CheckWebsiteNow

Client errors (4xx)

404 Not Found

This page does not exist at this address.

Quick answer

A 404 means the server is online but has nothing at this address. The page may have moved, been deleted or the link may contain a typo. If the homepage itself returns 404, the site is likely misconfigured.

When to wait: Waiting does not bring back a missing page.

If you are visiting the website

  1. Check the address Look for typos, a missing letter, the wrong ending (.com instead of .de) or extra characters at the end that came along when you copied a link.
  2. Reload without the cache This rarely fixes a 404, but it is quick. A reload that skips the cache (saved copies in your browser) asks the server again, which helps if the page was just repaired.
    Windows
    Chrome: press Ctrl + Shift + R, or Shift + F5.
    Linux
    Chrome: press Ctrl + Shift + R, or Shift + F5.
    macOS
    Chrome: press Command + Shift + R.
  3. Start from the homepage Go to the site's homepage and use its menu or search box. Pages often move to a new address during a redesign.
  4. Search for the page title Search the web for the page title or a few key words plus the site name. Moved pages often show up at their new address.
  5. Look for an archived copy If the page was deleted, a public web archive such as the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine may still have an old copy to read.
  6. Report the broken link If a link on the site itself led to the 404, tell the owner which page contained the link. That makes it easy for them to fix.

If you run the website

  1. Find where the broken link comes from Look up the missing address in your server logs and note the referrer (the page that linked to it). Fix your own internal links first.
  2. Add redirects for moved pages Send old addresses to their new location with a 301 (permanent redirect). Point each old page to the closest matching new page, not everything to the homepage.
  3. Return a real 404 status Your friendly error page must send the status code 404, not 200. A "not found" page with code 200 is a soft 404, which Google reports as an error and leaves out of search.
  4. Use 410 for pages removed on purpose If a page is gone for good and has no replacement, 410 Gone says so clearly. Use 404 when you are not sure whether it will come back.
  5. Check the deployment If the homepage itself returns 404, check that the files were uploaded, the document root (the folder the server serves) is correct and your routing rules reach the application.

Is the whole website down?

No. A 404 is a working server saying it has nothing at this one address. If the homepage loads, the site is up and only this page is missing.

If even the homepage returns 404, the site is probably misconfigured after a move or update. That is a job for the owner.

404, 410 and soft 404 compared

404 means "not found" without saying whether it is permanent. 410 means the page was removed on purpose and is not expected back.

A soft 404 is a page that says "not found" but sends a success code. Search engines treat it as an error anyway, and visitors are confused by it.

For site owners: do 404s hurt search rankings?

Google says that 404s for pages that really do not exist do not count against the rest of your site. Every website has some.

Problems start when important pages vanish without a redirect, or when your own menus and links point to dead pages.

Common questions

Is a 404 error a virus or a hack?

No. It only means the address has no page. It does not mean your device or the website was hacked.

Why does a link from an email or search result give a 404?

The page probably moved or was deleted after the link was made. Try the homepage and its search, or search the web for the page title.

Can a 404 be temporary?

Sometimes. During an update, files can be missing for a short time. If a page you used yesterday shows 404, try again later, then contact the site.

Will clearing my cache fix a 404?

Rarely. The 404 comes from the server, so the fix usually has to happen there. A reload that skips the cache is still a quick, harmless test.

Likely causes

  • Common The link or address has a typo. (Your side)
  • Common The page was moved or deleted without a redirect. (Website side)
  • Sometimes The website is set up incorrectly after a move or deployment. (Website side)

Is the website down? Check it now

One measurement point. Results explain what we saw, not a worldwide verdict.

Sources

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