If you’ve looked at the Indexing report in Google Search Console, you may have seen “soft 404” errors.
A “soft 404” can be confusing because it’s not like a regular 404 (Not Found) error where the content no longer exists at that URL. Instead, it happens when a page that’s empty or doesn’t exist still sends a 200 (OK) response to browsers and search engines.
In This Article
What Are Soft 404 Errors?
Usually, if a page no longer exists, it should return a 404 (Not Found) or 410 (Gone) code. But in a soft 404 scenario, the server claims everything’s fine when, in reality, the page is either blank, gone, or offers no actual content. This mismatch can lead Google or other search engines to label that page as a “soft 404.”
Why It’s Called “Soft”
- A 404 error is supposed to tell visitors that the page they want can no longer be found s that URL.
- A soft 404 means the server says “OK,” but Google disagrees because the content doesn’t exist or is just placeholder text.
Why Do Soft 404 Errors Matter?
- Poor User Experience: People who land on a page marked as “OK” expect actual content. If they get an empty page or an error message, they’ll likely leave feeling frustrated or confused.
- Search Engine Confusion: When Google sees a page labeled as 200 (OK) but offering no substance, it’ll flag it as a soft 404 and remove it from the search results. Too many issues like this can lower search engines’ confidence in your site.
- Reduced Crawl Efficiency: Search engines might waste time crawling pages that appear valid at first but are dead ends. This can slow down how efficiently they index your actual content.
How to Find Soft 404 Errors
You’ll typically spot soft 404 errors in the Indexing report in Google Search Console. Specifically, you can check for them by following these steps:
1. Check the Indexing Report in Google Search Console
- Log in to Google Search Console and click on the Full report link in the Indexing section.
Look for any entry with the reason Soft 404. - Click on the Soft 404 reason in the Why pages aren’t indexed table to see which URLs Google believes are soft 404s.
2. Use the URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console
- Paste any URL that is reported as a soft 404 into the URL Inspection bar in Google Search Console.
- Look at the information under Page indexing. If Google thinks it’s an empty or error page—despite it showing a 200 (OK) status—you’ll likely see a soft 404.
- Click the TEST LIVE URL button to force Google to check the URL again.
3. Look at Server Logs
- If your hosting provider gives you access to error or access logs, you can review how often particular pages return 200 codes that don’t match what Google sees.
- Contact your hosting provider support if you’re uncomfortable checking server logs for help.
4. Manual Checks
- Visit any pages you think might be problematic.
- If the page looks empty or states “not found,” but a status checker such as https://httpstatus.io/ shows 200 (OK), that’s a soft 404.
How to Fix Soft 404 Errors
The proper fix depends on whether your page still exists, has moved, or should be permanently removed. Here’s what to do in each case:
The Page Doesn’t Exist Anymore
If the page is gone for good, return a proper 410 using the Redirection Manager in All in One SEO. A 410 (Gone) code tells Google this page no longer exists.
The Page Has Moved or Was Updated
If the content is still available but is found at a new URL, use a 301 (Permanent) Redirect using the Redirection Manager in All in One SEO. This tells search engines (and visitors) that the page’s address has changed for good.
After creating your redirect, test it by entering the old URL in your browser and see if it redirects to the new URL. You can also check it in the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to ensure Google sees the correct redirect.
The Page Exists but Looks Empty to Google
If you want the page to be live but it’s been labeled as a soft 404, add or improve the content on the page. Sometimes, pages are flagged as soft 404 if there’s barely anything on them. Providing more relevant text, images, or other valuable resources helps show that it’s an actual page.
You Want to Keep the Page but Hide It from Search Engines
If you have pages that serve a specific purpose (like a thank-you page) but don’t need to appear in Google search results, use the Noindex features in All in One SEO. This tells Google not to include the page in search results, even though it’s legitimate.
Soft 404 errors can be annoying, but they’re pretty easy to deal with once you know what’s causing them.
By giving your visitors (and Google) accurate signals—returning actual 404 or 410 codes for pages that don’t exist, using 301 redirects for pages that moved, and showing actual content on pages that should be live—you’ll maintain a more trustworthy, user-friendly site.
Doing so ensures your site stays tidy, adequately indexed, and welcoming to visitors and search engines.