This article is to help you solve the problem with your individual WordPress pages not loading, and/or resolving to a 404 error.
Scenario: When you go to your homepage, the site loads fine. But after clicking on any of the navigation buttons or other links, you get a 404 error. This solution is for you!
Fixed in Under 1 Minutes
Screens and Walk Through
- Login to WP Admin
- Click on “Settings”
- Click on “Permalinks”
- Click “Save Changes” (yes, without making changes)
The Tech Stuff
If you want to know why this happens and why saving the Permalinks resolves the issue, then here are the details.
The permalinks setting creates a file called .htaccess which controls your page links.
By default, WordPress page links are yourdomain.com/?p=123, for example. When you use permalinks and have an active .htaccess file, you’re telling the URL or page links to use the page name instead of the page number, yourdomain.com/page-name.
Typically, when you have this issue with pages resolving to a 404 error, it’s because the .htaccess file has been removed, deleted, modified incorrectly, or corrupted.
By following the steps above, you are telling WordPress to create or repair the .htaccess file, which resolves the problem.
Need Further Assistance?
If you find you regularly need help resolving these kind of WordPress issues, you should signup for my WordPress Support Plan! Never deal with these issues again because you’ll have a developer on call!
You’re always welcome to use the comments below for assistance, but please allow up to 24 hours for a response.