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How to Fix WordPress Posts Returning 404 Error (Step by Step)

By Editorial Staff | | Reader Disclosure

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We’ve had moments where everything looked fine in WordPress, but the post link showed a 404 error instead. No changes to the content — just a missing page that should have been there.

This usually pops up after tweaking settings, switching themes, or adding code that silently affects permalinks. It can catch you off guard, especially if the rest of your site is working perfectly.

Whenever we run into unexpected 404 errors, we follow a simple process to get the post URLs back on track — no guesswork, no heavy troubleshooting. And that’s exactly what we’re sharing with you in this guide.

You’ll be able to fix the 404 errors and make sure your posts are loading the way they should.

How to fix WordPress posts returning 404 error

Why Are My WordPress Posts Returning a 404 Error?

There are several reasons why your posts might be showing a 404 “Page Not Found” error in WordPress. These can include:

  • Plugin or theme conflicts: Sometimes, plugins or themes you’ve installed on your site can interfere with how WordPress handles permalinks. This can lead to broken links and 404 errors.
  • Custom code issues: If you’ve added custom code to your website, there might be errors in the code that are affecting permalinks or causing other conflicts, resulting in 404 errors for your posts.
  • Issues with your .htaccess file: The .htaccess file plays a role in how WordPress structures URLs. If this file is corrupted or missing, it can lead to 404 errors for your posts or pages.

How to Find All WordPress Posts With 404 Errors

Before we get to the solutions, it’d be good to figure out if this error is just happening to one or two posts or multiple posts. This way, you can determine the scope of the problem and choose the most appropriate solution.

One easy way to figure this out is to use Google Search Console. If you haven’t submitted your site to Google Search Console already, then read our guide on how to add your WordPress site to Google Search Console.

Once the Google bot has crawled and indexed your site, Google Search Console will then provide you with detailed information about your site’s performance, including any 404 errors it encounters.

To find out which posts are returning 404 errors, you can log in to the Search Console dashboard. Then, navigate to the ‘Pages’ report, and you will see a detailed list of all the errors.

Google Search Console Pages Report

For more information, you can read our list of tips for using Google Search Console to grow website traffic, which includes some tips on how to fix 404 errors with the tool.

That being said, let’s look at how to fix WordPress posts returning 404 errors. You can use the links below to jump straight to different solutions:

Method 1: Check for Plugin or Theme Conflicts and Custom Code Issues

Sometimes, plugins, themes, or custom code you’ve added to your WordPress website can interfere with permalinks or cause conflicts, leading to 404 errors. We’ve even experienced it ourselves when we’re testing tools on our demo site.

One way to solve this problem is to temporarily deactivate plugins. Plugins can sometimes disrupt how WordPress handles links.

Once you’ve deactivated the plugins, you can reactivate them one by one while checking if the 404 error reappears after activating each plugin. If the error shows up after activating a specific plugin, that might be the culprit.

You can then do a quick Google search for solutions related to that plugin or contact the plugin developer for support.

Similarly, your WordPress theme might be causing the conflict.

To check, you can temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three or Twenty Twenty-Four. All you need to do is go to Appearance » Themes and click ‘Activate’ on a default theme.

Activating a default WordPress theme

If the 404 error disappears with the default theme, it indicates a potential conflict with your current theme. You can then try troubleshooting the theme or consider using a different theme.

You can check out our expert pick of the most popular WordPress themes for recommendations.

If you’ve recently inserted code snippets to your website, there might be errors in the code causing the 404 errors. Take a close look at the code you added and see if you can identify any mistakes.

The safest way to add code snippets to WordPress is with the WPCode plugin. This plugin lets you insert custom code without directly working with the theme files, reducing the risk of breaking your website.

Plus, whenever WPCode spots an error in your code, it will automatically deactivate the snippet and ask you to check it. You can also use the testing mode to check if your code works before pushing it to your live website.

WPCode error warning

If none of these solutions work, move on to the next method where we’ll troubleshoot your permalink settings.

WordPress posts can return 404 errors because of problems with rewrite rules in your .htaccess file. In most cases, you can fix the problem by updating your permalink settings.

Simply go to Settings » Permalinks in your WordPress admin, and click on the ‘Save Changes’ button.

Check Permalinks

There is no need to make changes to the permalink settings themselves. This will update your permalink settings and flush the rewrite rules.

In most cases, this solution fixes the WordPress posts 404 error. However, if it does not work for you, then you probably need to update your .htaccess file manually.

Method 3: Update the WordPress .htaccess File

Before you start, make sure to back up your WordPress .htaccess file first. If something goes wrong, you can easily restore the original file.

Now, you’ll need to connect to your server using an FTP client like FileZilla or the File Manager in your hosting control panel.

Next, find the .htaccess file in your site’s root folder—this is the same directory that contains folders like /wp-content/ and /wp-includes/.

Right-click on the file and select ‘File permissions’ or ‘Change permissions’ from your FTP client.

