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

Method 1: Check for Plugin or Theme Conflicts and Custom Code Issues “Plugins, themes, or custom code on your WordPress site can sometimes interfere with permalinks, leading to 404 errors. We’ve encountered this ourselves while testing tools on our demo site. A common solution is to temporarily deactivate your plugins. Plugins can occasionally disrupt how WordPress manages links. After deactivating all plugins, you can reactivate them one by one, checking if the 404 error returns after each activation. If the error reappears with a specific plugin, that plugin may be the cause. In that case, search for solutions related to the plugin or contact the developer for support. Your WordPress theme could also be causing the issue. To check, switch temporarily to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Three or Twenty Twenty-Four. Simply go to Appearance » Themes and click ‘Activate’ on a default theme. If the 404 error disappears with the default theme, it’s likely your current theme is the problem. You can then troubleshoot the theme or consider using a different one. For recommendations, you can explore our expert picks of the most popular WordPress themes. If you’ve recently added custom code to your website, errors in the code might be causing the 404 issues. Review the code carefully to identify any mistakes. The safest way to add custom code to WordPress is by using the WPCode plugin. This tool allows you to insert code snippets without directly editing theme files, minimizing the risk of breaking your site. Additionally, WPCode will automatically deactivate any snippet with an error and prompt you to review it. You can also use its testing mode to ensure your code works before deploying it to your live site. If none of these solutions resolve the issue, proceed to the next step, where we’ll troubleshoot your permalink settings.

Method 2: Fix Your Permalink Settings
WordPress posts may return 404 errors due to issues with the rewrite rules in your .htaccess file. Usually, you can resolve this by simply updating your permalink settings.

To do this, go to Settings » Permalinks in your WordPress admin and click the ‘Save Changes’ button. You don’t need to alter the permalink structure—just saving will refresh your settings and clear the rewrite rules.

This method often resolves the 404 error for WordPress posts. However, if the problem persists, you may need to manually update your .htaccess file.

Method 3: Update the WordPress .htaccess File
Before you begin, ensure you back up your WordPress .htaccess file. This way, if anything goes wrong, you can easily restore the original file.

Next, connect to your server using an FTP client like FileZilla or the File Manager in your WordPress hosting dashboard.

Locate the .htaccess file, which is found in the same directory as folders like /wp-content/ and /wp-includes/.

Right-click on the file and choose ‘File permissions.’

To make the file writable, change its permissions to 666 by entering ‘666’ in the ‘Numeric value’ box, then click ‘OK.’

After that, follow the steps from the first method in this tutorial. Once you’re done, remember to change the permissions back to 660.

You can also edit the file to add custom code. Simply open the .htaccess file with a text editor and insert the following code:

Method 4: Contact Your Hosting Provider
If the solutions above haven’t resolved the WordPress posts returning 404 error, it’s a good idea to reach out to your WordPress hosting provider. The issue might be on their end, or they could assist you in troubleshooting the problem.

Additionally, check out our guide on how to effectively request WordPress support and receive help.

Method 5: Fix WordPress Posts Returning 404 Error on Local Servers
If you’re using a local server for testing, you’ll need to enable mod_rewrite in the Apache configuration of your MAMP, WAMP, or XAMPP setup.

This will allow WordPress to create clean URLs and prevent 404 errors for posts and pages on your local server.

The process varies depending on the platform you’re using. For XAMPP users, open the control panel and click the ‘Config’ button under Actions. Then, select ‘Apache (httpd.conf).’

Find the line #LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so and remove the ‘#’ to uncomment it, enabling mod_rewrite.

Next, locate all instances of AllowOverride None and change them to AllowOverride All.

Setting it to ‘All’ allows all directives to be overridden. Save the httpd.conf file and close it. Then, in the XAMPP control panel, click ‘Stop’ on the Apache module, and ‘Start’ again to restart it.

Finally, return to your WordPress admin dashboard to check if your permalinks are working properly.

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

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

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