2 posts tagged with "404_error"

Error 404 Not Found on the site running on Joomla means that the requested page can not be found. Visitors often get to it from search engines, outdated links, or even from the menu of the site itself. The reasons can range from a deleted article to routing issues.

In this article, we will explain why error 404 appears in Joomla and how to quickly eliminate it.

What 404 means in Joomla​

A 404 error is the standard response from the server when it cannot find the requested page. In Joomla, this usually happens because:

• The content item has been deleted or unpublished.

• The menu structure is broken.

• The component responsible for rendering the page is not working.

Primary causes of a 404 error in Joomla​

1. Content deleted or unpublished

If an article, category, or component is removed but a menu or module still links to it, Joomla returns a 404.

2. Menu item points to a non-existent target

Even if the article exists, a menu item linked to a missing category or incorrect route will trigger the error.

3. SEF (search-engine-friendly) URL problems

Joomla’s SEF links depend on component routes. After a site migration, enabling SEO, or changing aliases, “broken” links can appear.

4. Errors during site migration

Moving to a new domain or host can change the URL structure and make some pages inaccessible.

5. Component missing in the URL

For example, a link like index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1 will fail if the K2 component is not installed.

How to fix a 404 in Joomla​

1. Check the menu item

Go to Menu → Main Menu and verify that the item points to an existing article, category, or component. Re-create the menu item if needed.

2. Regenerate SEF URLs

• In the admin panel, open Global Configuration → Site → SEO Settings.

• Confirm that SEF URLs and URL rewriting are enabled.

• Clear the cache: System → Clear Cache.

• If you use an extension like sh404SEF or JoomSEF, update or reset its SEF table.

3. Check .htaccess

To enable SEF (Search Engine Friendly) URLs, URL rewriting must be active. Make sure the .htaccess file is present in your site's root directory and that it includes the following directives to enable mod_rewrite:

RewriteEngine On

RewriteBase /

For more information about the default .htaccess structure in Joomla, check out this article.

4. Enable error reporting

For debugging, turn on error output:

• Go to System → General Settings → Server.

• Set Error Messages: Maximum.

Joomla will then show a more detailed message that will help you find the cause of the error.

5. Look at the error log

Most hosters provide an Apache error log. Look for lines with a 404 status code to identify problematic URLs.

If you use FASTPANEL: open the site card → Logs → check Backend access log and Frontend access log tabs to see which address triggered the 404 and the request origin. This helps trace broken links.

6. Configure redirects

If the page was deleted, but you want to keep traffic from external links, create a redirect. In Joomla it is done through the component “Redirects”:

• Navigate to Components → Redirects.

• Enable it in Options if disabled.

• Add the old URL and the new path (without the domain).

How to prevent 404 errors in the future​

• Do not delete content without adding a redirect.

• Audit menus after moving or unpublishing items.

• Use the Redirects component or .htaccess to manage redirections.

• Monitor 404 errors via Google Search Console.

Conclusion​

Error 404 in Joomla - a common phenomenon, but quite solvable. In most cases, it can be eliminated in 5-10 minutes by checking the menu, SEF settings, and site structure. Adding a reliable redirect system eliminates the risk of traffic loss on remote pages.

Error 404 Not Found is one of the most common problems WordPress site owners face. This message appears when the server cannot find the page requested by the user. The reason could be due to link settings, deleted content, or even the theme of the site.

If not handled properly, the error can affect visitor behavior and search rankings. In this article, briefly and to the point, we will tell you why a 404 error appears in WordPress and how to fix it.

What the 404 error means in WordPress​

When someone visits your site, WordPress tries to match the URL with records in the database. If the page is not found, a 404 error is displayed. This is not a server failure; the site continues to work, but the specific page is missing.

Why does 404 occur in WordPress​

1. Permalink structure is broken

One of the most common reasons. For example, you changed the URL structure in Settings → Permalinks, but WordPress did not update the .htaccess file. In this case, all pages except the homepage will return a 404 error. To fix this, you can manually update the .htaccess file or re-save the permalink settings in the WordPress admin panel - this will force WordPress to regenerate the .htaccess file with the correct rules.

2. Page or post deleted

If you have deleted a post or page, but the links to it remain (for example, in the menu, in search, or on other sites), visitors will be taken to a 404 page.

3. .htaccess file corrupted

This file is responsible for URL routing. If it is accidentally deleted or damaged, WordPress cannot process addresses correctly.

4. Theme or plugin issues

Sometimes, a 404 error appears after installing or updating a plugin, especially if it works with URLs, routes, custom post types, etc. There can also be errors in the theme’s functions.php file.

How to fix a 404 error in WordPress​

✅ 1. Regenerate permalinks

Go to Admin → Settings → Permalinks → simply click “Save Changes”. Even if you don’t change anything, WordPress will rebuild the structure and update .htaccess.

✅ 2. Check the .htaccess file

Connect to the site via FTP or through the file manager in the control panel. Find the .htaccess file in the WordPress root. Its basic content:

# 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

If it is missing, create it and paste this code manually. Make sure the file has 644 permissions. For more information about the default .htaccess structure in WordPress, check out this article.

✅ 3. Disable suspicious plugins

If the error appeared after installing a plugin, temporarily disable it. If a custom post type is used (for example, WooCommerce products or a portfolio), make sure the plugin correctly registers routes.

✅ 4. Try a default theme

Sometimes, a 404 error is caused by errors in a custom theme. Switch to a default WordPress theme (for example, Twenty Twenty-Four) and check whether the error disappears.

✅ 5. Enable error logging

For debugging purposes, you can enable WordPress error output. Add the following lines to wp-config.php:

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true );

After that, errors will be saved to the /wp-content/debug.log.

✅ 6. Check server logs

If you use FASTPANEL, open the site card → “Logs” section → check the “Backend access log” and “Frontend access log” tabs. There, you can see which address caused the 404 error and where the request came from. This helps find “broken” links.

How to prevent 404s in the future​

• Do not change the link structure unless necessary.

• Use the Redirection plugin to set up 301 redirects.

• After deleting pages, update the menus and links.

• Periodically check 404 errors in Google Search Console.

Conclusion​

A 404 error in WordPress is unpleasant but solvable. Most often, simply saving the link structure or editing .htaccess helps. And if the problem lies deeper, the server log or debug file will help you locate it quickly.

By fixing 404s, you not only improve the site experience but also help its search promotion.