Google Search Console
“Not found (404)”: meaning and how to fix it
Depends on the pageWhat it means
Google requested the URL and the server answered 404 Not Found.
Is it a problem?
Not by itself: 404s for pages that genuinely no longer exist are correct. It matters when the URL had traffic or backlinks, or is still linked internally.
Common causes
- Deleted pages, discontinued products, ended events
- Changed URLs without a redirect
- Typos in internal or external links
How to fix it
- 301-redirect URLs that had traffic or links to the closest relevant live page
- Fix internal links pointing at the 404
- Leave the rest as 404: Google drops them over time
How to check the fix
Validate fix only for URLs you redirected or restored.
Find the pages worth fixing first
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