Why Is My Website Showing a 404 Error? Print

A 404 "Page Not Found" error means the file or page you are trying to access does not exist on the server. This can happen for a few reasons.

Reason 1: Incorrect URL or Broken Link

• Check: Is the URL typed correctly? Are you linking to a page that has been moved or deleted?

• Fix: Update your links to point to the correct URL, or create a redirect from the old URL to the new one using a plugin like "Redirection."

Reason 2: Permalink Issue (Most Common for WordPress)
If your homepage loads but internal pages (like yoursite.com/about) give a 404, your .htaccess file or permalink structure is likely broken.

• Fix 1: Go to WordPress Admin > Settings > Permalinks. Simply click "Save Changes" without changing anything. This refreshes the rewrite rules and often fixes the issue.

• Fix 2: If you can't access admin, use FTP to check if the .htaccess file exists in your public_html folder. If it doesn't, create a new one. If it does, rename it to .htaccess_old, then go to Settings > Permalinks in WordPress to generate a new one.

Reason 3: File is Missing

• Check: Use cPanel File Manager to navigate to where the file should be. For example, if your about page is a physical HTML file, is it still there?

• Fix: Re-upload the missing file, or create a new page.

Reason 4: Domain Not Pointed to Correct Folder
If you just added a new domain as an Addon Domain, ensure it is pointing to the correct document root folder in cPanel.