How to Fix: 404 returns proper status

404 returns proper status is an important SEO check in the Technical Foundation category. This is a medium-priority issue. While not urgent, it is one of those invisible plumbing problems that can quietly confuse Google for months before anyone notices — which is why I never assume it and always test it.

What is This Check About?

This check verifies that when someone requests a page that does not exist, your server responds with an HTTP 404 Not Found status code — not a 200 OK. The problem it catches is the “soft 404”: a page that shows a friendly “not found” message to humans but tells crawlers, at the header level, that everything is fine. The visitor sees an error; Google sees a valid page. That mismatch is the whole issue.

WordPress handles real missing URLs correctly by default. Soft 404s usually creep in through custom redirect rules, aggressive catch-all pages, or a plugin that “helpfully” redirects every unknown URL to the homepage with a 200.

Why Does This Matter for SEO?

Correct status codes are how you communicate with search engines at the protocol level:

• A proper 404 tells Google a page is gone so it can be dropped from the index cleanly
• Soft 404s waste crawl budget as Google repeatedly revisits pages that will never have real content
• Redirecting every dead URL to the homepage with a 200 pollutes the index with duplicate, thin entries
• Clean status handling keeps Search Console’s coverage reports accurate instead of full of noise

How to Check This Issue

Confirm what your server really says, not what the page looks like:

1. Visit a URL you know does not exist (add random characters to a real path)
2. In DevTools’ Network tab, check the status code of that request — it must be 404, not 200
3. Or use a command-line check, e.g. curl -I against the missing URL, and read the status line
4. Review the Soft 404 section in Google Search Console’s Pages report for flagged URLs

How to Fix This in WordPress

Difficulty Level: EASY – This fix is straightforward and can typically be completed by anyone with basic WordPress knowledge.

Estimated Time: 10 min

Step 1: Find What Is Overriding the 404

If missing pages return 200, something is intercepting them. The usual suspects are a redirect plugin set to send all unknown URLs to the homepage, a “catch-all” or custom 404 setup, or theme code that swallows the error. Track down which one is doing it before you change anything.

Step 2: Let Genuine 404s Be 404s

Reserve redirects for URLs that genuinely moved — send those to their real new home with a 301. A URL that is simply gone should return a 404 (or a 410 if it is intentionally and permanently removed). Do not blanket-redirect every dead link to the homepage; that is the exact behavior this check exists to stop.

Step 3: Keep a Helpful 404 Template

You can absolutely show a friendly, branded 404 page with search and useful links — a good error page is good UX. The only rule is that it must still be served with a real 404 status header. Helpful for humans, honest for crawlers.

Step 4: Verify

1. Clear your WordPress cache if you’re using a caching plugin
2. Re-test a nonexistent URL and confirm the header now returns 404
3. Re-run the SEO Roadmap audit to confirm the issue is resolved

Recommended Tools & Plugins

These tools can help you fix and prevent this issue:

• Yoast SEO – Comprehensive SEO plugin with built-in checks
• Rank Math – Feature-rich SEO plugin with detailed analysis
• Google Search Console – Free tool to monitor your site’s search presence
• SEO Roadmap – Complete SEO audit and action plan tool

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Redirecting every missing URL to the homepage, creating soft 404s at scale
• Assuming a nice-looking error page means the status code is correct — always check the header
• Using a 302 (temporary) where a 301 (permanent) or a real 404 belongs
• Ignoring the Soft 404 warnings in Search Console until crawl budget is wasted

Need More Help?

If you’re still having trouble, consider:

• Auditing your redirect plugin’s rules for an over-broad catch-all
• Reviewing Google’s documentation on soft 404s and status codes
• Consulting a WordPress developer to trace where the status is being overridden
• Running a complete site audit with SEO Roadmap for a prioritized action plan

This guide is part of the SEO Roadmap knowledge base – your complete resource for WordPress SEO optimization.