Error 404 Meaning: How to Fix 404 Error code?

A 404 error code is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol standard response code, indicating that a page has moved or is not available.

Error 404 meaning is that the website is either offline or has the wrong address.


What Causes A 404 Error?

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It gets annoying for the users to see the 404 error, and this error is unknown for a beginner.

Some folks try to find the 404 meaning to fix the 404 error on their computers or mobile devices.

So, a 404 error happens when,

  • A 404 error may be caused by a server down on the website end. Because when the server is down, the server may not be able to forward the user to the new address.
  • Another possible reason for this error is that the website has experienced some technical problems.
  • This error also occurs when a website moves a page or resources without redirecting the old URL to the new one.
  • Another reason for this error is that the domain has been expired or deleted.

How you might experience the 404 Error

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Now you know what error 404 meaning, so let’s just find out how this error can appear.

404 Error messages might differ on systems, but it leads to the exact cause and answer.

So, here are some forms of displaying 404 Error messages on several systems:

  • 404 Error
  • The remote server returned an error 404 not found.
  • 404 Not Found
  • Error 404
  • The requested URL [URL] was not found on this server
  • HTTP error 404. the requested resource is not found.
  • HTTP 404
  • Error 404 Not Found
  • 404 File or Directory Not Found
  • HTTP 404 Not Found
  • 404 Page Not Found
  • 404. that’s an error. The requested URL was not found on this server. That’s all we know.
  • Error 404. The page you’re looking for can’t be found.

How to Fix 404 Error?

The best way to solve a 404 problem is to contact the site owner. Its owners can help you find the problem and provide a solution for your visitors.

1. Retry the web page

As I have already mentioned, the cause of the 404 Error, which clearly states that this error is a client-side error. One of the ways to fix this error is to retry your web page.

Because sometimes, the issue stays on the server-side for a couple of seconds, and retrying the web page might fix the 404 error.

To retry the web page, you can tap on F5 (Function Key) on the keyboard or click on cntrl+R.

2. Check for errors in the URL

Check if there is an error in the URL, you might have mistyped while typing the URL.

3. Change web directory

Suppose you see an “HTTP error 404. the requested resource is not found.

4th: the remote server returned an error 404 not found” error. You can modify or level up or down the directory of a website.

For example, if the URL is this: www.website.com/dir1/dir2/dir3/.

You can change it to: www.website.com/dir1/dir2/ to check if the 404 Error is still found.

It is to ensure that the URL is moved or has been deleted.

4. Clear your browser’s cache

If you can access the same page generating a 404 page on any other device, this might indicate that the problem lies in your browser.

So, try to clear the cache and cookies of your browser.

To do that, click on the following key combination of the keyboard:

cntrl+shift+del.

You can select a date and time according to your need and click onOK.

5. Change the DNS servers.

This method is only applicable when the entire website gives you the 404 Error, especially when other devices like your mobile network or someone around the city can access the page, but you can not.

404s on an entire website is not usually typical until your ISP(Internet Service provider) or government has restricted that website in your area for some reason.

So,changing the DNSof your computer might solve the issue that you’re facing.

6. Use a search engine.

The entire URL can be wrong, so in that case, you can help from the popular search engines like Google, Yahoo, or Bing to search the webpage that you are looking for.

If you are looking for something from an exact website that gives you the 404, you can find your web page with the help of the search engine by typing: site:www.website.com “your keyword”.

This way, you will find the best results for your query related to only one website.

7. Use the incognito tab.

After all these methods, if you still cannot fix the 404 error.

Then you can try shifting to the incognito tab.

8. Change Browser

Sometimes browser does not work correctly and crashes due to some technical problems.

If shifting to the incognito tab does not help you out, you can change your browser to any other browser like Mozilla, Chrome, or Safari.

9. Contact the website directly.

Contact the website owner directly, and they might be able to help you out regarding the web page that gives you a 404 page.

Because web owners might have mistakenly removed the page or moved the page to a new URL but forget about redirecting the old URL to the unique URL.


How to customize the 404 Error Page?

A 404 error page can be made to look like a regular web page.

It should contain links to popular pages on your site, a recognizable logo, and a readable URL.

Your visitors will also be able to get in touch with you if they cannot find what they’re looking for.

The 404 error page can also be customized to look like a regular page. These are some things that you can apply for on a 404 Page.

  • A 404 error page can be created to be visually consistent with the rest of the website.
  • You can include links to the footer and header of your site.
  • You can even have popular pages on your 404 error page.
  • Your site’s contact details are also included, along with a link to your social media accounts and an about us page.
  • This way, users can always return to your website without having to worry about the 404 error message again.

FAQs

How to Fix 404 Error on Android devices?

Here’s how to fix error 404 on Android devices.

If the 404 error occurs on a mobile device, try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies.

How to Fix 404 Error on iPhone or IOS devices?

On iPhone, you can also clear the cache by removing the website’s cookie and cache.

Why 404 is an essential factor in SEO?

If your website is prone to 404 errors, you must consider how to prevent them from happening again.

Because it has a bad impact on the users searching for something.

So, you should always have a good 404 template, so your website user does not disappoint your website.


Conclusion

Error 404 meaning is that the error message can appear if the website has removed or has moved the URL to a new URL.

There are many possibilities why one see 404 Error on their devices.

This article has explained all the root causes, along with the solutions.

So, if you can still not fix the issue, you can comment under this post or contact us with your query.

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