Key takeaways

• A 404 error is a client error status code that signals a requested page doesn’t exist.
• Too many error pages cause Google indexing issues. This wastes crawl budget and weakens link equity.
• Google Search Console helps website owners track crawl errors, 404s, and other obstacles to indexing.
• Solutions include redirects, fixing internal links, and designing a custom 404 page.
• Partnering with SEO experts keeps visitors on your site and your pages visible in search.

Few things tank a website faster than a 404 error.

To the average visitor, a 404 is a frustrating stop that interrupts what they came to find. But for website owners, these client errors can quietly undermine SEO, causing lost visibility and missed opportunities.

According to the Pew Research Center, 38% of web pages published in 2013 are no longer accessible, highlighting just how widespread link decay has become. And it's not just old content. Another study found that over 35% of leading websites have at least one broken external link on their homepage.

In short, dead links and nonexistent pages are a persistent issue for sites of every size.

When left unresolved, a 404 error does more than block access to content. It can trigger Google indexing issues, cut off valuable link equity, and ultimately push visitors away.

In this article, we’ll break down what a 404 error is, why it happens, how it impacts SEO, and the most effective ways to fix it using Google Search Console and other tools.

What is a 404 error?

A 404 error (commonly displayed in the browser as “404 page not found”) is an HTTP status code returned by a web server when a client-requested webpage or specific URL can’t be found. In simpler terms, the requested resource doesn’t exist at the location the server is trying to load from.

Common causes include:

• Broken or dead links from internal or external sources
• Spelling mistakes or mistyped URLs by a web user
• Linked content that no longer exists
• Configuration errors in the .htaccess file or hosting provider setup
• Pages removed without setting up a custom 404 page or redirect

While a single 404 error might not seem like a big deal, multiple errors on important pages can quickly multiply the damage.

How 404 errors affect Google indexing

A 404 error has direct consequences on how search engines see and rank your site. Left unresolved, these errors can impact everything from crawl efficiency to page authority.

Here’s how:

1. They block search engines from finding content

When a search engine like Google crawls your site, it expects each requested URL to load properly. If it encounters a 404 error, that page won’t appear in the page indexing report. Over time, a pattern of dead links signals to Google that your site may be unreliable, which can hurt your overall search engine results visibility.

2. They waste crawl budget

Googlebot allocates a limited amount of resources—known as crawl budget—to every website. Each HTTP request that ends in an error code consumes part of that allowance. If your site returns too many 404s, Google may crawl fewer of your key pages, leaving valuable website content out of its index.

3. They dilute link equity

Backlinks are one of the strongest ranking signals in SEO. But if external links or internal links point to a dead or broken link, the link equity tied to those referrals goes nowhere. Instead of strengthening your site’s visibility, the authority you’ve earned through linked content essentially vanishes.

4. They hurt user experience

When a web user encounters a 404, the search usually ends there. Few will dig through your search bar or site menu to find the requested content.

The result? Lost conversions, fewer leads, and a diminished chance of your site being recommended or revisited—outcomes that indirectly affect how your pages perform in search engine results pages (SERPs).

How to fix 404 error issues in Google Search Console

The good news is that you don’t have to guess where your 404 errors are hiding. The Google Search Console dashboard gives you direct visibility into missing pages, broken or dead links, and client errors that block indexing.

By pairing these insights with practical fixes, you can restore lost traffic and strengthen your site’s performance.

Here’s how to use it:

Check the page indexing report

Start with the page indexing report in Search Console. This section shows you which pages aren’t being indexed and why. It highlights missing pages, nonexistent URLs, and other frequent errors that need attention. Reviewing this report regularly helps you spot issues before they spiral.

Review crawl errors

Use the indexing report and log file analysis to dig deeper. These tools identify incorrect URLs, configuration issues, and other factors that trigger 404s. The more precise you are in diagnosing, the easier it becomes to apply the right fix.

Redirect to a new URL

If a page has moved or been replaced, set up a 301 redirect from the same URL to the new URL. This ensures visitors land on the right content and search engines preserve link equity. Redirects are especially important for high-traffic or heavily linked pages.

Fix internal links

Broken internal links are one of the most common sources of 404s. Audit your site for links that point to nonexistent pages and update them to the correct URL. Tools like Google Analytics and crawling software like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or SEMrush can show you where web users encounter error pages most frequently.

Customize your 404 error page

Not every 404 can be eliminated, but you can control what happens when a visitor lands on one. A custom 404 page with a search bar, helpful navigation, or links to other pages improves the odds of keeping visitors engaged instead of leaving. This also signals to users that the site is maintained with care.

Work with your hosting provider

Sometimes the issue isn’t the link itself but the hosting server. If errors stem from .htaccess file misconfigurations, missing directories, or problems with the requested domain, your hosting provider can resolve them.

Coordinating with your provider ensures that errors are fixed at the root level rather than patched temporarily.

Final takeaway: Proactive fixes today prevent bigger SEO problems tomorrow

Leaving 404 errors unchecked doesn't just hurt your rankings. These errors interrupt the visitor journey, signal neglect to search engines, and gradually erode the SEO performance you’ve worked hard to build.

For ecommerce sites especially, a dead link to a product page or a missing page in the checkout flow can cost real revenue. To prevent this, many businesses turn to professional SEO services to monitor frequent errors, repair broken links, and safeguard content visibility.

With expert help, you can:

• Set up ongoing audits for custom error tracking
• Analyze log files to find most frequent errors
• Redirect linked content to relevant new URLs
• Keep your whole site aligned with search engine best practices

If you want to take the guesswork out of fixing 404 error issues, you can get your personalized SEO audit and uncover exactly where your own website is losing traffic. For ecommerce brands, working with ecommerce SEO experts ensures your web pages and index pages stay optimized for both users and Google.

Reach out today to discuss your needs.