.htaccess file permissions

If WordPress couldn’t write to the file before, try changing its permissions temporarily to 666 to make it writable.

After that, go back to your WordPress admin area and resave your permalink settings. This allows WordPress to regenerate a proper .htaccess file.

Once that’s done, make sure to change the file permissions back to a more secure setting: 644. This setting allows WordPress to read the file, while still protecting it from unauthorized changes.

Change file attributes for the .htaccess file to 644

Alternatively, you can manually edit the file.

Simply right-click on the .htacccess file and then select View/Edit option.

Edit .htaccess file

The file will open in plain text editor like Notepad or TextEdit.

Now you need to add the following default WordPress rewrite rules:

# 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
Hosted with ❤️ by WPCode
1-click Use in WordPress

Method 4: Contact Your Hosting Provider

If neither of the solutions above has fixed the WordPress posts returning 404 error, then we recommend contacting your WordPress hosting provider. There may be an error on their end, or they might be able to help you troubleshoot the problem.

Please also see our guide on how to properly ask for WordPress support and get it.

Method 5: Enable mod-rewrite (Local WordPress Installation)

If you are using a local server for testing purposes, then you will need to enable mod_rewrite in the Apache configuration of your MAMP, WAMP, or XAMPP site.

This will allow WordPress to generate clean URLs and prevent the 404 error for posts and pages on your local server.

How you do this will differ by the platform you use. People using XAMPP can open their control panel and click the ‘Config’ button within Actions. Then, select ‘Apache (httpd.conf).’

The Apache (httpd.conf) menu on XAMPP

Next, you will need to find this line #LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so and remove the ‘#’ to uncomment it.

This will load the mod_rewrite.

Finding the rewrite_module on httpd.conf file

Then, look for lines that say AllowOverride None and change them to AllowOverride All. This tells Apache to allow the use of .htaccess files.

You’ll typically find these inside <Directory> blocks—especially the one pointing to your site’s folder, like htdocs if you’re using XAMPP. If you’re unsure, it’s okay to apply the change wherever you see it inside the file, as long as it’s not a system directory. For local testing, this usually works just fine.

Changing AllowOverride None to AllowOverride All

Once done, you can save the httpd.conf file and close it. After that, in the XAMPP control panel, click ‘Stop’ on the Apache module and ‘Start’ again to restart it.

Then, go back to your admin dashboard to see if your permalinks are working.

Video Tutorial

If you need visual instructions, then just watch the video below.

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Frequently Asked Questions About WordPress 404 Errors

Encountering 404 errors on your WordPress site can be confusing. Below, we’ve answered common questions that can help you troubleshoot and fix the issue more effectively.

1. Why am I getting a 404 error on my WordPress posts?

This usually means WordPress can’t find the post at the requested URL. It can happen due to broken permalinks, a corrupted .htaccess file, deleted posts, or a plugin/theme conflict that changes how URLs are handled.

2. How do I fix a 404 error in WordPress?

Try resaving your permalink settings by going to Settings » Permalinks and clicking ‘Save Changes’. If that doesn’t work, check your .htaccess file, disable plugins, or switch to a default theme to rule out conflicts.

3. How can I find all 404 errors on my WordPress site?

You can use Google Search Console to see a list of 404 errors Googlebot encounters. Plugins like Broken Link Checker can also help spot broken links and missing pages inside your site.

4. What does the .htaccess file do in WordPress?

The .htaccess file controls how URLs are processed. WordPress uses it to manage permalink structure and route URLs to the correct content. If it’s missing or corrupted, URLs may stop working correctly.

5. How do I safely edit the .htaccess file?

You can edit it using an FTP client or your hosting file manager. Always back it up first. After editing, make sure the permissions are set to 644 so it stays readable and secure.

6. Why do my WordPress category or tag pages show 404 errors?

This can happen if your theme doesn’t support archive templates, or if permalink settings are misconfigured. Resaving permalinks and checking your theme’s archive support can help fix it.

7. How do I fix 404 errors for custom post types?

Visit Settings » Permalinks and click ‘Save Changes’ to refresh rewrite rules. Also, check that your custom post type is registered with the right rewrite settings and has archive support if needed.

8. Can I redirect 404 pages to my homepage or another page?

Yes, plugins like Redirection let you create 301 redirects from old or broken URLs to new ones. You can also create a custom 404 page to guide users back to useful content.

🎁 Bonus: Additional Guide on Handing 404 Errors

You may also find the following resources helpful in managing 404 and other common WordPress errors.

We hope this article helped you resolve the posts returning 404 errors in WordPress. You may also want to see our guide to the most common WordPress errors and how to fix them, along with our expert picks for the best WordPress plugins to grow your site.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Reader Interactions

773 CommentsLeave a Reply

  1. Thank you very much for precious article that is useful to fixed my website problem.. i always prefer your web solution regarding in problem in wordpress cms.

