When using WordPress, you might sometimes run into a 404 Page Not Found error. This can appear in different forms, such as:
- Error 404
- 404 Not Found
- HTTP Error 404
- Not Found
- Page Not Found
- The requested URL was not found on this server.
Why Does a 404 Error Occur?
A 404 error in WordPress often happens when the .htaccess file is missing, corrupted, or has incorrect rewrite rules. This prevents WordPress from properly redirecting links to the correct pages.
Before making any changes, we strongly recommend creating a full backup of your website. Having a backup ensures that you can restore your site in case something goes wrong.
How to Fix the “404 Page Not Found” Error
You have two main methods to resolve this issue:
METHOD 1: RESET PERMALINKS
STEP 1: Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
STEP 2: From the left-hand menu, go to Settings > Permalinks.
STEP 3: Under Permalink Structure, select Post name.
STEP 4: Scroll down and click Save Changes.
STEP 5: A message will appear: “Permalink structure updated.”
STEP 6: Refresh your browser and check if your pages are now loading correctly.
This method resets your permalink structure, which often resolves the problem.
METHOD 2: UPDATE THE .HTACCESS FILE
If resetting permalinks doesn’t work, or if you cannot access your WordPress dashboard, you may need to manually update the .htaccess file.
STEP 1: Access your website files through cPanel File Manager or FTP.
STEP 2: Locate the .htaccess file in the public_html directory.
STEP 3: Edit the file and add the following code at the top:
# BEGIN WordPress
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
# END WordPress
STEP 4: Click Save Changes.
STEP 5: Reload your website to see if the issue has been resolved.
Once complete, your WordPress links should work correctly again. If you still experience issues, you may need to clear your browser cache, disable conflicting plugins, or contact LyteHosting Support for assistance.
