How do I correct a 404 error on cPanel?

Procédure

An HTTP 404 error is a standard error message indicating that the web page or resource you are trying to reach has not been found on the server. It is one of the most recognisable errors on the Internet, signalling to the user that the link they followed is either broken or out of date, and that the content they are looking for is no longer available.

What is a 404 error?

An HTTP 404 error, or more colloquially "Page not found", is a server response code indicating that the server was unable to find the requested resource. Unlike other HTTP errors, a 404 error is often the result of human error, such as a typo in the URL, or a link pointing to a page that has been deleted or moved without updating the redirect.

Common reasons for a 404 error include :

• A mistyped URL or broken links on websites, leading to a non-existent resource.
• A change in website structure without updating internal links or redirects, leaving old URLs pointing to pages that no longer exist.
• Deleting content or moving pages without setting up appropriate redirects to guide users and search engines to the new path.
• Web server configuration errors, where the server is unable to provide the requested content even though it actually exists, due to problems in the configuration files.

How do I correct a 404 error?

LiteSpeed 404 error page

The 404 error is generated by LiteSpeed if you see this error page :

If you see this error page, it means that you have activated LiteSpeed on your hosting and your website and that a configuration problem is causing a 404 error to be displayed.

To solve the problem simply follow these steps:

Step 1: Connect to your cPanel hosting

Step 2: Go to LiteSpeed configuration in the Performance section of your cPanel control panel

Step 3: Deactivate LiteSpeed caching and then reactivate it to restart a new configuration.

If the problem is not resolved, please contact our technical support team so that an agent can deal with the problem.

Apache 404 error page

If you get a 404 error that does not come from LiteSpeed, then you need to check several points:

• Check for broken links: Use tools like Broken Link Checker to find and fix broken links on your site.
• Update or create redirects: If a page has been moved, make sure you set up a 301 redirect to guide visitors and search engines to the new URL.
• Check the URL redirection directives in the .htaccess file.

Conclusion

You now know how to :

• Identify an HTTP 404 error and understand its common causes.
• Correct a 404 error caused by LiteSpeed by following the configuration steps for your cPanel hosting.
• Handle a 404 error on an Apache server by checking for broken links, updating or creating redirects, and checking redirect directives in the .htaccess file.

🛠️ With this knowledge, you are armed to tackle one of the most common problems on the web and ensure a smooth and uninterrupted user experience. 🌐

We hope this article has been helpful and provided you with the tools you need to effectively resolve 404 errors. We thank you for reading and invite you to share your experiences or ask your questions by leaving a comment below 👇. Your feedback is valuable and helps us improve our services!