Error 404 Not Found: 5 Ways to Fix It (2024)

Error 404 not found is one of the most common issues you may encounter while browsing. This HTTP status code means the requested page can’t be found on the website server. It may indicate a flaw with a hosting service or your domain name system (DNS) configuration settings.

Encountering this error may leave a negative impression on your website visitors. It can also negatively impact search engine optimization (SEO) and your website’s ranking as it hinders search engines’ ability to crawl your website properly.

Fortunately, since it is mainly a client-side issue, it is relatively easy for website owners to fix the 404 error. This article will explain five effective methods to fix error 404 and discuss its possible causes.

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Error 404: How to Fix 404 Page Not Found Error – Video Tutorial

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5 Ways to Resolve 404 Errors

Sometimes, it only takes a quick fix to solve error 404 not found. Therefore, we recommend trying these simple steps before exploring other methods to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Restart your browser. Try closing the current window and opening a new one. It is as simple as that.
2. Clear cache. Remove your browser data and history. Check whether the error persists.
3. Double-check for mistyped characters. Recheck the URL to ensure you entered the correct website address in the search bar.
4. Use another device. Access the website using another web browser or machine. If it works, try clearing the previous device’s cache and cookies one more time.
5. Switch to the Incognito window. This mode doesn’t retain cache and cookies, so it will display a renewed web page version.

We also recommend performing the following actions:

1. Check external links regularly. Ensure there are no broken links on your website.
2. Regular 404 error audit. Scan for dead-end pages using the Google Search Console.

If the 404 error persists, your website may have an underlying issue. The following section will explain five methods to fix the error message – using Hostinger AI Troubleshooter, checking the DNS settings, updating file permissions, disabling the .htaccess code, and restoring a backup file.

1. Use Hostinger AI Troubleshooter

Since there are many possible causes of the 404 error, it’s easier to fix it by troubleshooting and finding the root cause first. If you host a WordPress site on Hostinger, use the AI Troubleshooter to find the error cause quickly. Here are the steps to do it:

1. Open your hPanel and navigate to WordPress → AI Troubleshooter (beta).
2. The tool will automatically scan for errors on your site. If the 404 error is detected, it will tell you when the error occurred and start checking the server, error logs, and website files.
3. Once finished, it will suggest the action to take. Depending on the root cause, the AI Troubleshooter can fix it for you. In this case, click the Fix my website button to let the AI Troubleshooter perform the fix for you.

4. After the AI finishes the fix, visit your site to check if the error is resolved. If not, you can click the Try another solution button to let the AI work out another solution.

2. Make Sure the Domain Is Pointing To Your Hosting

If the domain is still propagating, you may encounter a 404 error page. To solve it, you will need to wait until the propagation is complete. Usually, it takes a maximum of 24 hours until the DNS resolves.

Additionally, the 404 error can be caused by misconfigured DNS settings. You may have pointed the domain to an incorrect nameserver or a wrong IP address through an A record. Therefore, you need to check if the domain is pointed correctly to solve this issue.

There are two methods to connect a domain to your hosting – using nameservers or the IP address via an A record.

Here’s how to check your Hostinger nameservers and IP address:

1. Log in to your Hostinger account.
2. On hPanel, go to the Hosting tab.
3. Choose the hosting plan and click Manage.
4. On your Hosting Account panel, you will find the Hostinger nameservers and your IP address on the left sidebar.

There are plenty of online tools to check which DNS server your domain is pointed to, such as DNS Checker, DNSMap, and whatsmydns.net.

3. Fix File Permissions

If error 404 still occurs, we recommend fixing file permissions.

When you use web hosting, the server manages your files and sends them to the browser so it can load the site.

File and folder permissions let the server know who can run, read, or edit the data on the hosting account. However, if the values are misconfigured, the web page may show a 404 error.

Therefore, you will need to modify the file permissions to solve this issue. If you’re a Hostinger user, the default values are 644 for files and 755 for folders.

Here’s how to fix file permissions on hPanel:

1. Log in to your Hostinger account.
2. On hPanel, go to the Hosting tab.
3. Select the hosting plan and click Manage.
4. On the Hosting Account panel, scroll down to Other and choose Fix File Ownership.

5. Tick the box to confirm that you want to set the file permissions to default. Click Execute.

6. If you want to set the file permissions to specific values, go to the File Manager menu.

7. Right-click on the file or folder you want to modify and select Permissions.

8. Tick the boxes to modify accesses. The values will automatically update upon choosing the permissions. Click on Update to save your changes.

