One of the most common technical SEO issues websites face is the presence of 4xx status codes. These are client-side errors that indicate something is wrong with the way a page is being requested or how a user is accessing it.
While some 4xx errors are unavoidable, too many of them—especially if left unresolved—can harm your site’s crawlability, user experience, and rankings. That’s why knowing how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit is crucial for maintaining a healthy and search-friendly website.
But don’t worry, GetFound is here to explain how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit and what steps you can take to resolve them efficiently.
What Are 4xx Status Codes?
Before we get into how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit, it’s important to understand what they are.
4xx status codes are part of the HTTP response status code family. They tell the browser—or search engine—that something went wrong with the request from the client (the user or bot), not the server.
Each 4xx status code can affect your SEO in different ways, which is why learning how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit can protect your rankings and keep your site running smoothly.
Why 4xx Errors Hurt SEO
Understanding how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit starts with knowing why they matter in the first place.
The Effect of 4xx Errors on SEO:
- Wasted crawl budget
Googlebot has a limited number of pages it can crawl. Hitting 404s wastes time and resources.
- Broken user journeys
If users land on dead pages, they’re more likely to bounce, which will end up hurting engagement metrics.
- Lost link equity
If backlinks point to 404 pages, that valuable authority is wasted.
- De-indexing
Google may remove 404 or 410 pages from its index, especially if they’re not resolved over time.
Fixing these issues ensures that both users and search engines have a smoother path through your website.
Step 1: Identify 4xx Errors on Your Site
The first part of how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit is locating the errors.
Tools to use:
- Google Search Console (under “Pages” in Indexing report)
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Ahrefs or Semrush Site Audit
- Log files (for advanced analysis of bot requests)
These tools will list all URLs returning 4xx codes, along with source pages that link to them. This context helps you prioritize which errors to fix first.
Step 2: Fix or Redirect 404 Errors
404s are the most common 4xx errors. Here’s how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit when it comes to 404s:
Option A: Restore the Page
If the page was deleted by mistake or is still valuable, bring it back.
Option B: 301 Redirect to a Relevant Page
If the original page no longer exists but a similar page does, use a 301 redirect to send users and bots to the next best match.
Option C: Leave as a 404 (if intentional)
Some 404s are fine. For example, if the content was removed and has no replacement. Just make sure it’s not linked from internal pages.
The goal is to ensure users and search engines aren’t hitting dead ends.
Step 3: Resolve 403 and 401 Errors
Next in how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit are the access-related errors.
- 403 Forbidden
Make sure you haven’t accidentally blocked users or bots. Check permissions and server rules.
- 401 Unauthorized
These should only be used for protected areas like admin panels or member-only content. If bots are hitting these URLs, consider whether they should be indexed or blocked via robots.txt.
Don’t let important content sit behind access walls unless necessary.
Step 4: Clean Up Internal Links
Internal links pointing to 4xx pages dilute SEO value and confuse crawlers. A key step in how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit is auditing and updating these links.
Fix strategy:
- Update links to the correct URLs
- Remove links to deleted pages
- Replace with links to new or related content
Keeping your internal link structure clean improves both crawlability and authority flow.
Also Read: How to Improve Google Hummingbird for the SEO Benefit: A Guide to Smarter Search Optimization
Step 5: Submit Fixes to Google
After fixing errors, notify Google. Part of how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit includes updating your indexing.
How to do it:
- Use URL Inspection Tool in Google Search Console to resubmit fixed URLs
- Upload a fresh sitemap if structure has changed
- Monitor “Crawl Stats” to see if Google is still encountering errors
This ensures that your corrections are picked up quickly.
Step 6: Monitor Regularly
Fixing 4xx status codes isn’t a one-time job. As your site grows, new errors will naturally appear. Staying on top of it is part of how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit long term.
Best practices:
- Run monthly audits
- Use alerts in your SEO tools
- Train content editors to avoid creating broken links
Regular maintenance helps prevent 4xx errors from piling up and harming your rankings over time.
Clean Up SEO Issues with Help from GetFound Experts!
Wondering how to fix 4xx status codes for the SEO benefit? It starts with spotting those client-side errors, fixing broken links, restoring missing pages, or setting up smart redirects to keep everything running smoothly for users and search engines alike.
A tidy, error-free site means better rankings, more trust, and content that stays visible. Don’t let 4xx errors slip through the cracks—if you need a hand, GetFound’s ready to jump in!
