How to Fix Broken Permalinks in WordPress: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are your WordPress permalinks not working? Don’t worry! This article will guide you through three practical steps to resolve broken permalinks in WordPress, ensuring a seamless user experience and improving your SEO efforts.

What Triggers Broken Permalinks in WordPress?

The most common cause of broken permalinks in WordPress is the 404: Not Found error. This can occur due to various reasons:

New plugin installation
Restoring a backup or migrating WordPress
Updates causing incompatibility
Changes in the .htaccess file

How to Fix Broken Permalinks in WordPress?

Here are three methods to fix broken permalinks in WordPress:

1. Resetting Permalinks Structure

The simplest way to fix broken permalinks is by resetting the permalinks structure:

Login to your WordPress Dashboard and go to Settings → Permalinks.
Select an alternative permalink structure and save changes.
Change it back to your standard structure and save changes again.

2. Disabling Plugins

If resetting the permalinks structure doesn’t work, try disabling the most recently installed or updated plugins:

Go to the Plugins menu in your WordPress dashboard and click on Installed Plugins.
Deactivate the plugin that might be triggering the error.
Reset the permalinks structure using the previous method.

3. Replacing .htaccess File

If the previous methods fail, the issue might be related to your .htaccess file. Replace it with the default WordPress .htaccess code:

Navigate to hPanel → File Manager.
Select your domain and go to File Manager.
Choose the .htaccess file in the public_html folder.
Rename the file (e.g., .htaccess-error) and create a new .htaccess file.
Paste the provided code into the new .htaccess file.
Save the changes.

If none of these methods work, consider restoring a backup to get your site up and running again.

Conclusion

Broken permalinks can negatively impact user experience and SEO efforts. Fortunately, fixing them is easy with these three methods:

Resetting permalinks structure
Disabling plugins
Replacing .htaccess file

By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to fix broken permalinks on your WordPress website and ensure a smooth browsing experience for your users. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask in the comments below!

WordPress Permalinks Not Working FAQ

Learn more about WordPress permalinks not working:

Do Permalinks Expire?

No, permalinks do not expire. They are permanent links that remain unchanged and accessible for the lifetime of the content they point to. However, changing permalinks on a live site can result in broken links and negative impacts on SEO.

Can I Change My WordPress Permalink After Publishing?

Yes, you can change your WordPress permalink after publishing. Simply go to Settings → Permalinks in the WordPress dashboard, select the new permalink structure, and save changes. However, changing permalinks can impact SEO and result in broken links if not properly redirected.

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