Error 404 en WordPress ¡Soluciónalo GRATIS en 1 minuto!

Encountering a 404 error on your WordPress site can be a jarring experience. One moment you’re seamlessly navigating your dashboard, and the next, you’re faced with a cold, generic message telling you that a page cannot be found. For a site owner, this isn’t just a minor technical hiccup; it’s a direct barrier between your content and your audience, potentially harming user experience and your site’s search engine standing.

While the instinct might be to panic or call in a developer, the truth is that resolving a WordPress 404 error is often a straightforward process. Many of the most common causes have simple, free fixes that you can implement yourself in a matter of minutes. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to diagnose and permanently fix these errors, ensuring your visitors always find what they’re looking for.

What Exactly is a 404 Error?

Before diving into solutions, it’s helpful to understand what a 404 error actually signifies. In the language of the web, a 404 status code means “Not Found.” It’s an HTTP response code indicating that the server successfully received the request from the client’s browser but could not locate the specific resource (the page, post, or image) that was asked for.

Think of it like asking a librarian for a specific book. The librarian is there (the server is working), but they can’t find the book on the shelf. This could be because the book was moved, it was never there, the shelf label is wrong, or someone gave you the incorrect location. A 404 error in WordPress is similar—it’s usually a problem of miscommunication or misconfiguration, not necessarily a broken server.

Common Culprits: Why You’re Seeing a 404 Page

Identifying the root cause is the first step toward a lasting solution. Several factors can trigger a 404 error in WordPress:

• Flawed Permalink Structure: This is arguably the most frequent cause. WordPress uses a system of “pretty” permalinks (e.g., yoursite.com/about-us) to make URLs readable. If this structure becomes corrupted or isn’t properly saved, the server won’t know how to interpret the URL request.
• .htaccess File Corruption: The .htaccess file is a powerful configuration file that dictates how your server handles URL requests. An error in this file, or incorrect file permissions, can prevent pages from being found.
• Recent Changes or Updates: Did you recently install a new plugin, switch your theme, or run a WordPress update? Any of these actions can sometimes conflict with your site’s existing configuration, leading to unexpected 404s.
• Deleted or Moved Content: If you or another admin deleted a page or changed its slug (the URL-friendly name), any existing links to the old address will now result in a 404 error.
• Caching Issues: While caching is fantastic for speed, it can sometimes serve an outdated version of a page or continue to show a link to content that no longer exists.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing WordPress 404 Errors

You can systematically work through these solutions, starting with the simplest and most common fix.

1. The One-Minute Permalink Reset

This is the go-to first step for a reason—it resolves a huge percentage of 404 issues instantly.

1. Log into your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to Settings > Permalinks.
3. Simply look at the current setting. You don’t need to change it.
4. Click the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page.

This action flushes and rebuilds your site’s rewrite rules, effectively clearing out any corrupted instructions that were causing the server to misread URLs. It takes seconds and requires no technical knowledge. After saving, check your previously broken link—it will often be working perfectly.

2. Verify and Regenerate Your .htaccess File

The .htaccess file works hand-in-hand with your permalink structure. If resetting permalinks didn’t work, this file might be the issue.

1. Using your web hosting file manager or an FTP client (like FileZilla), access your website’s root directory. This is typically named public_html, www, or your domain name.
   2 Look for the .htaccess file. It may be hidden by default; ensure your FTP client or file manager is configured to show hidden files.
2. Crucially, before doing anything else, make a backup copy of this file. Download it to your computer and rename it to .htaccess_backup for safekeeping.
3. Now, delete the original .htaccess file from your server.
4. Return to your WordPress dashboard and go to Settings > Permalinks again. Click “Save Changes.” This will automatically generate a new, clean .htaccess file with the correct rules.

Test your site again. This process replaces a potentially corrupted file with a fresh, WordPress-generated one.

3. Investigate Plugins and Themes

A plugin or theme conflict can often be the hidden source of trouble.

1. Deactivate All Plugins: Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins, select all, and choose “Deactivate” from the bulk actions menu. Then click “Apply.”
2. Check if the 404 error persists. If the error is gone, you know a plugin is the culprit.
3. Reactivate Plugins One by One: Reactivate your plugins one at a time, checking your site after each activation. When the 404 error returns, you’ve identified the problematic plugin. You can then seek an alternative or check for an update from the developer.
4. Switch to a Default Theme: If deactivating plugins didn’t help, try temporarily switching your theme to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three. If the error disappears, the issue lies within your theme’s code, and you should contact the theme’s support team.

4. Clear All Caching Mechanisms

Caching exists at multiple levels, and you need to clear them all.

• WordPress Cache: If you use a caching plugin like WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or WP Super Cache, clear its cache from the plugin’s settings.
• Server-Level Cache: Many hosts offer built-in caching (e.g., Varnish, Nginx). Check your hosting control panel (like cPanel) for an option to clear the server cache.
• Browser Cache: Finally, clear your own browser’s cache and cookies or test the URL in an incognito/private browser window to rule out local caching issues.

5. Create a Custom 404 Page

While the goal is to eliminate 404s, they can still happen from broken external links. Instead of showing a generic, dead-end error page, create a custom 404 page that enhances user experience.

1. Create a new page in WordPress. Title it “Page Not Found” and add helpful content like a friendly message, a search bar, and links to your most important pages or popular blog posts.
2. Publish the page and note its URL.
3. Depending on your theme, you may find an option to set a custom 404 page under Appearance > Customize.
4. If not, you can use a plugin like “404page” to easily assign your newly created page as the default 404 template for your site.

Advanced Checks and Preventative Measures

For persistent issues or to future-proof your site, consider these steps:

• Check for Server Misconfigurations: In rare cases, a problem with your web server (Apache/Nginx) configuration might be the cause. This is typically handled by your web hosting provider. If you’ve exhausted all other options, contact their support and explain the steps you’ve already taken.
• Implement 301 Redirects: For content that you have intentionally moved or deleted, set up a 301 redirect from the old URL to a new, relevant page. This is crucial for preserving SEO value. Plugins like Redirection make this process simple, allowing you to manually manage redirects and even track 404 errors.

Resolving a WordPress 404 error doesn’t require advanced coding skills or a large budget. By following a logical troubleshooting path—starting with the permalink reset and moving through file checks, plugin conflicts, and caching—you can almost always identify and fix the problem yourself. A functional, error-free site is fundamental to maintaining professional credibility, a positive user experience, and strong search engine rankings. Take these steps today to ensure your visitors never hit a dead end.