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How to set up a proper 404 page

Best practices1 min readFixes check 404-page-custom

Missing pages should answer with status 404 and a helpful page, not a blank screen or a 200 that pretends to be fine.

Step by step, with screenshots: Custom 404 pages that help: status codes, content and the check →

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What a passing site looks like

  • Missing pages get a proper 404 pagewarning · −1 ptseffort S

Missing pages do not get a proper 404 page

Why it matters. A visitor on a broken link should see your own "page not found" with a menu and search, and search engines should get HTTP 404 so they drop the URL. A server default page or a 200 answer does neither.

How to fix it.
  1. Return HTTP 404 (not 200 or 302) for unknown URLs; a "soft 404" keeps dead pages in Google.
  2. Design the 404 page with your header, a short apology, search and links to the main sections; most CMSs have a 404 template.

Filed under Best practices. Copy is generated from the same catalogue that scores every report, so what you read here is what the report says.