WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx: Meaning & How To Resolve Issues?

Errors are frequently encountered in the realm of website building. The dreaded 404 Not Found issue when utilizing the Nginx web server is one such mistake that WordPress users frequently encounter. 

This error might be annoying, especially if your site’s visitors come to a dead end. This blog post will examine the complexities of the WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx error, its causes, and the practical ways to troubleshoot and fix it effortlessly.

WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx Meaning

When a user or visitor tries to access a certain page or resource on a WordPress website, but the Nginx web server is unable to find that specific content, the WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx error occurs. The 404 Not Found error message is an HTTP status code implying that the server could not locate the requested resource.

  

The issue frequently occurs when a permalink has been changed, and no 301 redirects have been set up to send users to the right URL. Depending on the server you are using, there are several 404 error versions that you could encounter. 

It implies that the web server received a request from the user’s browser for a specific page or resource (such as a blog post, image, or any other material), but could not locate the requested content at the URL. Several potential causes include wrong URLs, misconfigured settings, server setup difficulties, or issues with how WordPress produces and manages URLs.

The user experience, SEO rankings, and general operation of your WordPress website might all suffer due to numerous occurrences of this issue; thus, it is crucial to address it immediately. 

Distinguishing Between WordPress 404 Not Found And WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx

The terms “WordPress 404 Not Found” and “WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx” describe the same problems that arise when a WordPress website receives a 404 Not Found error. However, the context and underlying web server technology make a difference.

• WordPress 404 Not Found: The WordPress 404 Not Found error appears when an expected page or resource cannot be located due to problems with the WordPress applications, such as incorrect permalinks, deleted posts, or inappropriate internal linking.

• WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx: On a server running Nginx, a well-liked web server program recognized for performance and efficiency, the WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx issue occurs. Most likely, it has to do with how the WordPress application interacts with the server configuration, Nginx rules, or both.

The function of the web server technology is the key difference between the two. The “WordPress 404 Not Found” error is a general phrase for a missing resource within WordPress. However, the “WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx” error denotes that the issue is occurring within the context of a WordPress site hosted on a Nginx server. 

In simpler terms, you can refer to the summary information in the table below:

Common Causes Of WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx

Finding a 404 Not Found error on your WordPress website hosted on the Nginx web server can be annoying, but knowing the typical reasons for this issue will help you quickly diagnose and fix it. 

Let’s look at some of the common causes of the 404 Not Found WordPress problem on Nginx:

• Setting for permalinks: WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx error might be caused by incorrect or improperly adjusted permalink settings in your WordPress dashboard. Permalinks determine your URLs structure, and if they are not configured properly, Nginx may have trouble directing requests to the relevant pages or posts.

• Configuration of Nginx: WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx error may occur if your Nginx server blocks or directives are not configured properly. The requested content won’t be found if your Nginx server is not configured to support WordPress URLs correctly.

• Interfering with cache: Cached copies of your pages might not update correctly, resulting in Nginx serving out-of-date material and WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx error for visitors seeking to access more recent content.

• Permissions for files and folders: Nginx may be unable to access required files for web pages due to improper file and folder permissions, which can result in WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx error. Additionally, Nginx may be unable to serve media due to wrong permissions in directories, uploads, and media files.

• Plugin or theme issues: Plugins and themes that are incompatible or poorly designed can affect how Nginx processes URL requests. Users may experience WordPress 404 Not Found error in the Nginx server if a plugin or theme interferes with the standard routing procedure.

• The equivalent of a missing or damaged .htaccess file: Although Nginx doesn’t use .htaccess files as Apache does, some WordPress plugins and themes might rely on rewrite rules given by a file similar to .htaccess. If this file is missing or malformed, it can result in WordPress 404 Not Found error in the Nginx server.

8 Ways To Fix WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx Issue

Checking and making necessary changes to settings for permalinks, the Nginx server configuration, plugins, themes, and caching are usually necessary to troubleshoot and fix the WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx error.

It can be aggravating to receive a 404 Not Found error on your WordPress website that is Nginx-hosted, but several efficient solutions exist to identify and resolve this problem. Here are some essential actions you may take to fix the problem:

Clear Browser History & Cookies

Clearing your browser’s cookies and history might quickly and efficiently fix the WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx problem. When attempting to visit your WordPress site, 404 page not found errors may occasionally be returned due to the loading of out-of-date or erroneous information due to browser caches and cached cookies.

