How to Monitor 404 Errors in Google Search Console

404 error is definitely not something new for many of you. You must have faced the issue at least once while scrolling through the browser. It commonly appears as a “Page Not Found” error. However, most website owners do not know that this error can impact their platform quite negatively. How? Well, let’s take a very simple scenario.

Say you plan to buy some dresses online. You visit a fashion store, and when you click on every dress, you see this 404 Page Not Found Error message. Now, what will you do?

Well, we are sure you will leave the platform then and there. This is what the website issue will be from the user’s point of view. But the story does not end here. If you are the website owner, then you must know that this 404 error is impacting your user experience and SEO performance. 

Hence, regularly monitoring and fixing these errors is crucial to maintaining a healthy website. This is where Google Search Console (GSC) can be really helpful. So, let us understand this in detail in the blog over here.

Understanding Google Search Console

Google Search Console (GSC) is a free web service provided by Google. It allows the website owners and webmasters to maintain their site’s presence in Google Search results. This is done with the help of continuous optimization and analysis.

It was originally known as Google Webmaster Tools. It was rebranded in 2015 to reflect its expanded functionality better. When you use the GSC, you gain the following benefits:

• Easily check the site performance
• See the information on indexing at anytime
• Gain insights on the crawl issues
• Submit sitemaps for better indexing
• Get the report on mobile compatibility 
• Access issues early and solve them on time

Now that you know what GSC is, let us understand how to use it.

Steps to Use Google Search Console

Using GSC is quite a simple process. If you follow the steps correctly, you will be able to access the desired outcome in no time. So, here are the steps that you must follow:

Step 1: Log in to Google Search Console

1. Open Google Search Console.
2. Log in using your Google account credentials.
3. Select the property (website) you want to monitor.

Step 2: Navigate to the Coverage Report

1. On the left-hand menu, click on “Pages” under the “Indexing” section.
2. Here, you’ll find a summary of all indexed pages, errors, and warnings.

Step 3: Identify 404 Errors

1. Look for the section labeled “Not Found (404)” under the Error category.
2. Click on this category to view a detailed list of URLs that return a 404 status.

Note: The errors listed here are based on Googlebot’s crawl data. If a page is showing up as a 404, it means Googlebot couldn’t access it successfully.

Step 4: Analyze the Error Details

1. Click on any URL listed under the 404 category to view more details.
2. Review the “Details” section to understand where the URL was linked from or why it might be broken.
3. Use the Inspect URL tool to check the live URL status.

Step 5: Fix the 404 Errors

Here’s how you can address the identified 404 errors:

1. Redirect the URL:
   • If the content has moved, set up a 301 redirect to the new URL.
   • Use tools like your CMS or server configuration files (e.g., .htaccess for Apache).
2. Restore the Page:
   • If the page was removed accidentally, consider restoring it with the original content.
3. Update Internal Links:
   • Check internal links pointing to the Custom 404 Page and update them to the correct URL.
4. Remove the URL:
   • If the page is no longer relevant, use the Removals tool in GSC to temporarily hide it from search results.

Step 6: Validate the Fixes

1. After fixing the errors, return to the 404 error report in GSC.
2. Click “Validate Fix” next to the specific error.
3. Google will re-crawl the URL to confirm that the issue has been resolved.

Step 7: Monitor Regularly

404 Error pages affect a website’s crawl budget significantly if not managed properly. These errors can reappear if new broken links are introduced or pages are removed. To stay ahead:

1. Schedule regular checks in Google Search Console.
2. Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to crawl your website and identify potential issues proactively.

Tips to Keep Check on 404 Errors

• Regularly check the Coverage Report in GSC to review errors, including 404s.
• Filter for 404 errors using the Excluded tab and set the filter by Type.
• Analyze error details by clicking on each 404 error to understand its source.
• Implement 301 redirects for moved content to guide users to the new URL.
• Restore accidentally deleted pages to eliminate 404 errors.
• Update internal links that point to broken URLs.
• Use the Removals tool in GSC to temporarily hide irrelevant URLs.
• Validate fixes by clicking “Validate Fix” in GSC after resolving an error.
• Schedule regular audits in GSC to check for new 404 errors.
• Utilize additional tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs for comprehensive site audits.

Conclusion

Monitoring and fixing 404 errors is a continuous process that ensures a smooth user experience and helps maintain your website’s SEO performance. By leveraging Google Search Console, you can easily identify and resolve these errors, keeping your site in top shape for both users and search engines.

Start monitoring your site today and say goodbye to those pesky 404 errors! Connect with experts like us who can guide you on the minute details and make sure your website works flawlessly.

saurabh garg

Saurabh Garg, the visionary Chief Technology Officer at Whitebunnie, is the driving force behind our cutting-edge innovations. With his profound expertise and relentless pursuit of excellence, he propels our company into the future, setting new standards in the digital realm.