Why Am I Seeing a 404 Error?
A 404 error means the page you asked for could not be found at that address. It is one of the most common messages on the web and rarely signals anything seriously wrong with your site as a whole.
Usually a 404 points to a mistyped link, a page that has been moved or deleted, or an out-of-date bookmark. This article helps you work out which, and how to fix it cleanly.
Common Causes
Knowing why a 404 appears makes it much easier to decide what to do next.
- A page was renamed or removed without a redirect.
- A link or button points to the wrong address.
- The web address was typed incorrectly.
- An old search-engine result still points to a deleted page.
How to Investigate
Work through these checks to pin down the source of the broken link.
- Copy the full address from the browser bar and check for typos.
- Search your site's menu for the page to confirm it still exists.
- Note where you clicked from, so we can fix the broken link at source.
- If a whole section returns 404s, flag it to us as it may be a structural issue.
Fixing It Properly
If a page has genuinely moved, the best fix is a 301 redirect from the old address to the new one. This keeps visitors and search engines happy and preserves any ranking the old page held. We can set these up for you on request.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.