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Broken links and deleted pages can lead visitors to the dreaded 404 error page — a dead end that may drive users away from your site. But did you know that you can How to Set a Custom 404 Page With .htaccess to enhance user experience and retain engagement?

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn exactly How to Set a Custom 404 Page With .htaccess, complete with HTML code, step-by-step instructions, and essential best practices. Whether you’re managing a blog, portfolio, or wordpress website hosted on HostraGo, this simple tweak can drastically improve your site’s professionalism and usability.

👉 Related Read: How to Access Webmail Through cPanel

What is a 404 Page?

A 404 error page is shown when a user tries to access a URL that doesn’t exist on your server. This could be due to a broken link, moved content, or simply a typo in the URL.

A custom 404 page gives you the chance to guide users back to your website, rather than letting them leave frustrated.

Why Create a Custom 404 Page?

  • Improves user experience by guiding users to useful content
  • Reinforces your brand identity with a professional design
  • Reduces bounce rate by offering relevant links
  • Helps SEO when combined with a good site structure

Steps Of How to Set a Custom 404 Page With .htaccess

Follow the steps below to configure a custom 404 error page using the .htaccess file.

Step 1: Upload or Create Your 404 Page

First, create your custom error page using HTML or PHP and save it as 404.html or 404.php.

Then:

Open or Create the .htaccess File
  • Navigate to the public_html directory
  • Upload the custom 404 file here

Step 2: Open or Create the .htaccess File

In the same public_html directory:

  • Find the file named .htaccess
  • If it doesn’t exist, click +File to create one

Right-click the .htaccess file and select Edit

Add ErrorDocument Rule
edit page of htaccess

Step 3: Add ErrorDocument Rule

Add the following line to the top or bottom of the file:

ErrorDocument 404 /404.html

Replace 404.html with the correct filename and path if your file is located in a subfolder (e.g. /errors/404.html).

Step 4: Save and Test

After saving the changes:

  • Visit a non-existing URL on your domain (e.g., yourdomain.com/fakepage)
  • Your custom 404 page should appear instead of the default error page
Save and Test

Here’s a basic example of a clean and user-friendly 404 page:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>404 - Page Not Found</title>
  <style>
    body { background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; padding-top: 100px; }
    h1 { font-size: 72px; color: #ff4a4a; }
    p { font-size: 20px; }
    a { text-decoration: none; color: #0066cc; }
  </style>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>404</h1>
  <p>Oops! The page you're looking for doesn't exist.</p>
  <p><a href="https://www.hostrago.com">Return to Home Page</a></p>
</body>
</html>

Final Thoughts

How to Set a Custom 404 Page With .htaccess is a simple yet powerful step to improving user experience, reducing bounce rates, and giving your brand a more professional look. Whether you’re running a personal blog or a large business website hosted on HostraGo, this enhancement is highly recommended.

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