Knowledgebase

404 Error After Changing Permalinks

Encountering a 404 error after changing permalinks in WordPress is a common issue. This typically happens because the server is unable to locate the new URL structure. Here are steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

  1. Flush Permalinks:

    • Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Settings > Permalinks. Without making any changes, click the "Save Changes" button. This will refresh the permalink structure and may resolve the issue.
  2. Check .htaccess File:

    • Ensure that your .htaccess file (located in the root directory of your WordPress installation) is writable. You can also try manually adding the following code to your .htaccess file:
    Perl

 

  • # BEGIN WordPress <IfModule mod_rewrite.c> RewriteEngine On RewriteBase / RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L] RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d RewriteRule . /index.php [L] </IfModule> # END WordPress
  • Check File Permissions:

    • Verify that the .htaccess file has the correct permissions. It should typically be set to 644.
  • Check for Plugin/Theme Conflicts:

    • Deactivate all plugins and switch to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-One). If the issue is resolved, reactivate each plugin/theme one by one to identify the one causing the conflict.
  • Check for Incorrect Permalink Structure:

    • Ensure that the chosen permalink structure is compatible with your server configuration. If you're using a custom structure, make sure it's well-formed and doesn't contain any invalid characters.
  • Check for Typos in the Permalink:

    • If you're using a custom structure, ensure there are no typos or incorrect symbols in the structure.
  • Recreate .htaccess File:

    • You can try creating a new .htaccess file by going to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard and clicking the "Save Changes" button. This will regenerate the .htaccess file.
  • Check Server Configuration:

    • Some server configurations might not fully support the mod_rewrite module, which WordPress uses for clean permalinks. Contact your hosting provider to verify if mod_rewrite is enabled.
  • Update Rewrite Rules Manually:

    • If all else fails, you can manually update the rewrite rules. Add the following code to your functions.php file:
    php

 

  1. flush_rewrite_rules();

    Remember to remove this code after your permalinks have been fixed.

  2. Contact Hosting Provider:

    • If none of the above solutions work, contact your hosting provider for further assistance. They may need to adjust server configurations or investigate server-related issues.

Remember to always back up your website files and database before making any significant changes. This way, you can easily restore your site if something goes wrong during troubleshooting.

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