Broken Links and 404s

This article explains how to identify and fix broken links and 404 errors on your Web60 WordPress website.

What Are 404 Errors and Broken Links

A 404 error appears when someone clicks a link to a page that doesn't exist. This happens when:

• You've deleted a page but links to it still exist
• You've changed a page's web address (URL)
• Someone has typed the wrong web address
• Links point to pages that were never created

Finding Broken Links on Your Website

Check Your Website Manually

1. Visit each page on your website
2. Click every link to see if it works
3. Look for links that show "Page Not Found" or similar error messages
4. Make note of which links are broken and where they appear

Use WordPress to Check for Missing Pages

1. Log into your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Go to Pages → All Pages
3. Look for pages marked as "Trash" that might still be linked elsewhere
4. Check if any important pages are missing

Fixing Broken Links

Update Links in Your Content

1. Go to your WordPress admin dashboard
2. Find the page or post containing the broken link
3. Click "Edit" next to that page or post
4. Look for the broken link in your content
5. Either delete the link or change it to point to the correct page
6. Click "Update" to save your changes

Fix Broken Links in Your Menu

1. In WordPress admin, go to Appearance → Menus
2. Look through your menu items for any that point to deleted pages
3. Either remove the menu item or change it to link to the correct page
4. Click "Save Menu"

Restore Accidentally Deleted Pages

1. In WordPress admin, go to Pages → All Pages
2. Click "Trash" at the top of the page list
3. Find your deleted page and click "Restore"
4. The page will return to your website with its original web address

Common Causes of 404 Errors

Changed page addresses: When you change a page's title or URL, old links stop working.

Deleted pages: Removing pages without updating links that point to them.

Plugin issues: Some plugins can cause pages to stop working properly.

Incorrect typing: Visitors typing web addresses incorrectly.

Preventing Future Broken Links

Before deleting any page, search your website to see if other pages link to it. If they do, update those links first.

When changing a page's web address, update any internal links that point to the old address.

Regularly check your website by clicking through all your pages and links.

If you're still stuck with broken links or 404 errors, contact Web60 support through your account portal. Include the specific error messages you're seeing and which pages are affected.

FAQ

Q: Why do I keep getting 404 errors on my website?

A: 404 errors usually happen when pages have been deleted or moved, but links pointing to them haven't been updated. Check if the pages still exist and update any broken links.

Q: Can broken links hurt my website's Google ranking?

A: Yes, too many broken links can negatively affect how Google ranks your website. It's important to fix them when you find them.

Q: What's the difference between a broken link and a 404 error?

A: A broken link is a link that doesn't work properly. A 404 error is the specific message that appears when someone clicks a link to a page that doesn't exist.

Q: How often should I check my website for broken links?

A: Check your links whenever you delete or move pages. For general maintenance, checking once every few months is usually sufficient for small business websites.

Q: I deleted a page by mistake. Can I get it back?

A: Yes, deleted pages go to WordPress Trash first. Go to Pages → All Pages → Trash to restore accidentally deleted pages.

Q: Some links work for me but not for my customers. Why?

A: You might be logged into WordPress when testing, which can show pages that aren't visible to regular visitors. Try viewing your website in a private/incognito browser window.