So, you’re managing a cPanel website and you’ve stumbled upon a pesky 404 error and would like to fix it. How do you do that?
A 404 error basically means that the page you’re looking for can’t be found.
This can happen for a bunch of reasons that we’ll cover below.
But here’s the good news: fixing 404 errors in cPanel is totally doable, and we’re here to help you through it.
Knowing how to tackle these errors will keep your website smooth and your visitors happy.
In this article, we’ll walk you through some easy and effective ways to fix 404 errors in cPanel.
Let’s begin!
Understanding 404 Errors
Ever stumbled upon a “404 Error” while browsing the web and wondered what’s up with that?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone!
These pesky errors are super common and can be a bit of a headache for both site owners and visitors.
But understanding why they happen and how to spot them can make managing your site a lot easier.
Fixing them can make life a bit simpler for your site visitors.
Let’s dive into what causes these errors and how you can track them down.
What Triggers a 404 Error?
So, what’s behind these annoying 404 errors? Here are a few usual suspects:
Broken Links: Sometimes, links lead to pages that no longer exist.
This often happens when a page is deleted or its URL changes, but the old links aren’t updated.
Deleted or Moved Content: If you move or remove a webpage without setting up a proper redirect, anyone trying to visit the old page will get hit with a 404 error.
Incorrect URLs: Simple typos or mistakes in the URL can also cause a 404 error.
Maybe a user typed something wrong or there’s a mismatch between the URL and the actual page.
How to Identify 404 Errors
Now that we know what causes 404 errors, let’s talk about how to find them:
Google Search Console: This free tool from Google is a lifesaver.
It helps you keep an eye on how your site performs in search results and shows you any crawl errors, including 404s.
It’s great for spotting which URLs need fixing.
Online Broken Link Checkers: There are several handy online tools that can scan your site for broken links and report any 404 errors.
Some popular ones are Broken Link Checker, Dead Link Checker, and W3C Link Checker.
They make it easy to find and fix those broken links across your site.
Using cPanel to a Fix 404 Error
If you’re facing 404 errors on your website, cPanel is your best buddy for fixing them.
Let’s walk through how you can use cPanel to tackle these pesky issues.
Accessing cPanel
To access cPanel and fix 404 errors on your website:
1. Log into your cPanel account using the provided URL, username and password.
2. Once logged in, you’ll see the cPanel dashboard with various tools and settings.
Identifying 404 Errors in cPanel
Go to the “Metrics” section and click on “Raw Access”. This will show you the raw access logs for your website.
You can download the current raw access logs or view archived logs for previous months.
Open the downloaded log files in a text editor to see a list of all requests to your website, including any 404 errors.
Fixing 404 Errors
Once you’ve identified the URLs causing 404 error, you can fix them in cPanel:
1. Create redirects for any deleted or moved pages to send visitors to the new URL.
2. Fix any broken links on your website that are pointing to non-existent pages.
3. Ensure your website’s URLs are entered correctly and match the actual content.
By using cPanel to identify and resolve 404 errors, you can improve the user experience on your website and avoid frustrating visitors with missing pages.
The raw access logs provide detailed information to troubleshoot these common issues.
#1. Fixing Broken Links
Broken links is another cause of a 404 error, and can significantly impact your website’s user experience and SEO.
Fortunately, cPanel provides tools to help you identify and correct these issues effectively.
First, let’s look at how to identify broken links using cPanel.
Using cPanel’s File Manager to Locate the Broken Link
Log into cPanel: Access your cPanel account as described in the previous section.
Open File Manager: In the cPanel dashboard, locate the File Manager under the “Files” section. This tool allows you to browse your website’s file structure.
Navigate to Your Website’s Directory: Go to the directory where your website files are stored, usually in the public_html folder.
Check HTML Files: Open the HTML files where you suspect broken links may exist. Look for any <a> tags that might be pointing to non-existent pages.
Verify URLs: Ensure that the URLs in your links are correct. Check for typos, missing slashes, or incorrect domain names.
Test Links: If you have access to a testing environment, click on the links to see if they lead to the intended pages. Alternatively, use online broken link checkers to scan your website for broken links.
Correcting Broken Links
Once you have identified the broken links, you can proceed to correct them.
Editing HTML Files
Edit Files in File Manager: In the File Manager, right-click on the HTML file containing the broken link and select Edit. This will open the file in a code editor.
Update the Link: Locate the broken link in the <a> tag and update it with the correct URL. Save your changes after making the necessary edits.
#2. Redirecting Deleted or Moved Content to Fix 404 Error in cPanel
So, you’ve moved or deleted some stuff on your website, and now you need to make sure visitors don’t get lost hence avoid 404 errors.
Setting up redirects is like the preventive measure to 404 errors.
It’s like leaving a helpful note for your visitors, telling them where to find what they’re looking for.
Let’s dive into how to set this up in cPanel and get a little fancy with the .htaccess file if you’re up for it!
Setting Up Redirects in cPanel to Fix 404 Error
Understanding 301 vs. 302 Redirects
Okay, let’s break this down:
301 Redirect (Permanent): This tells everyone (and search engines) that your page has moved permanently.
It’s great for keeping your SEO ranking intact.
302 Redirect (Temporary): This one’s for when you’re just moving things around temporarily.
It doesn’t mess with bookmarks, so it’s perfect for short-term changes.
