caused it to get out of whack in the first place. oh well.)
Chris
This article just saved me from a panic attack Lol. The solution worked great. Thanks for making this video.
Muhammad Tahir
i didn’t solve this issue by using all the methods that you are discussed?
WPBeginner Support
If none of our methods in this guide worked for you, we would recommend reaching out to the support for your hosting provider to ensure there is not an error on their end.
Admin
Duane Wiese
None of the above suggestions worked so I did some further searching. I came across someone who suggested switching off the mod security under the security section in cpanel.
I tried this and it worked. I also tested it by switching it back on after a change and then trying another change and BAM, 404 error.
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing this should someone else run into this issue. Not every host allows access to that specific file but if you reach out to your host they can normally disable or change it for you
Admin
Dave Emma
Disabling ModSecurity fixed mine.
I actually tried permalinks plus rewriting .htaccess, but that didn’t solve my problem. I’m glad I read comments. Many thanks guys for sharing.
Elango
Thanks, it was so simple and the problem solved. No other pages were visible after I migrated to another server. I added the lines to .htaccess file and uploaded the same. Now all the pages are being displays without the 404 error and I am able to access my WP dashboard too. Thanks a lot.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was able to help
Admin
Islombek
My posts are showing 404 error after installing ssl certificate. How can I fix it? I tried everything mentioned above, but none helped.
WPBeginner Support
If you are changing your site’s URL to HTTPS you would want to follow our guide below:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-add-ssl-and-https-in-wordpress/
Admin
Dennis Yildirim
My .htaccess file is exactly the same with that code but nevertheless I did whatever in the post. did not work, saved permalinks through admin console, did not work. Manually edits, no luck. Deleted the .htaccess and recreated it by saving it from admin console, again did not work. Nothing works. Don’t know how did it even work on others?
WPBeginner Support
If none of the recommendations from our article were able to help we would recommend reaching out to your hosting provider as that can be a sign that there is an issue on your host’s end.
Admin
Kuldeep Singh
You saved my day. I got this issue after transferring my site from one hosting to another. I couldn’t believe it was so simple to fix the issue. Many Thanks WpBeginner team!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Rick
I never reply to these things but just wanted to jump on here and say thank you! I’ve been having this issue a lot and having to wait ages for support to help me and so finally had a hunt around, found this, and can now fix it myself. You legend!! Much appreciated
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Elroy
Thanks a lot Wpbeginner it woked just fine.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Noble
Thank you very much, it worked instantaneously!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide could help
Admin
carol hannah
Help! It didn’t work and I can’t possibly work out how to do the .htaccessfile thingy?
WPBeginner Support
You would either need to use FTP which we cover on the page below:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/glossary/ftp/
Or reach out to your hosting provider and they would be able to assist.
Admin
Christopher Krohn
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Dan
Man this fixed my WP site! THANK YOU!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Molly
Thank you for a million time!!!!!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Amin Omer
Thank you very much
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome
Admin
Afan
One of solutions to correct the issue with the Permalink change is simply delete the .htaccess file – Wordpress will recreate it again automatically.
But, before you delete it, copy the file on your computer, just in case…
WPBeginner Support
If someone has customized their htaccess file then that would be a good idea. Otherwise, WordPress should auto regenerate the default information in the file where most wouldn’t need to worry.
Admin
James Monroe
Saving the permalinks settings worked perfectly. Such a simple solution to what looked like a serious problem! Thank you!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our recommendation was helpful
Admin
mukhtar
its works fine 100 %
and easy to solve my problem, we are very very thankful to you about it
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Sarah
Wow!! I’ve spent all evening trying to fix this and that’s how easy it was! THANK YOU!!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Rimzan farook
Thanks fixed it as you described changed my post date to post name, thanks a ton
WPBeginner Support
Glad our recommendations could help
Admin
Muhammad Zeeshan
I’m facing 404 error while adding new plugin , theme , editing any post or product, editing any page ..
I’ve try to save permalinks and also tried to change .htaccess .. But not this given solution is working for me.
WPBeginner Support
You would want to reach out to your hosting provider to see if you are running into any errors on their server’s end.
Admin
Ayobami
I’m having error 404 issues on my website, I can’t access to the website at all what can I do?
WPBeginner Support
You would use the htaccess method from this guide or reach out to your hosting provider to be able to assist you
Admin
samith
I can’t login my WP dashboard seen “nginx 404 not found error”
WPBeginner Support
For that specific error, you would want to reach out to your hosting provider to take a look.
Admin
Sammy
A BIG Thank You… It solved the headache!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Mihir
I’m facing a problem where this is extension of my own website after every page and I don’t know how to fix it.
WPBeginner Support
You would likely want to check under Settings>Permalinks to ensure everything is set correctly there
Admin
Daniel
Thank you,
It solved my problem!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Mellissa
This is a great solution but it didn’t fix my issue so in case anyone else is in the same boat, here’s what went wrong for me; my index.php file went missing from the server. Added a new copy and everything is back
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing what worked for you
Admin
Brahim
thank you, that help a lot
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome
Admin
Logan
Thanks for your articles. My issue is that I can’t log in to my website even though I’m logged in to the host server… When I try to log in my wordpress the message goes :
Not Found
The requested URL was not found on this server.
My website isn’t published yet as I’ve just started.
WPBeginner Support
You would want to check with your hosting provider to ensure there isn’t an issue on their end or where your site is installed
Admin
Danish
My main page is working but all other pages are showing 404 error. They are visible in admin panel but can’t view them.
WPBeginner Support
If the method from our guide above were unable to assist you, you would want to go through our troubleshooting steps below:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/beginners-guide-to-troubleshooting-wordpress-errors-step-by-step/
Admin
Peck-Secia Tangi
Hi,
Below is the error that i am getting which is similar to the one described above
“The requested URL was not found on this server.”
WPBeginner Support
For that error, if you haven’t done so already you would want to reach out to your hosting provider to see if the error could be server related.
Admin
Kathryn
This worked beautifully. Thank you!
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad it helped
Admin
Parvinder Singh
Yes, WPBEGINNER rocks !!!!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guides were helpful
Admin
clay
Crazy how helpful this article is. Such a simple solution to a very frustrating problem.
WPBeginner Support
Glad we could help make the solution easy
Admin
Shoeb Khan
This is very helpful thank you.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome
Admin
Calvin
I’m having the same problem with category links. They return a 404 error and it’s a new website. I’m afraid not all pages are going to be indexed.
WPBeginner Support
This same solution should work, you may also want to take a look at our troubleshooting guide below:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/beginners-guide-to-troubleshooting-wordpress-errors-step-by-step/
Admin
Oluebube
This was very helpful…
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Dominus MMP
Thanks, this was helpful for me.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our guide was helpful
Admin
Ian
I just build my website. I was able to go into dashboard. I changed the url (IP address) to my domain. Now mydomain.com and mydomain.com/wp-admin give me “Not Found”.
Any suggestions? Thanks.
WPBeginner Support
If your site is on your hosting provider you would want to reach out to your host’s support to ensure the site is in the correct location and your domain is pointing correctly.
Admin