When you visit a website, your browser stores many kinds of data, such as cookies, pictures, stylesheets, and webpage content. Websites that have this information saved can load more quickly when users return. 

Especially if you are using caching plugins like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache, clear the cache on your website. To make sure you are viewing the most recent version of your site, clear the cache in your browser as well.

Check Permalink Settings

One of the most important steps in resolving the 404 Not Found error on your Nginx server is to check the permanent WordPress settings. These parameters greatly influence how URLs are generated and accessed on your website, especially the permalink structure. Properly setting up permanent settings will prevent 404 errors and offer a seamless surfing experience.

Check permalink settings to prevent WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx error

The permalink settings in WordPress determine how your posts, pages, and other content’s URLs are organized. The chosen structure impacts how URLs display in your browser’s address bar and how the server interprets them. When Nginx cannot locate the requested content, incorrect permalink settings may result in 404 errors.

You can go to Settings > Permalinks on your WordPress dashboard after logging in for the first time. Then, save the adjustments after selecting a permalink format that works for your website. This process regenerates the rewriting rules and frequently resolves 404 issues brought on by incorrectly configured permalinks.

Review Configuration Of Nginx

To diagnose and resolve the 404 Not Found error on your WordPress website, it is imperative to check your Nginx configuration. The 404 error can appear while attempting to access specific pages or posts due to routing problems caused by an improperly configured Nginx server. 

You may accurately identify and fix the WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx issue and offer a seamless user experience on your website by thoroughly checking your Nginx setup. If you run into problems, consider getting support from your hosting company or knowledgeable web developers.

Verify The Permissions Of Files And Folders

Make sure your WordPress directory has the correct file and folder permissions. The first step in troubleshooting and resolving the 404 Not Found error on your WordPress website hosted on Nginx is to check file and folder permissions. When users attempt to access specific sites or resources, 404 errors can result from Nginx’s inability to access the required files and folders. 

You may accurately identify and fix the WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx issue by carefully examining and modifying file and folder permissions, providing a seamless user experience on your website. Always use caution while changing permissions; if necessary, ask a web developer with experience for help.

Remove Problematic Plugins And Themes

Switch to the default theme and temporarily deactivate all plugins. After each activation, re-enable them one at a time while looking for WordPress 404 Not Found errors in the Nginx server. Find any incompatible plugins or themes that are the root of the problem, then remove or replace them.

Restore Your .htaccess File

Your .htaccess file has to be restored to troubleshoot and resolve the 404 Not Found error on your Nginx-hosted WordPress website. Even though Nginx does not use .htaccess files as Apache does, some plugins and themes could require the addition of Nginx rewrite rules to your Nginx configuration to mimic the functionality of an Apache .htaccess file.

You may successfully identify and fix the WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx issue and guarantee a seamless user experience on your website by restoring the functionality of your .htaccess file with Nginx rewrite rules. When changing configurations, exercise caution and keep enough backups.

Update And Modify The Database Using The WordPress URL

If all else fails, back up the database and content on your website before reinstalling WordPress. This may help resolve complex problems which damaged files could have caused.

The 404 Not Found error on your Nginx-hosted website can sometimes be fixed by updating and changing the WordPress URL in the database. This problem can happen when the URL settings in the WordPress database are old or inaccurate, causing requests to be misdirected and producing 404 errors. 

Note: Direct database modification takes significant consideration and should be done with prudence. Before continuing, make a backup of your database to ensure you can undo any changes later.

Establish A 301 Redirect

The 404 Not Found error on your WordPress website hosted on Nginx can be effectively resolved by setting up a 301 redirect. When particular pages or articles have been changed or deleted, a 301 redirect permanently redirects visitors from one URL to a different one adhering to SEO rankings, preserving backlinks, and ensuring a seamless user experience. 

Conclusion

Even though fixing the WordPress 404 Not Found Nginx error may appear difficult, it is possible with a methodical approach. 

You will be better prepared to deal with this mistake and guarantee a seamless experience for your website users by comprehending the typical causes and applying the troubleshooting techniques described in this article. 

Remember that persistence and patience are essential when resolving web server issues, and with a little work, you can have your WordPress site back up and running without incident.