Lost visitors
Someone who wanted your content leaves with nothing.
Guide
How to find and fix 404 errors on your website
A 404 error means a visitor asked for a page that does not exist. Some are harmless, others cost you visitors and links. This guide shows how to find them, which ones matter and how to fix them.
What is a 404 error?
A 404 error is the status your server sends when it cannot find the requested address. The visitor sees a "page not found" message instead of your content.
404 errors appear after deleted pages, changed addresses, mistyped links and old links on other websites. A few are normal. Many point to a problem.
Why 404 errors matter
Lost link value
Links from other sites to a missing page do not help you unless you redirect them.
Wasted attention
Search engines and visitors keep trying addresses that lead nowhere.
A weaker impression
A broken link in a newsletter or an ad looks careless.
Ways to find 404 errors
| Method | Shows | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Crawler on your own site | Broken links inside your website | Does not show external links or what visitors really reach |
| Search engine tools | Missing pages that search engines tried | Delayed, and only what search engines requested |
| Server logs | Every request that returned 404 | Includes bots, hard to read |
| Analytics 404 tracking | Missing pages that real visitors reached, with counts | Needs a browser that reports the status |
Find 404 errors with Noralytic
- Turn on 404 tracking
Tick "Pages that are not found (404)" under the tracking code and copy the code again. - Open the events report
Look for events that start with "404". Each shows a missing path and how often it was reached. - Find the source
Filter by the missing page to see which referrers sent those visitors. - Fix the biggest ones first
Start with the paths that were reached most often.
How to fix a 404 error
- Redirect with a 301 when the content moved. Point the old address to the new one.
- Restore the page if it was deleted by mistake and still has value.
- Correct the link if you control it, for example in a newsletter or on a partner page.
- Make your 404 page useful with a search, popular pages and a link home. It must still send the real 404 status.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find 404 errors on my website?
Combine a crawler for internal links, your search engine tools for what they tried, and 404 tracking in your analytics for what real visitors reach.
Do 404 errors hurt SEO?
A few do no harm. Many broken internal links, or lost links from other websites, waste visitors and link value, so they are worth fixing.
Should I redirect every 404?
Redirect pages that moved or have a clear replacement. A page that is gone for good can stay a 404 or return 410.
What is a soft 404?
A page that tells the visitor "not found" but answers with status 200. Servers and tools cannot recognise it as a missing page, so configure the real status.
Can analytics show 404 pages?
Yes, if the tool records the status of the page. Noralytic does this with one option in the tracking code.
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