{"id":1545,"date":"2026-03-25T12:47:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T12:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.digitalupward.com\/blog\/?p=1545"},"modified":"2026-04-16T11:00:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T11:00:41","slug":"soft-404-errors-causes-fixes-and-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.digitalupward.com\/blog\/soft-404-errors-causes-fixes-and-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Soft 404 Errors: Causes, Fixes, and Prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not all errors are apparent when moderating a website. Soft 404 errors are one such difficult issue. These, unlike standard errors, can quietly destroy your website performance without leaving clear warning signs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s <\/span>discuss<\/span> this into simple terms so you can quickly recognize, fix and prevent these errors.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a Soft 404 Error?<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is when a webpage looks like \u201cnot found\u201d page for users but the server does not return a proper status code of HTTP (404). <\/span>but instead of returning a proper <\/span>404 status code<\/b>, it sends a <\/span>200 (OK)<\/b> response to search engines.<\/span><\/p>\n

So if you clicked a link and were shown a blank page or a \u201cNo content available\u201d message, technically, the page still exists but does not display any content. This disparity creates a soft 404.<\/span><\/p>\n

Such issues are commonly flagged by a tool like Google Search Console, as they affect the way in which search engines make sense of your website. That\u2019s why it\u2019s also important to understand how to fix indexing issues in Google Search Console<\/b><\/a>, as both problems are closely connected and can impact your overall SEO performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

404 vs Soft 404 Errors: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s where the difference is a key to solving it well:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Standard 404 Error<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n