Eliminate Broken Links: Easy Steps to Fix and Control 404 Errors & URL Redirection in WordPress

Are you struggling? Do you need help with 404 errors on your WordPress Site? These errors can hurt your site user experience and affect search rankings. Thankfully, with the Redirection plugin, you can quickly fix and control 404 errors and set up URL redirection. This step-by-step guide will show you how to install, set up, and use the plugin to manage broken links and ensure visitors reach the correct pages.

What Are 404 Errors and URL Redirection in WordPress?

404 errors in WordPress occur when a user attempts to visit a page that isn’t available on your site. This could happen due to a deleted or moved Page or if the URL has changed. These errors can upset users and negatively impact your Site’s SEO.

URL Redirection in WordPress automatically guides users from one URL to another. It is useful when you change a page’s URL, delete content, or move it to a new location. Setting up URL redirection ensures users are directed to the correct page instead of landing on a 404 error page, helping maintain traffic flow and improving user experience.

Yoast SEO can also help by identifying 404 errors and supporting better URL management to optimize your site.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fix and Control 404 Errors

Let’s begin our step-by-step guide. We’ll keep everything simple so it’s easy to follow. Whether you’re doing this for the first time or you’ve done it before, this guide will take you through each step clearly and easily. Let’s get started and make everything simple for you!

How to Open WordPress Dashboard for Fixing 404 Errors and Redirection

To start fixing 404 errors and setting up URL redirection in WordPress, first log in to your WordPress dashboard. Please input your login information on the login page to access your dashboard. This is where you can control settings and add tools to manage broken links and Redirection.

How to Add a New Plugin to Your WordPress Website

To add a new plugin to your WordPress Site, go to the dashboard and hover your mouse over the Plugins option in the left menu. A dropdown will appear—click on “Add New Plugin”. This is where you can search for and install plugins that improve the functionality of your website.

How to Search and Install the Redirection Plugin in WordPress

Go to the Plugins area within your WordPress Dashboard and click Add New. Type Redirection in the search bar and find the plugin with over 2+ million active installs and high ratings. Press the Install Now button to include it on your site. This tool will help you fix 404 errors and set up URL redirection to keep your site user-friendly.

How to Activate the Redirection Plugin in WordPress

Once the Redirection plugin is installed, the Install Now button changes to Activate. Click Activate to turn on the plugin. This step is essential for the plugin to fix 404 errors and manage URL redirection on your site.

How to Complete Redirection Setup in WordPress

After activating the Redirection plugin, you need to finish the setup. Click on Redirection Setup to start. This step is required to fully activate the plugin and make it ready for managing 404 errors and setting up URL redirection.

How to Start the Redirection Plugin Setup in WordPress

To begin setting up the Redirection plugin, click on Start Setup. This step helps you set up URL redirection and handle 404 errors on your site. This process will prepare the plugin to start working and manage your site link redirections.

Basic Setup for the Redirection Plugin in WordPress

In the Basic Setup of the Redirection plugin, tick the first two boxes: one to monitor permalink changes in posts and pages and another to log all redirects and 404 errors. Most users do not optionalore their IP. Once these options are selected, click Continue to move forward. This step prepares the plugin to handle URL changes and monitor 404 errors.

How to Complete REST API Check for Redirection Plugin in WordPress

The REST API check will test whether the WordPress API is active on your site. If it is working, you should see a green light. Once this is verified, click on Finish Setup to complete the process. This final step helps the Redirection plugin properly manage your site’s 404 errors and URL redirection.

How to Complete Redirection Setup in WordPress

While setting up the Redirection page, click Continue to proceed. This action completes the basic configuration needed to start using the Redirection plugin. It helps you manage 404 errors and create URL redirection easily on your site.

How to Access the Site Panel in the Redirection Plugin

Click on the site within the redirection plugin dashboard to open the side panel for managing redirects. This section allows you to add, edit, and manage redirection settings to control 404 errors and handle URLs on your site.

How to Relocate Your Site Using the Redirection Plugin in WordPress

In the Redirection plugin, you can use the Relocate Site option to redirect all pages to a different domain. This feature helps move your site while keeping URLs updated. Be careful when using this option since it may alter the website’s behavior. You can also create Site Aliases to redirect traffic from other domains to your leading site.

How to Configure Canonical Settings in the Redirection Plugin

Use Canonical Settings in the Redirection plugin to redirect from HTTP to HTTPS when an SSL certificate is active. You can also set a preferred domain version with or without “www.” This helps when updating your site or moving to a different version. Make these changes carefully, as they impact your site’s structure and traffic handling. 

How to Access the Options Panel in the Redirection Plugin

Use Canonical Settings in the Redirection plugin to redirect from HTTP to HTTPS when an SSL certificate is active. You can also set a preferred domain version with or without “www.” This helps when updating your site or moving to a different version. Make these changes carefully, as they impact your site’s structure and traffic handling. 

How to Configure Log Duration in the Redirection Plugin

In the Options panel of the Redirection plugin, you can set the period for redirect logs and 404 logs. Choose “A week” for redirect logs and “A month” for 404 logs. For IP logging, select No logging to avoid storing IP details. These settings help manage log data while protecting user privacy.

How to Enable URL Monitor for Posts and Pages in WordPress

During the setup of the Redirection plugin, activate the URL monitor for posts and pages. This feature creates a redirect automatically when you change the slug of a post or Page, redirecting from the old to the new version. This helps maintain links and avoid 404 errors when making updates.

How to Access the 404s page in the Redirection Plugin

To view and manage 404 errors on your WordPress Site, go to the Redirection plugin and click on 404s. This section helps you track and handle broken links that may affect user experience. Regularly reviewing this page helps set up redirects and fix 404 issues.

How to Review 404 Errors in the Redirection Plugin

After a few days, return to the Redirection plugin and check the 404 panel. If your site is active and has content, you will see entries for different URLs. Many of these are from bots and automated scanners. Consistently checking this panel enables you to identify and resolve 404 errors, enhancing user experience and site navigation.

How to Add a Redirect for 404 Errors in WordPress

If you find 404 errors in the Redirection plugin, click Add Redirect next to the URL. This helps you create a redirect to guide users to the correct PagePage, fix broken links, and improve site navigation. Regularly adding redirects for 404 errors keeps your site user-friendly and maintains traffic flow.

How to Add the Correct Target URL for Redirects in WordPress

When adding a redirect for a 404 error, paste the correct target URL in the popup window. Next, click the “Add Redirect” button to save your changes. This action ensures the system directs users to the right page, fixes broken links, and improves your site’s user experience.

How to Customize Redirect Options in WordPress

Click on the gear icon next to the Cancel button in the Add Redirect popup for more options. You can add a title for the redirect, set match criteria, and change the action type and HTTP status code from the default 301. These customizations help fine-tune how your redirects behave, ensuring users are correctly directed based on your site’s needs.

Conclusion

The redirection plugin makes it simple to control 404 errors and set up URL redirections with WordPress. By regularly testing for 404s, adding redirects, and making adjustments to keep your website operating optimally and improve user experience, Redirection helps your site operate seamlessly while enhancing the user experience. Check for 404s regularly while making necessary adjustments to maintain efficiency and ensure an enjoyable visitor experience for everyone who visits your site.

About Author

This article was written by Haider Aftab Abbasi. If you’re looking for more insightful content or professional collaborations, feel free to connect with Haider on LinkedIn using the provided link.