Overview

How to Fix 404 Errors on Your Shopify

404 errors occur when a web server cannot find the page associated with a specific URL, resulting in a “404 error” message displayed to users.

This can negatively impact SEO rankings, user experience, and sales for your Shopify store.

Common causes include broken links, deleted pages, user mistypes, caching issues, and permalink or file permission problems.

How to Identify 404 Errors on Shopify

1. Use Google Search Console to monitor site performance and find URLs generating 404 errors under the “Coverage” > “Errors” section.
2. Use tools like Broken Link Checker to find broken links on your site.
3. Use Shopify apps like SEOAnt Broken Link Redirect to detect and auto-redirect 404 errors.
4. Use Google Analytics 4 to find 404 pages that users still visit.

How to Fix 404 Errors on Shopify

1. Fix Broken Links: Correct mistyped URLs in your Shopify admin or CMS.
2. Create Redirects: Use Shopify admin (Online Store > Navigation > URL Redirects) to redirect old or deleted URLs to relevant pages or your homepage.
3. Fix Permalink Issues: Check and update permalink settings if multiple pages have 404 errors.
4. Fix File Permissions: Ensure correct file permission settings in your CMS.
5. Disable Corrupt .htaccess File: Backup and disable the .htaccess file if corrupted, then generate a new one.

Additional Tips

1. Customize your 404 error page in Shopify to reflect your brand and provide navigation options to keep users engaged.
2. Use apps like TinyIMG to automatically find and fix broken links with redirects, improving SEO and user experience.
3. Regularly monitor and maintain your site to prevent 404 errors from recurring.

Summary Checklist

• Identify 404 errors using Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and link checking tools.
• Fix errors by correcting URLs or setting up redirects in Shopify.
• Customize your 404 error page for a better user experience.
• Use apps for automated detection and fixing of broken links.
• Maintain site health with regular audits and updates.

This approach ensures you not only fix current 404 errors on your Shopify store but also maintain long-term site health to improve SEO and user satisfaction.

Source: Shopify official blog & Shopify Community

What Is the “404 Errors” Issue?

• SEO Error Type: 404 Errors
• Relevant Platform: Shopify

Impact on SEO and User Experience

404 errors occur when a web server can’t find the page associated with a specific URL, causing browsers to display an error message.

For Shopify stores, these errors weaken search engine rankings by disrupting site crawlability and reducing traffic by breaking inbound links.

They also harm user experience by frustrating visitors, discouraging site exploration, and undermining brand trust, which can lead to lost sales.

Common Causes on Shopify

The most frequent reasons for 404 errors on Shopify include: deleted products or collections without proper redirects, changed URLs (handles) that break previous links, outdated menu or footer links pointing to removed or moved pages, typos or misspellings in URLs, broken internal or external links, and caching issues causing outdated page references.

Additionally, user errors such as mistyped URLs and plugin or theme incompatibilities can cause 404 errors. These errors negatively impact user experience, SEO rankings, and site traffic, making it essential to identify and fix them promptly with tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, or Shopify apps that track and manage broken links and redirects.

Setting up 301 redirects for deleted or moved pages is a key solution to prevent 404 errors from harming your Shopify store’s performance.

How to Identify “404 Errors” Issues

1. Use Google Analytics 4 (GA4): Navigate to Reports > Engagement > Pages and Screens. Adjust columns to show ‘Page title and screen class’ and ‘Landing page + query string.’ Search for ‘404 Not Found’ to see URLs causing 404 errors visited by users.
2. Use Google Search Console (GSC): Log in, select your domain, go to ‘Coverage’ or ‘Indexing,’ then ‘Errors’ or ‘Pages’ to find URLs with 404 errors. Export and filter by ‘404’ to identify broken links.
3. Use Shopify Analytics: In Shopify admin, go to Analytics > Reports > Behavior > Top online store searches with no results, or use Shopify’s Online Store 404 Report to identify pages resulting in 404 errors.
4. Install Shopify apps like MIT Broken Links Fixer or NotFoundBot to automatically detect, report, and manage 404 errors with detailed stats and redirect capabilities.
5. Use third-party broken link checkers such as Ablestar Shopify Broken Link Checker, Broken Link Checker, or Screaming Frog to crawl your site and find broken internal and external links.
6. Regularly monitor these tools and reports to identify and verify 404 errors, enabling timely fixes and improved SEO and user experience.

How to Fix “404 Errors” on Shopify

To fix 404 errors on your Shopify store, follow these detailed platform-specific steps:

1. Understand the Cause of 404 Errors:
   • 404 errors occur when a page or URL is not found on the server, often due to deleted pages, URL changes without redirects, or mistyped URLs.
2. Identify 404 Errors Using Tools:
   • Use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to track visitor behavior and identify problematic URLs.
   • Use Google Search Console to find crawl-detected 404 errors.
   • Use Shopify apps like NotFoundBot for real-time 404 error tracking and reporting.
3. Redirect Broken Links:
   • Compile a list of broken URLs and their appropriate redirect destinations.
   • In Shopify Admin, navigate to Sales Channel > Online Store > Navigation > View URL Redirects.
   • Click “Create URL Redirect,” enter the old URL in “Redirect from,” and the new URL in “Redirect to.”
   • Save the redirect and test it by visiting the old URL to ensure it redirects properly.
   • Note Shopify limitations: URLs starting with /apps, /cart, /products, etc., cannot be redirected.
4. Fix Broken Outbound Links:
   • Use tools like Screaming Frog or Broken Link Checker to find outbound broken links.
   • Update or remove these links manually on your Shopify pages.
5. Customize Your Shopify 404 Page:
   • Edit your theme’s 404 template to align with your brand.
   • Add helpful elements such as search bars and suggested product or category links to guide users.
6. Monitor 404 Errors Regularly:
   • Set a schedule to review 404 errors using your chosen tools.
   • Fix new errors promptly to maintain site health.
7. Optional: Redirect All 404s to Homepage (Not Recommended):
   • While Shopify does not natively allow redirecting all 404 errors to the homepage, you can add custom code in your theme.liquid file to detect 404 templates and redirect users.
   • Example snippet:
     

     {% if template contains '404' %}   <script>window.location.href='/'</script> {% endif %} 

     
     
   • Be cautious with this approach as it can confuse users and impact SEO negatively.

