When a page shows “not found” to users but returns a 200 status code to search engines.
I know the feeling of confusion when Google Search Console flags a bunch of “soft 404” errors, and I am not sure what that even means.
This sneaky problem wastes Google’s time crawling useless pages and can prevent your good pages from ranking.
I am going to show you exactly What is Soft 404?, why it hurts your SEO, and how to fix it on your specific platform.
What is Soft 404? The Mixed Signal
Let us break down the confusing term: What is Soft 404? It is when a page on my website tells the user, “Page Not Found,” but simultaneously tells the search engine, “Everything is OK!” with a 200 HTTP status code.
Google sees the “OK” code but finds very little or no content, so it labels the page as a “soft 404” error.
This mixed signal confuses the crawler, wasting my valuable crawl budget on pages that should be properly removed from the index.
Soft 404 Issues Across CMS Platforms
Different CMS platforms have unique ways of creating and fixing these troublesome errors.
WordPress (WP)
WordPress often creates soft 404s when a tag or category is created but has no posts assigned to it, making the page empty.
I fix this by either adding content to the page or, more commonly, setting the empty category to ‘noindex’ using an SEO plugin.
I also check to make sure my custom 404 page is correctly sending a 404 status code, not a 200 “OK.”
Shopify
Shopify frequently produces soft 404s when a product sells out or is discontinued but the URL is still live and showing “Out of Stock.”
The best fix is to use a 301 redirect to send that old product URL to a relevant category or a similar, currently available product.
If I delete a product permanently, I make sure the server returns a proper 404 or 410 status code.
Wix
Wix generally handles server responses well, but soft 404s can appear if a dynamic page template loads with no data.
I review my site’s content and add unique, meaningful text to any page Google flags as having thin content.
I also use the built-in Wix tools to manage and fix any 404 errors reported in the site dashboard.
Webflow
Webflow is clean, but a soft 404 can happen if I use custom code that fails to load critical content for the Googlebot.
I ensure my custom 404 page is always configured to return the proper 404 status code to the server.
I always check Google Search Console after a major site update to look for any unexpected soft 404 warnings.
Custom CMS
For a custom CMS, the problem is usually a server misconfiguration or poorly coded empty search results pages.
I work with my developer to ensure the server automatically returns a 404 status code for any URL without content.
For empty search result pages, I show alternative content or direct the user to the main site search bar instead of a blank page.
Soft 404 Impact by Industry
Soft 404s create industry-specific problems that I need to address right away.
Ecommerce
Soft 404s are very common here due to seasonal products or inventory changes, which is a big headache for me.
If I have an empty product page, I should either fill it with related product suggestions or redirect it to the parent category.
Wasting my crawl budget on useless “Out of Stock” pages is a severe threat to my SEO performance.
Local Businesses
Local businesses often get soft 404s from old events or outdated service location pages that were deleted but not redirected.
I use 301 redirects to point any old service area pages to the main service page or the contact page.
I also ensure my custom 404 page is branded and offers links to my main local services to keep the user engaged.
SaaS (Software as a Service)
SaaS sites struggle with soft 404s when documentation pages are removed or when dynamic filters create thin pages.
I check any ‘no search results found’ page and add alternative links to my main documentation categories.
I make sure my team maintains all my documentation, redirecting old versions to the new, current guides.
Blogs
For a blog, I must watch out for empty tag and author archives or very short, old posts that Google sees as thin content.
I update the short, thin posts with new information and combine them into one longer, more valuable article.
If the page is truly useless, I ensure it sends a proper 404 or is blocked from indexing.
FAQ Section: Your Quick 404 Fixes
What is the easiest way to find soft 404 errors?
The simplest way is to check the ‘Coverage’ report in Google Search Console, which lists all pages Google has flagged as soft 404s.
I then use the URL Inspection Tool within GSC to see what status code the page is actually returning.
Should I redirect all 404 errors to my homepage?
No, I strongly advise against this because it confuses both users and Google, which often causes the homepage itself to be flagged as a soft 404.
I only redirect the URL if I have a truly relevant, similar replacement page to send the visitor to.
What should I do if a page returns a 200 but has no content?
You have two main options: either add high-quality, unique content to the page to give it value, or configure the server to return a proper 404 or 410 status code.
This action tells search engines the correct state of the page, fixing the misleading signal.
Do soft 404 errors hurt my overall site ranking?
Yes, they can indirectly hurt my ranking because they waste my crawl budget and signal to Google that my site has quality control issues.
Fixing them frees up Google to crawl my best pages more often, which is great for my SEO.
