To create a custom 404 error page in WordPress, you can follow these step-by-step instructions:
1. Access your WordPress website’s files: You can do this through an FTP client or by using the file manager provided by your hosting provider.
2. Locate your WordPress theme directory: Navigate to the `/wp-content/themes/` directory in your WordPress installation.
3. Create a child theme (optional): It’s recommended to create a child theme if you’re not already using one. This way, you can make changes without modifying the parent theme directly. If you already have a child theme, skip this step. To create a child theme, create a new directory inside the `/wp-content/themes/` directory and name it something like “my-child-theme”.
4. Create a new file for your custom 404 page: Inside your theme directory (or child theme directory if you’re using one), create a new file and name it `404.php`. This filename is important because WordPress will automatically use it for handling 404 errors.
5. Open the `404.php` file in a text editor: You can use any text editor you prefer, such as Notepad, Sublime Text, or Visual Studio Code.
6. Add the HTML and PHP code for your custom 404 page: Customize the appearance and content of your 404 error page using HTML and PHP. You can include a message, links to popular pages, search form, or any other elements you want. Below is a basic example of a custom 404 page:
<?php get_header(); ?>
<h1>404 – Page Not Found</h1>
<p>Oops! The page you are looking for does not exist.</p>
<p>You can try searching for the content using the search form below:</p><?php get_search_form(); ?>
<?php get_footer(); ?>
7. Save the `404.php` file: Once you’ve finished customizing your 404 error page, save the file.
8. Upload the file to your theme directory: If you created a child theme, upload the `404.php` file to the child theme directory. Otherwise, upload it directly to your theme directory, replacing the existing `404.php` file if it exists.
9. Test your custom 404 page: To test the custom 404 page, visit a non-existent page on your website (e.g., `http://yourdomain.com/non-existent-page`). You should see your custom 404 page instead of the default server-generated 404 error page.
That’s it! You have successfully created a custom 404 error page for your WordPress website. You can further customize it by adding CSS styles or additional functionality based on your needs. If you ever run in to problems you can always turn to outsourcing.
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