Getting 404 Errors – General Troubleshooting

A 404 error indicates that the target URL you are navigating to does not exist or can not be found. Typically, diagnosing why you have a 404 error is simple, and with a little investigation, you can identify the problem and fix it.

Some common reasons you are reaching a 404 error:

• The page URL in the source link is incorrect. Go back to the location you clicked and carefully check that the URL is spelled correctly.
  
  
• The page's URL has been changed, and a redirect needs to be set, or the source link needs to be adjusted.
  
  
• The target page has been deleted. You can check the trash in WordPress or recreate the page.
  
  
• A file on the server that regulates how the server uses URLs is not functioning correctly. This file is called the .htaccess file, and it commonly suffers problems and may need to be regenerated.
  
  

Here are some steps to help isolate the issue:

Core Pages – Do you still have all your MemberMouse core pages installed? They are essential for the plugin to work properly and are easy to repair and/or restore. You can restore your core pages by going to General Settings > Manage Install > Repair Core Pages.

.htaccess Problems – Many times the .htaccess file is the culprit. The .htaccess is a configuration file used by Apache web-servers on your root folder that can, among other things, control redirects, protect folders, and change aspects of your URL’s. Many times, you can solve 404 issues by regenerating this file. You should also check your .htaccess file to ensure you don't have any rules in there that will cause problems.

For instance, have you created any custom redirects in your .htaccess file? If you have, try commenting the changes out and seeing if you still get the 404 error. If you're not sure what the .htaccess file is or where it can be found, your Hosting Provider can walk you through setting up your .htaccess file and troubleshooting issues.

SSL Certificate – Check to see if HTTP/HTTPS switching is causing the problem. Improper SSL setup can usually be observed in the URL. If the URL changes from HTTP to HTTPS and gives a 404 error, then the SSL version of the site might not be pointing to the right place. We recommend you go through the steps listed in this article, Securing Your Site with HTTPS, to confirm that the SSL certificate is set up correctly with regard to WordPress and that you have all the correct security settings on your MemberMouse pages.

If you are still experiencing the 404 error, then please submit a ticket to customer support, let us know the troubleshooting steps you've gone through and we'll continue to work with you to resolve the issue.