A 404 Not Found error means the page or file that was requested doesn't exist at that address. Here are the most common cases on a WordPress site.
Every page except the homepage shows 404
WordPress's permalinks (the rules that connect page addresses to your content) need rebuilding:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Settings → Permalinks.
- Check the structure is the one you want, then click Save Changes, even if you changed nothing.
Saving rebuilds the rules and usually brings your pages back straight away.
One page or post shows 404
- Check the address for typos.
- In the dashboard, check that the page exists, is published (not a draft or in the Trash), and that its slug matches the address.
- If you changed a page's address, add a redirect from the old address with a redirect plugin, so old links and search results keep working.
Images or files show 404
- Open Media → Library and check the file is still there. If it was deleted, upload it again and update the page.
- If you moved your site from another host or changed your domain, your content may still point to old file addresses. A search-and-replace plugin can update them; back up first, or ask us to.
The whole site shows 404
If even your homepage shows a 404, contact support with your domain and we'll check your site's setup on our side.