How to Fix WordPress Posts Returning 404 Error (Step by Step Guide)

Introduction

When you’re running a WordPress website, one of the most frustrating things that can happen is discovering that your posts are returning a 404 error. Instead of showing your carefully written content, visitors see a blank error page saying the post can’t be found. Not only does this hurt user experience, but it can also damage your SEO and cause you to lose valuable traffic. The good news is that this issue is more common than you might think, and it usually has straightforward solutions. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through how to fix WordPress posts returning 404 error without panicking. Whether it’s a permalink problem, a .htaccess misconfiguration, or plugin conflicts, we’ll cover each possible cause and explain how to fix it in plain, everyday language. By the end, you’ll be able to get your posts working again and ensure visitors can access your content without errors.

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Why Do WordPress Posts Return 404 Error?

Before fixing the issue, it’s helpful to understand why it happens. The 404 error means that the server can’t find the requested page. In WordPress, this is often caused by:

• Broken permalinks or incorrect permalink settings
• A missing or corrupted .htaccess file
• Plugin or theme conflicts
• Cache or browser issues
• Server configuration problems

Once you know the possible culprits, it becomes much easier to troubleshoot and fix the issue step by step.

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Step 1: Check and Reset Permalink Settings

The most common reason for WordPress posts returning 404 errors is permalink issues. Thankfully, this is also the easiest fix.

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Settings > Permalinks.
3. Without changing anything, click Save Changes.

This simple action refreshes your permalink structure and often resolves the 404 error instantly. If it doesn’t, try switching to a different permalink structure (like Plain), save, then switch back to your preferred format and save again.

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Step 2: Regenerate the .htaccess File

If resetting permalinks didn’t work, the problem could be with your .htaccess file. This file helps control how URLs are processed on your server.

• Access your site using FTP or your hosting file manager.
• Locate the .htaccess file in the root folder.
• Download a backup copy to your computer.
• Delete the file from your server.
• Go back to Settings > Permalinks in WordPress and click Save Changes.

WordPress will automatically generate a fresh .htaccess file, which should fix any corruption issues.

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Step 3: Disable Conflicting Plugins

Sometimes plugins interfere with your site’s URLs or rewrite rules. If your posts are still showing 404 errors:

• Deactivate all plugins from your dashboard.
• Check if your posts work now.
• If they do, reactivate plugins one by one while testing.

This process will help you find the culprit. Once identified, you can either replace the plugin with an alternative or contact the developer for support.

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Step 4: Switch to a Default Theme

Theme-related functions can also break post URLs. To test this:

1. Go to Appearance > Themes.
2. Activate a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
3. Check if your posts load correctly.

If switching themes fixes the issue, then your current theme may have coding errors or compatibility issues that need developer attention.

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Step 5: Clear Cache and Browser Data

It’s possible that your posts are working fine, but your browser or caching plugin is still showing the error. To fix this:

• Clear your WordPress cache if you use caching plugins.
• Purge server-side cache if your hosting provides it.
• Clear your browser cache and cookies.

Then, reload your posts in a private/incognito window to confirm.

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Step 6: Check Server Configuration

In rare cases, the issue may be on your server itself. Problems with mod_rewrite (on Apache) or Nginx configuration can cause 404 errors. If you’ve tried all the above and your posts still don’t work, reach out to your hosting provider and ask them to check URL rewriting on your server.

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Step 7: Restore Backup or Use Debugging Tools

If nothing else works, you may need to restore your site from a backup when it was working correctly. Alternatively, enable WordPress debugging to identify the root cause. This is more technical but can help uncover hidden issues.

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Preventing WordPress 404 Errors in the Future

Once you fix the problem, it’s smart to take steps to avoid it happening again.

• Always back up your site before major updates.
• Use reliable plugins and themes from trusted sources.
• Monitor permalink changes carefully.
• Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated.

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Wrapping Up

Seeing WordPress posts returning 404 error can be stressful, but as you’ve seen, the fixes are usually straightforward. By resetting permalinks, regenerating your .htaccess file, disabling plugins, or checking server settings, you can usually resolve the issue in minutes.

Keeping your site maintained with regular backups and updates will also reduce the chances of errors showing up again. Now that you know how to fix WordPress posts returning 404 error step by step, you’ll be better prepared if it happens in the future.

If you’d like to explore more WordPress troubleshooting guides, keep learning and building your confidence as a site owner—because every issue has a solution.