In most cases, this should solve the 404 page not found error. However, if you still encounter the issue, proceed to the following step.

4. Disable the .htaccess File

URL redirections, access control, website security, and performance are managed by a directory-level configuration file called .htaccess or Hypertext Access.

As an essential part of a website, .htaccess is located inside the public_html directory alongside other critical data. However, it can become corrupt for several reasons, such as incompatible plugins and wrong configuration.

A broken .htaccess may disrupt a website’s appearance and cause a 404 error page. To fix this problem, disable and replace it with a new one.

Here’s how to disable .htaccess:

1. Log in to the Hostinger account.
2. On hPanel, click the Hosting tab.
3. Choose the hosting plan and select Manage.
4. In the Hosting Account panel, click File Manager.
5. Double-click the public_html folder to enter the directory.
6. Right-click on .htaccess and choose Rename.

7. Simply add any additional character to the file name to disable the file. Click Rename to save the changes.

Next, here’s how to create a new .htaccess:

1. In File Manager, click New File in the upper menu.
2. Enter .htaccess as the file name.
3. Copy and paste the following code within the file. Alternatively, generate the proper code using a .htaccess generator.

# BEGIN WordPress<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>RewriteEngine OnRewriteBase /RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-fRewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-dRewriteRule . /index.php [L]</IfModule># END WordPress

4. Click Create to save your changes.

If you can access the website after disabling and creating a new .htaccess file, it was probably causing the 404 page not found error.

5. Restore Backup

404 error messages may occur when internet users come from external links from other sites that redirect them to deleted web pages. To solve this issue, restore the site backup.

Note that this method only works if certain website pages are broken or show a 404 error.

Here’s how to restore a website backup in Hostinger:

1. Log in to your Hostinger account.
2. On hPanel, go to the Hosting tab.
3. Select the hosting plan and choose Manage.
4. In the Hosting Account panel, click Backups.

5. Under the Files backups option, click Select.

6. Choose a preferred backup date.

7. Click the Next Step button to prepare the backup file.

8. Choose the files you want to back up.

9. If you want to restore the backup directly, click Restore files.
10. If you want to download the backup and restore it manually, select Download all files.

What Causes the 404 Error Not Found Message?

The 404 error not found means the browser has connected and sent the request to the web server. However, the latter can’t find the requested resource. As a result, the browser can’t load the web page, showing a 404 error.

Many factors can cause error 404 not found, including:

• Moved or deleted page. Sometimes, the page’s content may have been deleted or moved without fixing the broken link.
• Mistyped URL. The page link is typed incorrectly into the browser’s address bar. In other words, you’re using the wrong URL to access the page.
• DNS settings issue. Either the domain is still propagating or pointing to a wrong DNS address.
• Caching problems. The browser may cache the 404 error page instead of the actual content. Therefore, you keep seeing the error even when the website works for everyone else.
• Missing asset. Usually, any missing asset, such as an image, CSS, or JavaScript file, can generate a 404 error.

A 404 error can occur in any web browser. The error code may look slightly different depending on which one you use.

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox shows a straightforward message by displaying a 404 Not Found page with a description saying, “The resource requested could not be found on this server!”.

Google Chrome

If you come across a 404 error page on Chrome, the browser shows a descriptive message under the HTTP status code.

Opera

When a 404 error occurs on Opera, the browser displays the description of the status page on the upper part of the page.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge shows the HTTP Error 400 message and a description saying, “The request URL is invalid.”

Many websites display custom 404 not found errors. While it isn’t strictly necessary, it helps explain to the visitors that the website works, but the page they’re looking for cannot be found.

Conclusion

404 not found is an HTTP status code error that indicates the specific page you are trying to visit is non-existent.

Usually, it occurs when the domain points to an incorrect DNS address, files or folders have misconfigured permissions, or the system runs a corrupt .htaccess file.

When the 404 error appears, it is critical to solve the issue immediately. Do one of these methods to fix it:

1. Use Hostinger AI Troubleshooter
2. Ensure the domain points to the web host
3. Fix file permissions
4. Disable the broken .htaccess file
5. Restore the website backup file

We hope this article has helped you fix the 404 not found error. If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

Error 404 FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about error 404.