How do I fix 4XX errors?

The 4XX error occurs when a requested page does not exist or cannot be accessed due to security settings. If a page is not genuine, the message cannot be transferred between the web page and the web server. Consequently, the page in question is either impossible to locate or inaccessible at the current time. That’s when the 4XX error is displayed. 

In this article we’ll explain why 4XX errors need to be addressed and how to fix them as efficiently as possible.

Why is fixing 4XX errors important?

When a 4XX client error occurs, it must be dealt with immediately for SEO reasons. When search engines encounter 4XX client problems on your site, it can have a negative impact on the page ranking and the number of pages indexed.  The issue is known to cause a loss of organic traffic to the page since search engines cannot index its information. 

It’s crucial to note that if search engines notice a 4XX issue, the corresponding page will be removed from their index, and it may be challenging to get the page re-indexed once the problem has been fixed. 

Solutions for fixing 4XX errors

Discovering a 4XX error is just half the battle. Now you need to troubleshoot to figure out how the error occurred and what needs to be done to correct it. Below are some common issues related to 4XX errors along with ways to fix them. 

• Misspelling – When the URL slug contains numbers and other characters, it can be difficult to identify a typo. It’s possible that you mistyped the URL and need to double-check its spelling. A ‘404 – Not Found’ message will be returned if the site address is incorrect.
• Expired cookies – Delete all cookies and your browser’s cache in order to refresh. Your web browser may be attempting to use a cookie that has since expired. A 400 – Bad Request could be returned if your browser has stored a tainted copy of the requested web page in its cache.
• Faulty remote server – The remote server could be at fault. Sometimes, servers aren’t set up to provide more informative responses. For instance, suppose you want to upload a file to a website, but the file is too big. In this case, the server does not provide a warning that the file is too large to upload but instead returns an HTTP status code of 400.
• Hardware or software issue – Consistently receiving an HTTP error code suggests a hardware or software issue on your end. You could check out some alternative sites to see if you still get the 4XX HTTP error message. If so, it’s time to take a look at the hardware and software that you’re using.
• Using bookmarked pages – Double check that you entered the correct URL before attempting to enter a password-protected area. A previously bookmarked page may no longer load if the URL has changed and a redirect is not in place. If you get a 401 error, double-check that you’re using the proper credentials.

If none of those solutions work there’s one last thing you can try. Simply reload the page. It may not always work, but it’s worth a shot. Press the “F5” key on your keyboard to force a page refresh in your browser. Similarly, if the issue persists after a restart of your computer, you may need a technical expert to do a deeper analysis into the problem.

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