Agreed
@gregstereo . Checking backlinks and organic traffic first helps identify which 404s deserve attention instead of wasting time on URLs with no real value.
I would chek google search console to identify the 404 URLs with backlinks or existing organic traffic first. Those should be prioritized and redirects should be used when a relevant replacement exists.
Good point
@Steptoe about rebuilding old pages. Sometimes restoring useful content is better than redirecting it elsewhere, especially if the page already has valuable backlinks.
Nah you want to fix 404s, either by fixing your internal links, or 301ing any dead pages that have decent backlinks pointing to them to another relevant page (or rebuild the old page if it may have value). Anything else that is a dead for a reason and has no replacement should be returning a 410 response - it'll make your domain look much healthier.
Exactly. The key is understanding whether the error affects users or important pages before deciding whether to fix it.
@Rank_Lift
I would check whether the 404s are affecting visitors or important pages before deciding what needs fixing.
Yes, fixing internal links should be one of the first steps. It’s a straightforward fix that improves navigation and helps search engines discover the right URLs.
@zohrabano
Fix broken links on your website.
That’s how I approach it too. Prioritizing important pages and broken internal links keeps the cleanup focused, rather than chasing every 404 in Search Console.
@smrankserp
Agreed! Not every 404 needs to be fixed. I usually focus on important pages and broken internal links first, and only redirect URLs when there's a relevant replacement. This keeps things useful for both visitors and search engines.
Absolutely
@BlackShield . Those random requests for wp-login or .env files can inflate the error count. I’d separate them from genuine broken URLs that users or search engines are trying to access.
True not every 404 needs fixing. I will focus on important pages and broken internal links first. If there’s no relevant replacement, leaving the page as a 404 is perfectly fine. Redirecting everything to the homepage can create problems.
Agreed
@HostingBaba , If a dead page still has quality backlinks or brings in traffic, I’d check whether the original content can be restored before deciding on a redirect.
also half the 404s in most server logs are just bots poking at wp-login and .env files, ignore those and only look at urls real people or google actually hit
@Titans . A relevant redirect is useful when there’s a genuine replacement, but forcing unrelated URLs to the homepage doesn’t solve the underlying issue.
You can also check whether any 404 pages still have backlinks or receive organic traffic. If they do, look for a relevant replacement page or restore the original content if it’s still useful.
If there’s no suitable replacement, leaving the 404 is fine. The main thing is to fix broken internal links and avoid redirecting unrelated URLs just to clear errors in GSC.
Good observation
@Ken Jeff . A 410 explicitly indicates that the content is gone, while a 404 can also be appropriate. I wouldn’t rely on 410 alone as a ranking or SEO improvement, though.
404 isnt always bad if a page is gone for good with no replacement leaving it is fine. The real problem is useful pages 404ing by mistake or dead pages with good backlinks that never got a relevant 301. observation - a 410 for pages that are gone for good tells Google that faster.
True
@Pax Digital . The important thing is distinguishing accidental errors from intentional removals. For permanently deleted pages, a 410 is an option, but a 404 is also perfectly acceptable when there’s no replacement.
404s are not always bad. the real problem is useful pages that break or dead pages with good backlinks and no redirect. if a page is gone for good a 410 can get it dropped faster.