Following these steps will help you effectively resolve 404 errors on your Shopify store, improving user experience and SEO performance.

Screenshots and Tool Recommendations

• Shopify’s official guide recommends using Google Search Console to identify 404 errors by checking the ‘Coverage’ report and ‘Errors’ section to find URLs causing 404s.
• The Broken Link Checker online tool is suggested for crawling your website to find broken links that lead to 404 errors.
• The SEOAnt Broken Link Redirect Shopify app can run scheduled checks for 404 errors and automatically redirect users to specified URLs to minimize errors.
• RootSyntax guide suggests using tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Screaming Frog SEO Spider, and Shopify Admin navigation to find broken links and 404 errors.
• To fix 404 errors, Shopify Admin > Online Store > Navigation > URL Redirects allows creating 301 redirects from old URLs to new destinations, which is key to resolving 404 errors caused by deleted or moved pages.
• RootSyntax also recommends fixing broken links in menus and pages manually via Shopify Navigation settings and creating a custom 404 page with friendly messages, search bars, popular product links, and homepage buttons to improve user experience.
• NexusMedia highlights the Doc 404 Shopify app for real-time tracking and fixing of 404 pages, bulk redirects, and redirect management with email notifications for broken pages.
• Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Broken Link Checker services are recommended for comprehensive crawling and broken link detection.
• Creating a custom 404 page that includes links to popular products, collections, or a search function is a best practice to enhance user experience when encountering 404 errors on Shopify.
• Screenshots described include the Doc 404 app interface showing alerts, bulk redirects, and redirect management features, and the Doc 404 Shopify app logo.

Best Practices for Prevention

To prevent 404 errors from recurring on your Shopify store, follow these recommended platform-specific best practices:

• Keep URL structures clear and consistent by using simple, clean URLs and avoiding unnecessary changes. If URLs must change, always set up proper 301 redirects to maintain link integrity.
• Monitor your store’s links regularly using tools like Google Search Console and Ahrefs to identify broken links early.
• Use Shopify’s built-in URL Redirect Tool to manage 301 redirects efficiently.
• Leverage Shopify apps such as TinyIMG, NotFoundBot, and Doc 404 to automate the detection and fixing of broken links, suggest redirects, and track their performance.
• Perform routine audits of your links and URLs to ensure everything is functioning smoothly and to catch errors before they impact customers.
• Maintain collections and navigation menus to avoid outdated or removed product links, causing 404 errors.
• Create user-friendly 404 error pages with search bars, popular product links, and helpful messaging to retain visitors even if they encounter an error.

By treating 404 error prevention as an ongoing task with regular monitoring, automation, and clear URL management, you can protect your store’s SEO health and provide a seamless shopping experience for customers.

Prevention Checklist

• Regularly run broken link reports using tools like Google Search Console or Shopify Broken Link Checker to identify 404 errors early.
• Set up URL redirects (301 redirects) promptly when deleting or moving products, pages, or collections to avoid broken links.
• Use wildcard redirects to handle groups of URLs following a pattern, especially for archived or deleted products.
• Customize your Shopify 404 error page to maintain branding and provide helpful navigation options to users.
• Avoid redirect loops by ensuring redirects do not point to other redirects or create circular paths.
• Create redirects proactively whenever archiving or deleting products and collections to retain traffic and user engagement.
• Fix broken internal links by correcting mistyped URLs or updating links after content moves.
• Check and correct file permissions to ensure content is accessible and does not cause 404 errors.
• Be cautious when updating permalink settings or installing new plugins that might interfere with URL structures.
• Clear the browser cache if users report 404 errors caused by outdated cached data.
• Use Shopify apps like Ablestar Link Manager/Redirect to automate broken link detection and redirect management.
• Regularly monitor external backlinks and request corrections or set up redirects for broken inbound links to preserve SEO value.

Ongoing Maintenance and Monitoring

To ensure 404 errors do not recur on your Shopify store, it is essential to implement ongoing monitoring and maintenance practices.

Regularly audit your site using tools like Google Search Console to identify new 404 errors and broken links. Conduct quarterly SEO audits to catch issues early and maintain site health.

Use Shopify’s built-in URL redirect system to promptly create 301 redirects for any deleted or moved pages, preserving SEO value and user experience.

Avoid blanket redirects to the homepage; instead, create targeted redirects to relevant pages. Regularly review and update internal links in menus, product descriptions, blog posts, and banners to ensure they point to live URLs.

Customize your 404 error page to guide users back to relevant content, reducing bounce rates. Utilize apps like TinyIMG or Broken Link Manager for automated detection and fixing of broken links. Clear browser cache conflicts that may cause false 404 errors.

If managing redirects and fixes becomes overwhelming, consider hiring Shopify experts or using SEO support services for ongoing monitoring and optimization.

By maintaining these practices, you can keep your Shopify store free from disruptive 404 errors, protect SEO rankings, and provide a smooth user experience that supports conversions and brand credibility.

Who Should Use This Guide

• Webmasters
• Site owners
• Digital marketers
• Shopify store owners
• Ecommerce business owners
• SEO specialists
• Website administrators