Ever opened Google Search Console and seen “404 Not Found”?
Believe me, it is one of the super common errors.
It’s a normal part of running a site, and it doesn’t take much to solve.
In this blog post, we’ll break down what a 404 error means, why it shows up in Google Search Console, and exactly how you can handle it without freaking out.
Table of Contents
What’s a 404 Error Anyway?
A 404 error basically means that Google tried to visit a page on your website, but that page wasn’t there.
It may sound scary, but it isn’t.
Imagine you’re using an old map to find your favorite pizza place. You follow the directions, get excited for a slice, but when you arrive, the place is gone. The sign’s down, the doors are locked, and nothing there but dust.
That’s what a 404 error is like. The address still exists, but the page has packed up and left.
🆒We’ve given you the solutions below.
But why “404”?
It is called “404” because that’s the HTTP status code your server gives when it can’t find a page. It just says, “Hey, I looked, but nothing was found at this address.”
How to Find 404 Errors in Google Search Console
Before you can fix 404s, you need to spot them. Follow the simple steps.
- Log in to Google Search Console.
- Select your website from the properties list.
- Go to the “Pages” report under the Indexing section.
- Click on “Not Found (404)” under “Why pages aren’t indexed.”
- Review the list of broken URLs shown.
Why Does It Show Up in Google Search Console?
Well, Google bots or crawlers scan your website and see what content is available. While crawling, it might come across a link, either on your site or another one, that leads to a missing page.
When it happens, Google logs it as a 404 error. Also, it reports the error in your Search Console. You’ll usually find these under:
Pages → Not Found (404)
This is mostly for your awareness. So, don’t worry!
Google informs you, “Hey, we tried this URL, but it didn’t lead anywhere.”
5 Common Causes of 404 Errors
Let’s look at a few typical situations where 404 errors pop up:
1. You Deleted a Page?
This one’s actually common. You had a blog post, product, or landing page that no longer serves a purpose, so you removed it. Absolutely normal.
Example:
You ran a Christmas promotion at mystore.com/christmas-sale-2024. Once the sale ended, you deleted the page. But Google and maybe other websites still have links to it. So now, it returns a 404.
Now, if searchers or bots are still trying to visit that deleted page, it’ll trigger a 404 error.
2. You Changed a URL
You updated a blog post title and changed its URL to match, but forgot to set up a redirect. This is also possible.
Example:
Your old post was at myblog.com/my-first-post, but you changed it to myblog.com/first-post. Without a redirect, the old URL is now a dead end.
Google may still have the old version indexed, or someone might link to it, resulting in a 404.
3. Typos in Internal Links
Even a small typing mistake in a link can cause a 404. This usually happens when you’re writing blog posts or creating menus manually.
Example:
You wanted to link to mywebsite.com/about-us but accidentally typed mywebsite.com/abut-us. Now when someone clicks that link, it leads to nothing and you’ve got a 404 on your hands.
These small mistakes are easy to miss, but they can cause problems later.
4. Backlinks from Other Sites
Sometimes, other websites try to link to you, but they write the URL wrong. You have no control over this, but Google still picks it up.
Example:
Let’s say someone reviewed your product and was supposed to link to mystore.com/umbrella but wrote mystore.com/umbrela instead. That small typo produces a broken link, and Google reports it as a 404.
For all link-related guidance, check out: Link best practices for Google
5. The Sitemap Has Old or Broken URLs
Do you know that even after deleting a page, the link might still be sitting in your sitemap?
Since Google uses the sitemap to crawl your site, it will try to visit those expired URLs and end up hitting a 404.
Example:
Suppose you deleted a few old blog posts or stock out products but forgot to update your sitemap. So now, the sitemap is telling Google to visit pages that aren’t there anymore. Result? More 404 errors in Search Console.
NOTE: Shopify automatically removes deleted products from the sitemap. When you delete a product, the corresponding URL will no longer be included in your sitemap.xml file But still good to check whether the sitemap is cached or not.
Do 404 Errors Hurt Your Site?
Here’s the truth: Not all 404 errors are harmful. Some are perfectly fine, especially if the page is unavailable for good and doesn’t need to be replaced.
But if the error affects significant pages like products, blog posts, or pages that other sites link to, it could:
- Cause a poor user experience
- Waste Google’s crawl budget (Google invests time crawling broken links)
- Negatively impact your SEO performance if valuable links point to non-existent pages
So yeah, not every 404 needs a fix, but the high-priority ones definitely do.
How to Fix 404 Errors
Let’s get into the good stuff. Here’s how to deal with 404 errors effectively without losing your mind or your traffic:
1. Does the Old URL Matter? Redirect It
If the page was essential or still gets traffic, you should set up a 301 redirect to a similar or updated page. It tells Google and users, “Hey, this content moved; go here instead.”
Example:
You removed the christmas-sale-2024 but now have /current-offers. This simple redirect assures visitors don’t hit a dead end.
Know details about: Redirects and Google Search
2. Leave It Alone (If It’s Meant to Be Vanished)
It’s totally fine to leave the 404 as is if the page was –
- Temporary or no longer relevant
- No one is linking to it
- Not getting traffic
Google will stop trying to access it over time. However, don’t forget to make sure it’s not linked from your main menu or key content.
3. Update Internal Links
If the 404 is triggered by a broken link on your own site, just fix the typo or update the link to the correct URL.
Example:
Change /abut-us to /about-us. Easy win!
4. Ask for a Fix If It’s a Backlink
If you found another website linked to you with a broken URL, it’s worth reaching out.
A quick email saying, “Hey, just a heads-up, this link is broken, here’s the correct one!” can fix the issue easily and permanently. Thus, you can also protect your SEO and user experience.
Final Verdict
404 errors are fairly common and, in most cases, nothing to panic about.
- Make it a habit to monitor Google Search Console periodically
- Address any issues and analyze which can be safely ignored and which need to be fixed
- Follow the steps mentioned above, and you’re done.