Wordpress 404 "URL Not Found" Error

Encountering a "404 URL Not Found" error can be frustrating when navigating your WordPress website.

This knowledge-based article provides a step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot and fix the 404 error related to permalinks in WordPress.

1. Log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard:
   • Enter your website URL followed by "/wp-admin" (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).
   • Enter your username and password to access the admin area.
     
     
2. Verify Permalink Settings:
   • From the left-hand menu, click on "Settings."
   • Select "Permalinks" from the expanded menu.
   • Note the current permalink structure selected on the Permalinks Settings page.
     
     
3. Reset Permalink Settings:
   • Change the permalink structure to the "Plain" option.
   • Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "Save Changes."
4. Test Website:
   • Visit different pages/posts on your website and check if the "404 URL Not Found" error persists.
   • If the error is resolved with the "Plain" permalink structure, proceed to the next step. Otherwise, skip to step 6.
5. Update Permalink Structure:
   • Go back to the Permalinks Settings page.
   • Select the desired permalink structure that suits your website.
   • Scroll down and click "Save Changes."
6. Check .htaccess File:
   • Connect to your website using an FTP client or through the hosting control panel.
   • Locate the .htaccess file in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
   • Rename the file to something like ".htaccess_backup" to disable it temporarily.
7. Regenerate .htaccess File:
   • In your WordPress Admin Dashboard, go to "Settings" and select "Permalinks."
   • Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "Save Changes" again.
   • WordPress will generate a new .htaccess file with the correct rewrite rules.
8. Test Website Again:
   • Visit different pages/posts on your website to ensure the "404 URL Not Found" error is resolved.
   • If the error persists, continue to the next step.