Technology

404 Page Not Found Error: Why It Occurs and How to Fix It

The internet is great when it works and frustrating when it doesn't. There are lots of potential errors that you can run into online, and one of the most annoying is the "404 Page Not Found" error. Debugging errors with browsers can be tricky, but it is possible. 

What is the 404 Page Not Found Error?

The main problem with this error code is that there are so many different reasons it can happen. It's hard to find just a single solution to solve the problem. The good news is that the options you do have are relatively simple to implement. 

Websites are made up of different pages that go together to form an online database. If the user tries to access a page that doesn't exist – whether because of human error or because the page has been removed – they will be redirected to a page displaying the '404 Page Not Found' error. 

How to Fix "404 Page Not Found"

  1. The first step is to re-enter the URL and double-check it. If you made a mistake when typing the URL, then it's going to stop you from getting to the website you want to. So, ensuring you put in the right address is the first step to solving this error. 
  2. If you continue to get the error, try moving up the URL until you find a web page that works. You do this by deleting the last subdirectory of the URL until you reach one that works. So if a website's URL is www.website.com/a/b/c, you would remove the '/c' from the URL and see if www.website.com/a/b works. If you still get the 404 error, continue going up the site's directory by deleting the next subdirectory until you reach a working page.
  3. Try finding – and accessing – the website through a search engine. It is possible the page's URL changed without setting up a 301 redirect rule. Search engines can help you to find the new URL for a website. 
  4. Clear the cache for your web browser. Sometimes, a website's caching configuration could cause your browser to display error messages on some page. 
  5. Try restarting your router and modem. You can do this through your routers firmware, a dedicated reset button, or by unplugging them from their power source. Once your router or modem reboots, try re-accessing the website. 
  6. Contact the website administrator to alert them to the problem. They will want to make sure that their website runs smoothly and offers a great user experience and attempt to resolve the issue as soon as possible. 

Let us know if you have any other questions about the 404 Page Not Found error or if you have any other ways to solve it!

 

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All breaking news stories that matter to America. The News Desk is covered by the sharpest eyes in news media, as they decipher fact from fiction.

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