Guide to Setting Up Redirects Using cPanel to Fix 404 Error
Use your credentials to get into your cPanel account.
Find the “Domains” section on your dashboard and click on the “Redirects” icon.
Select Redirect Type. Pick either Permanent (301) or Temporary (302) from the dropdown menu.
Pick the domain you want to redirect. If you want to redirect all your domains, go with “All Public Domains.”
In the “Redirects to” field, type in the full URL where you want to send visitors. Don’t forget to include the protocol (http:// or https://).
Specify Redirect Options:
Only redirect with www.: Redirects users who type in the www prefix.
Redirect with or without www.: Redirects everyone, no matter if they use www or not.
Do Not Redirect www.: Does nothing for users with the www prefix.
Enable Wild Card Redirect (Optional): If you want to redirect all files from one directory to the corresponding file in a new location, check this box.
Hit the “Add” button, and you’ll see a confirmation message once it’s set up.
Give the redirect a try by typing the old URL into your browser and see if it takes you to the new spot.
Using .htaccess for Redirects
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to tweak redirects a bit more, you can edit the .htaccess file directly.
Here’s how:
Editing the .htaccess File
In cPanel, go to “File Manager.”
Click on “Settings” in the top right and enable “Show Hidden Files (dotfiles)” to find the .htaccess file.
Go to the public_html directory where your website files live.
Right-click on the .htaccess file and choose “Edit.” Be careful here—one wrong move, and your site might act up!
Common Redirect Rules and Syntax
Here are some rules you can add to your .htaccess file:
301 Permanent Redirect:
Redirect 301 /old-page.html http://www.example.com/new-page.html
302 Temporary Redirect:
Redirect 302 /temporary-page.html http://www.example.com/another-page.html
Wild Card Redirect:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^old-directory/(.*)$ http://www.example.com/new-directory/$1 [R=301,L]
#3. Fixing Incorrect URLs
A 404 error can be also because of incorrect URLs, so let’s try to fix this in cPanel.
Typos in URLs can happen when you’re creating new pages, updating stuff, or even when users enter URLs by hand.
Let’s tackle how to find and fix these errors step-by-step:
Finding Typos in URLs
Check Raw Access Logs: Head over to cPanel and find the Metrics section.
Click on Raw Access to see all the requests made to your site, including any URLs with mistakes.
Scan HTML Files: Open up cPanel’s File Manager and dig through your HTML files.
Look for any URLs that might be misspelled or have typos, whether they’re in your content or linked from other pages.
Test URLs: Click around your site and check if any links lead to 404 errors. This can help you spot URLs that need fixing.
Fixing Typos in URLs
Edit HTML Files: In the File Manager, open the HTML files where the incorrect URLs are.
Find the typo, fix it, and save your changes.
Update URLs in CMS: If you’re using something like WordPress, go to your admin dashboard.
Find the page or post with the wrong URL, fix the typo in the editor, and save it.
Set Up Redirects: For URLs you can’t easily change, set up redirects in cPanel.
This will automatically send visitors to the right page and keep those annoying 404 errors at bay.
Consistent URL Structures and Naming Conventions
To keep your URLs looking sharp and functioning perfectly in the future, follow these best practices:
Use Descriptive Keywords: Add relevant keywords to your URLs. This makes them more user-friendly and helps with SEO.
Avoid Special Characters: Stick to lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens (-). Skip spaces, underscores, and special characters.
Keep URLs Short and Simple: Short, sweet URLs are easier to remember and share.
Use Consistent Structures: Maintain a consistent format for your URLs, like /category/post-name/ or /page-name/.
Implement Redirects for URL Changes: If you need to change your URL structure, make sure to set up redirects so visitors can still find what they’re looking for.
And there you have it! With these tips, you’ll keep your URLs neat, clean, and error-free.
Preventing Future 404 Errors
You have successfully understood how to use cPanel to fix a 404 error. But let’s chat about how you can keep them from popping up again in the future.
With a bit of regular maintenance and some handy best practices, you can keep your site running smoothly and error-free!
Regular Website Maintenance
Checking for Broken Links
Imagine your website as a big, friendly neighborhood. You don’t want any dead-end streets, right?
So, it’s a great idea to check for broken links regularly.
Tools like Google Search Console or online link checkers can help you spot and fix these issues before they turn into bigger problems.
Keeping URLs Consistent
Think of URLs like your website’s address.
Keeping them neat and tidy helps avoid confusion and 404 errors.
Use clear, descriptive words, avoid those tricky special characters, and keep things simple.
If you move stuff around, make sure to set up redirects so visitors don’t get lost.
Best Practices for Content Management
1. Set up redirects to guide visitors and maintain SEO.
2. Ensure internal links point to active pages and update them regularly.
3. Keep your CMS, plugins, and themes updated to avoid errors.
4. Regularly backup your site to ensure quick recovery from issues.
And there you have it! Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be on your way to a smoother, error-free website experience.
Conclusion
Generally, when you fix 404 error you improve user experience and maintain your website’s SEO health and cPanel is the best tool for that.
404 errors can frustrate visitors and impact traffic, hence these tips on identifying and correcting these errors using cPanel should come in handy.
Key steps included setting up redirects and fixing broken links and URLs.
Regular website maintenance and utilizing cPanel’s tools, like Redirects and File Manager, are crucial for preventing future issues.
By staying proactive and regularly checking for errors, you can keep your site user-friendly and your SEO strong.