    Thank you..;.

    Reply

  2. Just wanted to leave a thank you comment! Your guides on WordPress are second to none! I have learnt so much reading your blog and every time I Google a problem..I am looking for your website and that is where I will click! Great and simple instructions even on the most complicated WordPress issues…you are awesome! Thanks.

    Reply

    • You’re welcome, glad you like our content and hope our guides continue to be helpful :)

      Reply

      Admin

  3. This totally worked! I just updated my PHP and dashboard and home pages was accessible but not any of my post pages.
    Thx

    Reply

  4. Thank You so much it saved my life! I had to move my WordPress website to a new server and it took me a whole day to fix everything. I wish WP had an easy way to do this. :)

    Reply

  6. I tried everything in the article with no success. What I ended up doing was choosing a different Permalink structure and saving it, and then going back to the structure I wanted and saving it. Then all was well.

    Reply

  7. I accidentally deleted .htaccess file when doing 301 and got the 404 not found error. Your tutorial came to my rescue. Just by saving the permalinks and it worked. Thank you.

    Reply

  8. Saved me! I am dealing with forces I cannot comprehend, and this explanation and tip was really helpful!

    Reply

  9. Wow, I’m shocked at how fast this worked. I recently migrated my site from a subdomain to the root domain and none of my links were working. All I did was go to permalinks in settings and click “save changes.” That was all. Wow. And I was really scared I’d broken something. Thank you.

    Reply

  11. Hi, thanks for the tips. I still can’t seem to fix the error. Have reset Permalinks, installed a redirect plugin (doesn’t help if wanting to redirect to the homepage). I can’t work out how to alter the .htaccess and not really confident to do it. Any other suggestions?

    Reply

  13. THANK YOU for this post! I had a primary domain that I let go and needed to move two sites on my hosting plan…. 1 to the primary domain position and 1 to an addon domain position which was formerly a subdomain position. I broke a lot of stuff. With some logical thought, I got most of it all back… EXCEPT all the pages on the primary domain site couldn’t be viewed on the live site once you clicked on them or the menu links. The home page loaded beautifully, but when you clicked a post or link… the errors popped up. This trick resolved those issues… so THANK YOU again! You saved the day!

    Reply

  14. I just change the permalink directly and it shows 404 error I couldn’t access my website it redirects me to another site which is not mine

    Reply

    • You would want to reach out to your hosting provider to ensure your domain is set up properly and there isn’t any malicious code on your site.

      Reply

      Admin

    • For nginx, at the moment you would want to reach out to your hosting provider and they should be able to assist.

      Reply

      Admin

  16. I’m busy building a website via wordpress & cpanel. I by accident deleted the url in my dashboard. Now I don’t get even access. Is their any way to fix it.

    Reply

  17. Just want to let you know that you’ve helped me save a lot of time searching.
    Thanks so much.

    Reply

  23. After saving changed for the permalink, it still returned the 404 error. Then I used the clear cache WP button at the top and the problem was solved.

    Reply

  25. Thanks so much for this post. You are a lifesaver. Clicking ‘Save Changes’ on Permalinks under Settings did the job for me.

    Reply

  26. I have issues on 404 Page not found.
    I tried updating the permalinks but still not working and I also checked the .htacess file in our server and it’s the same on the above sample. But still not working.

    Reply

    • You may want to reach out to your hosting provider to ensure there are no issues on their end that could be a part of the issue

      Reply

      Admin

  36. Just a quick note to say thank you so much! I had just activated a CDN (learning as I go) and thought I had broken my site and went searching everywhere but here was the answer…phew!

    Reply

  37. Hi!

    I’ve added the htaccess script, updated my wordpress but still I need to resave the permalinks. Any other solution?

    Thanks!

    Reply

  38. i have 404 error but cannot acces neither the site or the wordpress. how can you access wordpress admin to solve the problem??

    Reply

  40. on clicking save changes my problem Resolved, WP beginner is a part of my journey to learn WordPress more and more.

    Reply

  43. Will it work in 404 error of Wordpress Multisite once I visit the admin dashboard of the sub-sites?

    Reply

  46. So I checked all solutions and comments. I have same issue with a twist. I can see the pages when I am changing it to use the Page ID but not when I am selecting the Post-Name? Any solution to this? I know its weird.

    Reply

    • You may want to delete the current htaccess file and if that does not fix the issue, reach out to your host to ensure there isn’t an underlying error causing the problem.

      Reply

      Admin

  47. Hello,
    I just wanted to let you know that your website is of such great help ! I built my first Wordpress website and I managed to resolve many issues thanks to your articles. Thank you !

    Reply

  48. Hello Guys,

    I have been facing this issue for the last three days after migrating a new site from my localhost to an online CPanel server. Having tried a million and one option from various forums, none of them could work at all. The only solution that seems to work is disabling Mod_Security in the CPanel. I just did it and it works like a champ. Thanks

    Reply

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