How to Remove 404 Pages from Google Index? 7 Easy Steps

Ever clicked on a link in Google and landed on a “404 Page Not Found” error?

It feels annoying, right?

You were looking for something helpful, but instead, you hit a dead end. This happens to your visitors, too.

Maybe you deleted an old blog post. Or maybe you moved a product page but forgot to update the link. Sometimes, these mistakes slip through. Over time, these 404 errors pile up.

But when these broken pages show up in Google search, they hurt more than your visitors’ patience. They can waste your SEO efforts. They can even make Google think your site is not well-maintained.

Luckily, you can fix these issues. You can remove 404 pages from Google index, improve your site, and keep your visitors happy. This guide will show you how, step by step, in a way anyone can understand.

TL;DR: 404 pages can hurt user experience and harm your site’s Google rankings. Fix broken pages, set up redirects, and update your sitemap to keep your site healthy. Get a reliable WordPress security plugin that keeps your site safe and makes it easier to stay indexed by Google.

1. Fix 404 errors

A 404 error means a page is missing from your site. Sometimes, this happens when you delete a page by mistake or move it without updating the link. You may not even notice until visitors or Google find the broken link.

First, check if you really need the missing page. If the page was important—for example, a top blog post, an about page, or a key product—it’s best to bring it back.

You can do this by re-uploading the missing files if you still have them. If not, try restoring an old backup. Many hosting providers and WordPress plugins let you roll your site back to an earlier version with a few clicks.

If you cannot get the old content, you can create a new page with the same URL. Even a simple replacement page tells Google that the link is active again. This helps Google see the page as valid, and it could return to the search results.

Fixing 404 errors in this way helps both your visitors and your SEO. It’s always better to restore or replace important content than to let a dead link stay.

2. Set up 301 redirects

Sometimes, a page is gone for good, but you have a new or similar page somewhere else. In this case, a 301 redirect is your best friend. A 301 redirect sends anyone who visits the old 404 URL straight to the new, working page.

This is easy to do in WordPress. You can use plugins like Redirection or Yoast SEO. These tools let you set up redirects in just a few steps, without touching any code.

When you create a 301 redirect, visitors and search engines are sent to the right place automatically. Google sees that the old link now leads to a working page. It will update its index so the new page appears in search results instead of the broken one.

301 redirects also help keep your SEO value. They make sure your visitors and Google do not get stuck at a dead end. This way, you don’t lose the ranking power you worked so hard to earn.

3. Use the Google Search Console Removals tool

Sometimes you need to quickly hide a 404 page from Google Search. The Removals tool in Google Search Console lets you do this. It temporarily blocks a URL, so it does not show up in search results.

To use this tool, log into Google Search Console for your site. On the left menu, click Removals. Then, click the New Request button.

Type in the full URL of the 404 page you want to remove. Submit your request. Google will hide that page from its search results for about six months.

Keep in mind, this is only a temporary fix. If the page is still missing or broken, Google may add it back to the index after some time. Always try to solve the cause of the 404 error as well.

4. Remove internal links

Broken links on your own site can cause trouble for your visitors and your SEO. It’s important to check your menus, widgets, and page content for any links that point to 404 pages.

Use an online tool like SEOmator to find internal links on your site.

If you find any broken links among them, update them with a working URL if possible. If you can’t fix the link, it’s best to delete it. This helps your visitors reach the right pages and avoids sending them to dead ends.

Search engines also use links to understand and rank your site. If you leave broken links, Google may see your site as poorly maintained. Fixing these links improves your site’s quality. This makes it easier for both users and search engines to find what they need.

5. Update sitemaps

Your sitemap guides Google and other search engines around your website. If it lists 404 pages, search engines may waste time crawling broken links.

After you remove or fix any 404 pages, update your sitemap. In WordPress, you can do this with plugins like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO. These tools let you easily regenerate your sitemap so it only includes working pages.

Once your sitemap is updated, submit it to Google Search Console. This shows Google the right pages to crawl and helps them keep your site’s index accurate and up to date. With a clean sitemap, your site is easier for both visitors and search engines to explore.

6. Wait for recrawling

Sometimes, all you can do is wait. When you leave a 404 page as it is, Googlebot will visit it again during its regular checks. If the page is still missing, Google will know it is gone for good.

You don’t need to do anything extra in this case. Over a few weeks to a few months, Google will automatically remove the 404 page from its index. This process takes some time, but it works on its own as long as the error stays in place.

So, if you are not in a hurry and the broken page is not important, just let Google handle it. The page will disappear from search results after a while.

7. Submit the fixed URL for re-indexing (if you fixed the page)

If you have brought back a missing page or set up a 301 redirect, you can ask Google to take another look. This helps your fixed or new page show up in search results faster.

Go to Google Search Console and open the URL Inspection tool. Type in the full web address of your fixed or redirected page. Click the Request Indexing button.

This tells Google to crawl the page soon and update its index with the latest version. It’s a quick way to ensure Google notices your changes and your page appears in search results promptly.

Why should I remove 404 pages from Google index?

Having 404 pages in Google’s index is bad for both your visitors and your site’s health. Here’s why you should remove them:

Final thoughts

Removing 404 pages from Google’s index helps your site run better. It makes your visitors happier, improves your search rankings, and shows you care about your website. A few simple steps can make sure you are not wasting your SEO efforts or sending people to dead ends.

Keeping your site secure is also important if you want Google to trust it. A strong WordPress security plugin keeps your site and your users safe from threats. MalCare is a great choice for this. It offers a powerful malware scanner with one-click malware removal. It also includes a smart firewall, real-time backups, and checks for vulnerabilities. MalCare works quietly in the background and does not slow down your site. Remember, with the right security, you can keep your site looking good in Google and protect your visitors at the same time.

FAQs

How do I remove 404 pages from Google?

To remove 404 pages from Google, first try to fix or restore the missing page if possible. If you cannot, set up a 301 redirect to send visitors to a new or similar page. You can also use Google Search Console’s Removals tool to temporarily hide the 404 URL from search results. Over time, Google will drop the page from its index when it sees the error has stayed in place.

How long does it take for Google to remove 404 pages?

It can take a few weeks to a few months for Google to remove 404 pages from its index. Googlebot needs time to revisit the page and confirm that it is still missing. The exact time depends on how often Google crawls your site and how important the page was before it broke. Sometimes, pages are removed quickly, but other times it takes longer.

Are 404 pages bad for SEO?

Yes, 404 pages can be bad for SEO. Too many broken pages make your site look poorly maintained to search engines. They can hurt your rankings and waste Google’s time when crawling your site. If important pages return 404 errors, you could lose valuable traffic. Fixing or redirecting 404 pages helps protect your SEO.