About the Soft 404 Checker
When someone requests a page that does not exist, your server should return a 404 or 410 status code. Some sites instead show an error message with a 200 OK status, or redirect every missing URL to the homepage. Google calls these soft 404s, and they can waste crawl activity and let junk URLs linger in reports. This soft 404 checker requests a random, made-up URL on your public domain and reports exactly what the server sent back.
If the result is a 200 or a redirect, check your CMS, theme or hosting settings. Many platforms let you keep a friendly custom 404 page while still sending the correct status code. Moved content should get a 301 to its closest replacement, but blanket redirects of every missing URL to the homepage are not recommended.
How to use it
- Enter your domain or homepage URL.
- Run the check to request a random URL that should not exist.
- Read the returned status code and any redirect target.
- Configure your server or CMS to send 404 or 410 with your custom error page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a soft 404?
A soft 404 is a page that tells visitors it does not exist, or has no useful content, while the server returns a 200 OK status. Google detects many of these and reports them in Search Console as soft 404 errors. Returning a real 404 or 410 status code makes the situation clear to search engines immediately.
Can I redirect all 404 pages to my homepage?
It is not a good idea. Google generally treats redirects of missing pages to an unrelated homepage as soft 404s, and visitors land somewhere they did not expect. Redirect a removed URL only when there is a close replacement. Otherwise return a 404 with a helpful page offering search and popular links.
Will a custom 404 page hurt SEO?
No. A branded 404 page with navigation, a search box and helpful links is good for users. What matters is that the server still sends a 404 or 410 status code with it. Check the status, not just how the page looks, because many themes show a custom design with the wrong status.